[He can see that flick incoming, and he does duck out of the way. Even with his helmet, he doesn't exactly want to be touched like that.]

Well, isn't that nice for you? If I had the choice, I wouldn't bother with them. Just because you can feel emotion doesn't mean that's a good thing. Yours don't peel away from you and birth monsters.

[He actually stops at that, surprised at his own forthcoming-ness. While he was one for a touch of dramatics, he usually kept his secrets to himself. Why had he been so open just then? It was just like with the stupid campfire story.]

[Maybe this place was affecting him more than he thought...]

Is that so? And how does that make this world any different from any other world out there?