[The neutral facade is as practiced as it is on purpose. The nice, friendly orderly. Peel back the layers, and there's something far uglier beneath the mask, and maybe Henry is aware of this just enough to continue the politeness with those he meets; knows the necessity of it, at least, except in extreme moments where it comes crumbling off. (Being a Pit Person forced to eat hive mind goo, for example.)

With Eddie, it’s particularly easy. The young man wears his heart on his sleeve, he guides the conversation along, taking the reins of it. Henry follows, simple as anything, but at least his interest is not fully for show. They’ve spoken just enough for him to graduate from “stranger” to “acquaintance” to “acquaintance-I-know-slightly-better” in his estimation.

So—]

Oh, I don’t know. [What were some big names of the time? He mentions the first that floats to the top of memory.] The Everly Brothers?

[yeah he’s ancient]

That must have been disappointing to you, though. A record deal is life-changing, I’d imagine. Might have gotten you out of Indiana.