"Sure you can." This was wistfully edged. Zephyr cut himself off there -- didn't really feel like sharing that bit of drama immediately -- but that was how he'd been saved in the first place. His partner had remembered without remembering. He changed tacks. "Feelings just kind of happen sometimes, and people are always weak. That's why they band together or hire mercenaries or... whatever. If only the strong survived, we'd have a really shitty world."

Whoops, again with the philosophical. Zephyr shook his head. "No one is," he said. "But I wasn't talking about kindness or goodness. I was talking about politeness." He forced a grin; it felt more genuine after a few moments. "You can be a good person and still be kind of a dick."