[Joey would never say he's glad to be mute, but he won't deny how handy it is to be physically incapable of making involuntary exclamations or noises of surprise. His shredded vocal cords spare him the indignity of reflexively saying 'wait, what?' or 'woah, hold up' or any number of other stupid things that people say without thinking when they get unexpected news dropped on them.]

[Instead, Joey just kind of...stands there and blinks like an idiot, because he knows Clint has no reason whatsoever to lie to him about something like this, but at the same time he can't help but feel like he's being punk'd - like the universe itself has conspired to put him in a situation he can't possibly escape with his dignity and good-image intact.]

[Haltingly, Joey's hands begin to sign a response, and after a moment his brain catches up with what they're saying.]

...If it makes you feel any better, I'd probably be divorced myself by now, if the marriage had actually gone through.

[He winces slightly, stifling a sigh as he drags a hand through the curly petals that make up his hair. He knows he should've brought this up sooner and he feels bad that he didn't, but...it's hard, talking about Étienne.]

Hell, I'd probably be divorced twice-over if I hadn't been too scared to even accept the second proposal.