His lips pressed together a bit, almost a smile from Wu at the hope Carmel was trying to convey. "I am not a young man, Carmel," he pointed out with a subtle humor, shaking his head a touch. "Whatever comes from this for me will be brief; it is too far into this life to build it from the ground up again. But I do not mourn this," Wu assured her, "I have made use of my time. Perhaps the wrong use, but it was not a life wasted."
Yeah, the apathy was getting worse; creeping in to leave him bleak and powerless, but strangely talkative. But just being here brought him back to it all, to the toppled empire and loyal forces, now scattered to the winds. It left him with the knowledge that all Wu had now was hope for people he would've scorned once, because their success was tied to his own. "I am sorry to speak of such things," he said after a moment, glancing her way, "It is poor form to do so when we all feel the pressures around us, and when you have come here for solace that I intruded on."