That is a more personal answer than Cuthbert expected as well and he's momentarily at a loss. It's not much to go on, but he can infer what R means.

"So you wish to be something you're not? You want to feel more human?"

That's a fairly admirable goal, if it's true. Bert doesn't want to deny that to anyone. It's not the first time he's heard something like that, either. This conversation isn't going in the direction he expected at all and he's right back to pitying R.

He takes a step closer, showing some trust and forgiveness. But he's still tense and ready to leave again if things go pear shaped from here.