[ uuuuugggghhhhh!! he doesn't feel any better now. He kind of feels worse. He was comfortable in his non-relationship with Steph, even if he wanted more. The idea of it changing is frightening. The fact that he's tangling with that idea at all is frightening, because that means he might have feelings for Belph, too, because wouldn't he have just laughed the suggestion off otherwise, because, because -- he's seen it all before in other people. He's afraid. ]

As if three people who happened to all be okay with that would just happen to find each other in such a ridiculous way...

[ he shakes his head. at least he seems to be retreating into a more morose state rather than getting angry. ]

... You don't know me well. I'll tell you that even wanting to be friends with them is more than I deserve, after everything I've done. This conversation is too idealistic to include me.