"It could be," he agrees. "You could be stuck here with someone a lot less charming."

He does know what she means. If he were here alone, this would feel impossible. Insurmountable. Maybe he would still be able to make the connections he has, meet the people he has, but on the other hand... if he knew Shepard was somewhere else, someone who counted on him, and who he counted so much on in return?

This place would be hellish.

"Joker comes to mind."

Of course, though, he's going to make this more lighthearted than reflective. They're on a mission here. Reflections are for late nights at home base, and too many drinks.