Is...is even colleague too far? There is a look about her that, while clearly disapproving, he isn't sure how to interpret. Disapproving of what? Uncertain? At the very least, having shared battles and rare smiles and food and company, he could call himself her colleague. They had known each other before the world so drastically changed, though not in a way anyone would consider well, but maybe the distance is greater than he thought.

Is it the other way around? Did she expect something more? Blast and bollocks, he should have just taken her fine and been done with it.

Since apparently it's him that isn't so fine. Even if hers is a lie, she gives off an air of finding this to be...unnecessary. Which, all right, fair enough, but it shouldn't seem so inconvenient to check in on her. He had done so easily enough when they had both fallen in and soldiered on. To ask if he is recovering means she sees he is not fine. And if he were to say as much, she would catch him out in the lie.

Recovering. How does one do as such? The illness is of the heart, of the soul. His discomfort is obvious, and his internal debate ends when he, at last, takes a seat instead of standing there like he's trying to deliver a report.

"The incident has not hampered my ability to perform my duties," he says with a practised military cant. "As to all else... While I have doubts no prayer can properly assuage, in time, I will be fully...recovered. I'm glad to know that you--" can be so calm and pass it off as nothing, as though something doesn't continue to gnaw at your insides, making you question yourself, more frenzied than the feeling has been for some time "--are well in the wake of the unintended and unanticipated journey."

He pauses, about to leave it at that, but that sinking feeling of wanting the ground to open up under him is steadily growing. "I apologize. For disturbing you."