[He hadn't realized he was being observed. The smile is quick to reappear, some small attempt at recovering his public face, but he makes no effort to wipe the tear away. Not that he can be seen with an audio communication in any case. If it really still is audio.]

I'm afraid so. It doesn't seem permanent, but it has been going on far longer than I would care to see. [Which is not at all. And just for the sake of doing so, he gives the man a brief rundown of what he has seen.] The locals say this happens from time to time, and it can all stop at any time. Me? I don't know if I can believe it.