[ Kaveh is quiet as Basch holds him, leaning into the other's hold and letting his eyes close. It's a grief he's been over and over so many times already, but revisiting it hurts each and every time like it were somehow brand new. Especially in a moment like this, he welcomes the comfort, both for the new hurt and for the old.

He reaches into the pocket of his lounge pants, resurfacing with a small earbud case. ]

His ears are really sensitive. Back home, he made himself these special headphones, but of course when we got here they didn't come. It was hard for him at first, until he found these. It got a little easier after that. And then... when he disappeared, so much of his stuff was just gone. Except for these. I've had them since.

[ His nose wrinkles. ]

Xie Lian—he's my friend, I met him here—he came with me. Helped hold me together while I figured it all out. And now... [ He falls quiet, his fingers closing tight around the case. ] Now he's gone too.