[He feels vaguely silly, even if he wonders if there still might have been something behind it all.]

I'm not very good with them. And anymore, one has to entertain possibilities that would have seemed ridiculous a few years ago. [There had been no supernatural powers, no alien invasion threats back then.]

... How much have you gotten back? [Part of him is afraid to ask, but if he's joking with him, it might mean that there isn't any true antagonism toward him at this point. Of course, he hasn't seen his face, either. Will this all change, when he eventually does?]