Unfortunately, uncertainty forms a certain basis of whatever it is they both are now. He smiles, a pained upward tick of one side of his mouth, hands moving to sink into pockets that may or may not truly exist.

"I died," he says softly, unable the shake the specter of wistful finality pinned beneath the pronouncement. "And then I Ascended. I reached the next plane of existence - however you choose to call it."

He meets the other man's eyes with absolute sincerity. "It's not death. Not in the conventional sense. I'm energy now. But you, ah - " A frown ripples over his features, obscuring that mournful sentiment. "I can't really tell with you, honestly. You're not dead in the conventional sense either - I don't think?"

It occurs to him that this may not be the heartening comfort he'd initially set off for it to be.