That gets an affirmative grunt. Exactly that. More than that, but he needs a moment to grope for a better way to put it. That polite, positive exterior-- okay, even if it's annoying as fuck sometimes, it comes from a good place. Right now, though, it feels hollow. Reflexive, which is somehow more troubling than if it just fell away.

"Bein' polite. Laughing it off." Maybe he should go? He probably should, but he's not gonna, not until he's satisfied Aaron won't just pick up and paste a fake smile on his face and get back to work. He deserves the time. Eric deserves the mourning.