"Thanks. To both of you," he means that honestly. It's about the best reassurance and...well, support, he can hope for under the circumstances. "Here's to hoping he's got better manners as a houseguest than he fronts like he does."

It's not lost on Vrenille that some of his initial poor impressions of Logan might be based on the man's intentional projecting of a whole spate of off-putting performatives. Maybe even the cigars--who knows if he didn't take up the habit specifically because so many people would agree that it's vile.

Considering the matter as settled as they can make it, Vrenille is starting to push himself back to his feet to let Riddler get back to work when he remembers the whole other matter he'd wanted to speak to him about.

"Oh, hey, that's right--I was gonna tell you: remember when we talked--well, me 'n Ed talked--'bout him getting bored, wanting some more interesting work to do? Well, I've been talking to the guys in the forensics section in the Down, and I finally got an okay. There's a job for you there if you want it. They're not gonna pay you great or give you much of a title, but it's real lab 'n field work, not just sweeping up. Maybe help Ed find a bit of an outlet."