and it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?

Loren once again repeated that they were strangers and Sam only nodded, awkwardly looking off to the side. He'd never considered himself to be socially proficient, but he'd like to have thought he was better at handling conversations, at least good enough that someone wouldn't need to repeat their lack of friendship every moment. Perhaps, he tried to console himself, it was more to do with Loren's grief than any failing of his own.

"...That...makes it more worrying, surely? Do you have anyone around to support you? ...Do..you..." Sam paused, not sure if it was wise to ask this (it had certainly gotten him into trouble with Remi): "Want to talk about him?"

That Loren sat down was a good sign, at least. Sam turned his chair a little towards him, nodding slowly at the words. It was similar to what Rexanna had said, even if she had put it much more gently. "Yes...I know you knew him before he was here, so you must know him well. Do you think he will...go back to normal, eventually?"

Samuel

Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?

Cold comfort for change?