[ He did not expect the relief he feels seeing that, strained and delicate as it is. ]

Well. [ His mouth has gone dry, just gonna...lick his lips and try again. ] You're kind, and stubborn, and you can laugh at yourself. You kept a community going after the world crumbled. You aren't intimidated by mystical nonsense. You didn't let me starve myself in self-indulgent melodrama.

[ Oh hey! That stew is still here. It's not going cold, the bowls see to that, but it is suddenly very important that he focuses very hard on eating some more of it. ]