Sorry, Lalonde, you’ve wounded me too deeply for a dance that I can’t even see to heal.
[Yes, Strider, clearly making bad jokes will make this all less weird and painfully awkward for the both of you. Oh well, you figure it’s worth a shot, even if it doesn’t really do much to help and this is all still very weird for you. At least she’s changing the topic now. Despite how hard it’ll be to just move on to another subject, it’s nice to give it a chance at least.]
Other than this weird situation, I’m doing alright, I guess. Can’t complain. What about you?

Ay, there’s the rub. I knew there was something missing from my devious scheme to get you to forgive me.
You shuffle your feet a little awkwardly. Beyond this whole fracas about your blindness, you had had an issue nagging at your mind beforehand, which was distracting you while you were walking down the path. You had wanted someone you trusted to talk with, and even if Dave was in this Different state, you certainly still trusted him.
Just having a routine crisis of identify, actually. Nothing all that large.
You call, and the answer is predictable. Since he’s your John you’re calling, all of the memories line up with those...
[You hesitate for a moment, but in the end, decide against speaking the thoughts on your mind.] Fine. Go ahead.
just name a time and a place, and i can be there. we can hang, talk about things, share pain, and be friends. Your smile...