Why? [There's a hint of anger in his eyes, but mostly he looks confused, even a little uneasy. The pitiful dwarf role was not one he was particularly comfortable with playing. It was him that was supposed to be offering comfort, not the other way around.]

There are people out there more upset than I am. Save your breath for someone who's really going to need it. Me? I'll be fine. [He took a breath, only to find that the discomfort had been replaced with a twang of guilt.]

It's not that I don't appreciate it. But I know myself well enough to promise that I'm not going to be bashing heads in this week in order to keep this from spreading. We don't know that about the others.