[ Reigen is so gentle with the kid. Gentle in a way Amos wishes he could be, isn't sure he actually has in him. He tries, but he wouldn't be nearly as effective, he knows — his limitations start and stop at maybe holding a kid's hand, maybe softly telling them he'll be there for them, and... not able to do a whole lot beyond that. He doesn't know how to soothe. He doesn't know if he could do much more with his heart in a vice at the sounds that kid makes.

Something in him aches, and he forces himself to bury it, the empathetic, pained look in his eyes at the kid's suffering becoming muted. Not deadened, just... he doesn't want to feel this way right now, so he won't. Not consciously, at least.

Me and my buddy. Christ. He really does need to live up to this. Amos silently, almost dumbly, watches as the kid descends on the bowl, only the movement of Reigen's hand drawing his gaze away.

After a moment's hesitation, he shakes it. ]

Amos Burton.

[ His voice comes out a little choked; he is really engaging an internal war to deaden his emotions here. He can't think like this.

Amos gets back up, makes his way back to the pot, the other bowls still by it, and starts filling another one up. For... for himself, for Reigen, for another kid, he doesn't know. ]

Just don't go overboard. [ His voice is a lot softer now, the earlier authority in it mostly gone, now more like a gentle reminder. ] I know saving the kids is important, but we gotta think about what comes after. How Zenith can only take care of them if we have the resources to. Otherwise, it's...

[ His voice trails off into nothingness, his body stilling before he goes back to filling up this second bowl. ]

We gotta look after ourselves, our people, so we can look after them. That make sense?

[ Is he on the right path here? It feels right to him, but he wouldn't claim to actually know anything when it comes to ethical decisions. ]