Avoidance helped settle the emotions. Considerably.

“Ah, vampire humor. Thank God it never got old, said no one ever.”

“Always remember," he whispered to me, "that you are an uncommon soldier, whatev…”

“There was a time,” he finally said, “when I would have acknowledged your retice…”

“Eventually, the room was cleared, and we stood there together, chests heaving, …”