"Yeah, but it's always those nine that matter, 'fore your one comes knocking," he points out readily.

He doesn't ignore the wet redness in Arthur's eyes, but it's never done do any good to point it out. Instead his hand roams, gently brushing between Arthur's shoulders before it wraps around his other shoulder and turns into a warm squeeze.

"But I gotta figure, now, if you've been here longer than me, you might have some idea what the hell's up with the Titanic we're finding ourselves taking passage on."