( what a strange conversation to have, so terribly serious and personal in the midst of this overly extravagant and rowdy party. and yet he finds himself appreciative of the other man's sincerity, put oddly at ease by their shared camaraderie.

perhaps this place is not so bad. the company makes it all that much more tolerable, at the very least. his own expression turns sympathetic in kind. )

I am sorry for your own loss as well. Accident or no, these things are never easy to bear.

( the words sound trite, a little distant, though not because he intends them to be. this sort of thing has just never come easy to him, no matter how much he tries. )

But you are right. There's no use in lingering on something that cannot be changed or bemoaning situations that are outside your grasp. One should instead turn one's gaze towards the future, and towards that upon which we might still be able to impact.