( She won't mention how the hope died not long after he did. It seems better for him, she thinks, to have that. The dreadful, dreary months that followed where they'd all but given up on the concept of ever being able to handle Cassandra aren't helpful for anyone to consider. There's no reason to talk about it. She'd rather leave the more optimistic impression behind. Maybe that's a product of the lingering impact Charles left on her in the short time she'd gotten to have him.

Her lips pull up at the corners at his alternative offer. Another one of those slight, barely-there expressions. Not a girl that smiles very often, it seems, with only this exchange to go by. Everything about her tends to be a little guarded, a little muted, a little hidden behind the walls of her expression. Maybe he can chalk it up to that place she talked about, the Void, or maybe there's something more to it. Something familiar. Like recognizes like, after all. )

Okay. ( She agrees softly, appreciative on a level maybe a little deeper than a changed tire strictly warrants. It's not really about that, though. It's the implication of maintaining a connection. She isn't a person with a lot of those by nature, especially not in recent years. ) I'd like that. Maybe, if you have the time later, I could ask you some questions? I think you knew some people that I didn't get to spend much time with. People I'd like to know better.