[His eyes follow Charles; they're both the observant type, though for vastly different reasons. He takes in everything the younger-older man has to say, his apologies, his sympathy, the way he doesn't answer Altius's question, the sense to him that shows the true depth of his experience. Despite all that, Charles continues to offer more. It feels... familiar.

The first thing Altius decides to tackle is,]

You don't have to apologize for anything. [There's gratitude in his tone and the slight tilt of his head, in fact.] You're a generous person, aren't you?

[Charles is right, of course. Keeping everything to oneself is a recipe for disaster, if it lasts long enough. With a more audible sigh, he at least offers an answer that's partly in that vein.]

They weren't all horrible. I was able to go places I never would have, otherwise. See thoughtful sides of people I couldn't have seen.

[Perhaps that's what bothers him most, the sympathy for his worst moments.]