This is swerving way too close to being vulnerable. Alan looks visibly pained for a few moments before he literally grits his teeth and pulls himself together. It's just a conversation, Wake. But God, he knows why his mind put Aerith in the place of Alice. Now more than ever.

He sighs, annoyed but more at himself.

"I don't know. The same, I guess. Aerith--I've been going through this gradual change thing for a while and I've got to be honest, it's fucking tiring."