A pained, watery grin wrinkles the porcelain of Rutile's face, though it is not Valdis's fault so much as it is her words. They feel like shit. They do not say this. "I appreciate the sentiment," they reply, "though I believe we are all struggling in the wake of such a natural disaster. You know, I think in my many centuries, I've seen comparable events perhaps only once or twice... "

They cut off their own reverie before it can get too in-depth. (If Valdis's high empathy is on the up-and-up, she may find regret, anger, and confusion, all deadened by the fatigue of heartache.)

"What about you? It has been some weeks now since my return, but still we haven't met, when we were so close before," they wryly continue as Valdis pokes her nose into corners and cabinets. "Keeping busy?"