Hmm. Your self-esteem is that bad, huh?

[ Either that, or he was very humble. He remembers this side of him, too, and wonders what else there is to know. Tentatively, he places a hand on the other's shoulder, and marvels at how immediately, he feels a strange comfort about him.

There must be other things at play here, yet again. ]

Forgive me. [ Reluctantly, he pulls away. ] I fear there's something messing with my perception again, though not as drastically as before.