[Hey, don't knock a man's collections! The heart wants what it wants, even when mediation is necessary.]

I'd heard something about that incident.

[He thinks it was during a time he could have stood to be more aware of quite a lot, but it was significant enough to slice through at least some of the ennui.]

...thank you.

[For saying that his presence here is good. He's not sure that's true, yet, but at the very least he hasn't done anything to spoil it.]

What is there to know about parties like this? Since it's my first one, I suppose I should ask for some pointers, even if it's late.

[Mercifully. Less time to be a disaster.]