"Then I look better than I feel," he says, dryly. He's a little uncomfortable being seen by someone he knows -- he's been avoiding this, staying off the Network unless necessary, not going back to the neighbourhoods he used to frequent, staying indoors until it gets too bad and he needs something -- but whatever, there's nothing he can do about it now. It's a little bit vanity, but more a desire to avoid pity or disgust. He's still sorting out who's still willing to be seen with him.

"Hi." He hasn't noticed her absence -- also other things on his mind -- but he would care, if he knew.