The words fill him up with a warm, golden glow. But it doesn't take long for the beginnings of his smile to fade, for him to get up from his chair.

"I could say the same about you. In fact, I will. Because you are a good friend, Ren." He comes closer, trying to see past that odd distance, to measure the bleak gravity of Ren's words.

"What's on your mind? You can tell me. I'm sure I won't even remember half of it." Look, a joke.