[ his expression flickers from concerned seriousness to something a shade lighter. ]

A good deal. [ had counted him among his dearest companions, had lived with him-- had keenly felt his loss when he had returned to their room only to find the outsider not at his usual perch. he plays with a ring on his left hand, a band of dark stone, and laughs, low. the thought is startling. ]

An idiot, then? Or did all his grace and maturity leave him?

[ he rolls the options over in his mind, weighs it against what his knows of his own self, and comes to a conclusion. ]

How high of a dose would be considered safe and yet still produce some of the effects?