He figured living was just easier

everything i knew is turning into ruins in your shadow

With Isla's blood drying on his hands, the Alchemist glanced upwards at Sam's question, an unreadable expression on his face. He appreciated the bookmaker's naked honesty, that he didn't veil his thoughts behind weakly construed attempts at levity. So Remi would respond in kind.

"No, I wouldn't say we are." He said with a shake of his head, moonlight making his eyes look impossibly dark. "But I have had...help in letting go of the past. The things you've done. I think perhaps I held so tightly to my hate for you because it was all that was left between us." Remi admitted in a voice suddenly quite soft. "I don't want to be the sort of man who carries around such animosity anymore. That said, I don't know you apart from what has happened. It might not make my stomach clench and cheeks burn to see you, but I've not forgotten what's been done." Still, it wasn't as bad as all that. "I think...this is the closest to a fresh start as we'll ever have."

So saying, the Alchemist stepped forward across the beach towards the bookmaker, a hand extended. There were no talons upon it, nor any tension either. Just the introduction the pair probably should have had, all those years ago. Not trapped in a cave with only each other as an option, but free on a beach with nothing at stake.

As for Sam's other question? "Ludo, I should think."

THE ALCHEMIST

i thought that i'd be ready
but falling isn't steady once you let go