The Balladeer listens patiently. He is not unfamiliar with listening to people's entitled rants about how the world should have appreciated them more.

That's probably not a fair comparison. It sounds like Wheatley's situation was, at least, genuinely unpleasant. Nothing quite like no one wanting to read his book, or Jodie Foster ignoring his letters. Getting upset over being left alone in a bunker for however long is perfectly reasonable!

"What was going on outside?" he asks instead. "Maybe something happened to them?