[WELL, NOT "HAVE SOMEONE" EXACTLY. THAT SOUNDS KIND OF, WELL—

wow that actually manages to embarrass him for a moment.]

Of course. Is that strange?

[Ah—] Just because I don't really know you doesn't mean you don't matter. At all. [Everyone does. Argue humanity all you like, he still sees that. Oddities aside.]

Everyone should be able to have those things. [c-clarifying just for his own peace of mind if nothing else:] Friends and people to belong to, that care about them.