Well, the only one who ever truly managed it was indeed the one he was married to. It's one thing to jab at him for his tendency to talk too much, to drink too much, his bluster and machismo... all those flaws he'd spent a lifetime cultivating and did not mind displaying. They were all half show, anyway. But only Emila knew of all the faults he did not readily show the world--his cowardice and envy, his inadequacies and disloyalty. After years, she had learned to sharpen these into barbs as defense against his ill use of her. Or at least as a way to exact her own petty torments against those he inflicted on her. All together not a great relationship. Their marriage had not ended well. And neither had Emilia. It really is for the best, for Iago and Verity both, and he can take his outs when necessary.

Bobbi has truly mastered the art of cuteness. Iago may not be the most evil of evil things, that's true. But there's enough of him that's nasty that it probably doesn't make pursuing the good parts worth it. Well, at least Bobbi and her kind would never be at the receiving end of his malice. That's something he saves exclusively for people.

"Are we not sinners all?" He grins as he says it; from his tone of voice, Iago finds it a most delicious state of being. "Good deeds are made the more precious when we have felt the shame of erring. Besides, surely thou hast tasted the sweetness of a sin sure made, by mask or bare of face?"