To be fair, offering comfort is not one of Linden's greatest skills. It's probably better than someone who gushes uncontrollably about the misfortune and sorrow of others, but still... he tends to sound detached and insubstantial when he tries. It's a side effect of being smacked in the face by death and separation so many times that it ceases to leave a sizable dent emotionally, even if intellectually, he recognizes it as something that's painful.

"You don't know that," he says softly. "Unfortunately, none of us do, so I can't really reassure you one way or another, even if that was remotely appropriate, which it... isn't. But even if you're right, you'll manage. Time makes everything easier to manage, in the end."