[francel laughs in return, shaking his head in polite denial; he isn't sweet, not at all, and (he thinks with a pang) cain might have said something like that once, too — but the sentiment itself is appreciated.]

And yet you must be the sweetest of all. Only a rare soul would get into the business of spreading cheer to others.

[wearily, he closes his eyes as if to fall asleep on the bench beside the nice cream monster's cart.]

...If I'd known more men like you, perhaps my life would have been different.