[Well, he tries. Awkward as it might be, Noctis' intent is still noted, even if its follow-through was only half realized. But it's fine. Markus takes awkward moments and rights them on their feet, pushing forward and past them without any outward judgment.

He drops his hand, settling it back on his lap.]

I know exactly what that's like.

[They run so parallel with each other, facing similar trials across completely different worlds and circumstances, that Markus is almost sorry for it.]

But maybe they're sometimes one and the same. Maybe some people aren't given the luxury of differentiating the two. [A beat.] Besides, even though this world provides some leeway to 'stop and think', it hardly ever feels that way.