[ Amos joins in with Vander's laugh, in genuinely good spirits. Yeah, sometimes shit goes really sideways and a lot of people end up catching strays from it, but why not laugh if you live through it, right? You lived through it; you get to do what you want.

Though he does sober a bit at the idea of being dealt a bad hand, smile fading into something more thoughtful. Drums his fingers against his glass, once, then meets Vander's gaze head on. ]

Think if you get dealt a bad enough hand, it makes things easier to come to terms with later on, especially when it's that big a scale. [ Talking about himself without explicitly talking about himself, though Vander can probably pick up on it. ] Toughens you up, in some ways. Not like you should've had to live through it in the first place, but since you did, might as well take the survival skills it gave you along the way, right? At least you get something out of it.

[ As if that makes up for things — but hey. Keep moving forward. They're on the same page there; one that lets Amos slip a small smile back on his face again, especially at the offer of another drink. ]

Sure. [ He tilts his glass towards Vander before throwing back the rest of it. ] You getting more of the same? Think I'm picking up on some of those feelings it put in you. Seems nice; I'd be willing to go for it.

[ Not that he needs the help in mellowing out, but when with good company... why not, right? ]