[Dorian doesn't really know how to react. He doesn't want to antagonize with misplaced sympathy, when clearly By's gotten by alright. It's one of those rare moments he holds his tongue, simply looking at him with lips parted but nothing to say up until his question.]

I suppose not. Perhaps it was short-sighted of me to assume it was all secretly unpleasant for them, but I... couldn't imagine being alright, stuck in that cycle.