"New year. You've gotten along with your colleagues quite well, you're working where and what you really want to work, and most importantly, you have me... us even. Are you... happy? o-or happier at least?"

"Happier, yes. Happy? yes. Why else.. Would I smile."

"That's... not a happy smile. I know your smile so well, and I know it's not that."

"I'm happy. I'm oh so happy. I'm starting to finally. FINALLY. tAKE. CONTROL. The tears have run dry, the soul made so hollow. Grief. Near. EMPTY."

"That's... not.. healthy. this is not the person I've worked so hard to build up. Please. just come back to me. Drop the facade, return to me. Please..."

"Fine. I'll concede. I'll admit. Happier, but not happy. A little more control, but not there yet. All that I said before when you asked me, a hollow answer. I'll admit, I am still weak."

"But why would you hold up that facade to me? Have I n-not proven time and time over that I would nurse you in your times of weakness?"

"I guess I just wanted to prove in that moment something.. vauge.. the words escape me yet the idea somehow is there."

"W-whatever it was, it's not something I'd want, nor would it be something you'd want down the line. N-now please... please don't do that again. Please don't shut down on me like that again. Please..."

That Albrecht grin. Warframe bug has me hard still.