[Barty would notice, he probably will, sooner or later, but he's not exactly the best about eye contact himself unless he's making an effort for some reason. For now he watched the shadow stag more than anything, leaving it to its investigation.] He took an interest in Merope at some point. I understand. [He does and he glances at Will for a moment then. None of them very successful with taking care of anyone.]

No.

[Not a friend or not the only. He laughs, a short and joyless thing, but it's pretty much the closest he gets to laughing. Then he just repeats the word in answer to the second question. Can't go looking for something he doesn't believe in.]

No. But one time the Master said that if he could, he'd bring me to his world. [Still a strange concept, that this had ever happened, but he remembers it too well. Perhaps because there have been so very few instances, here or there, where he had any reason to even entertain any illusion of hope. Nothing more, certainly, but still a spark he's seldom felt.] I knew it wouldn't happen, I never thought it would. But I thought about it.

Not much time left now, by the looks of it.