"The Fade reflects your emotional state. There won't be any demons, if I can make you feel good. A demon is one thing, but are you so frightened of a spirit of Love? Pleasure? Devotion?" All were things Dorian felt toward Bull. All were things he believed Bull returned.

"One of these days we're going to have a good, long talk about that fear of yours. But not tonight. Maker knows neither of us want to taint the mood that way."

He kissed Bull, in a way he hoped got across how much it would mean to him. There was an entire half of Dorian's life that was totally peripheral to Bull almost all of the time. The Fade was Dorian's Qun, in a way.