[ His head offers a small tilt at the slight melancholy that he heard in the man's voice. He frowns enough to wonder after the cause, but he decides to not ask after it. Something subconscious need not be prodded so viciously, hm? ]

Please do. But you will have to tell me to lower the spice if you are no good with it. The taste of it has a way of leaving a lasting impression. [ He chuckles after his glorious, edible lava. ] That certainly sounds like an unfortunate story. Did you end up pinching people that need not be pinched?

[ Lifting his scotch up, again, he rests it against his face. It does still ache a little. ] As would anyone. Let's see, it feels like gossiping about one of my employees, but he is a nice, young man. He's polite and reasonable. Sadly, I think his fanbase is more impressed with his good looks and ... well ... muscles. Of which, I am lacking. Along with my many other flaws.

[ Yet he sounds pleased. ] He is a worker that I appreciate. Though, I suppose what those people are only caring about is a bloated imagined version of who he is and not really who he is at all. Even so, he's yet to quit and works hard... so I cannot say anything that would diminish his determination and goodwill toward me.