[...so. How do we...do this small-talk thing? "Apparently we kinda don't" is still an option, but it's not usually the favorable one; he just kind of blinks warily back at that cat for a moment because good lord where did that come from before he turns back to writing on that board again.

We acquire the strength we have overcome.]

What brought you in here this evening, anyway? You said it was nothing important, but that's still something, isn't it?