How do you speak about others when they aren't around?
There is a breadth of silence as Zelkov considers his answer. He would not lie; his first instinct is to say that he doesn't speak of others in such a way, but that seems like an impossible claim. Surely it's something everyone does at some point. How does Zelkov do it?
“I speak how I feel,” he says eventually. “Good or bad. I do not believe there are many circumstances in which I would not want the subject of conversation to overhear. The only exception…”
The tension that had knit his brows slacks somewhat. He realizes in that moment that they had been drawn at all. “…is when I do not want to burden some one with my difficult feelings. These are easier to share with an unrelated party. I would rather keep them to myself.”