Christ, it was easy to forget sometimes that even before the King and discovering eldritch bullshit was real, that Charlie was still... a fucking soldier. That every man he saw come back from the Great War in his teens was different, fucked up and tremulous if they were lucky enough to come back in one single piece.

"The Great War was... it never should have fucking happened." If he hadn't been fourteen, he almost certainly would have been a conscientious objector. "And being thrown onto the front lines doesn't make you a monster when you were just... trying to survive. Through whatever stupid fucking orders your officers gave you."

It was always easier to talk someone else through it than believe it for himself, but his tone is genuine, even as he turns to face Charlie a little more without letting go. "I know what it's like. Not as- nowhere near to the same extent as you." He won't pretend otherwise. "But to doubt- everything, a-and everyone, because- you know what could be something he's trying to trick you with. I get it."