[ he looks thoughtful, for a moment, and then, eventually, gentle and understanding: ]

... I've got some pretty ugly scars, myself - not even so much in the way that they look, but more about the story that goes with them. There's a story behind the ones on my arm that I'm not very proud of, and showing it off here every week has been awful, especially when there's someone here I especially didn't want to see it. No one's pushed or asked me questions about it I didn't want to answer, not even that person, and it was relieving, but... even still, I know what that feels like.

...Would it be alright if I looked? As a second party. The first one could be anyone you wanted from that group.