"It's not you. You're fine. We've nothing in common but that's not your fault. That's just the way things are. Just think of me as an irascible old man who doesn't like anything but can't say no to some ginger bastard giving e a puppy eyed look."

Pasta desauced, he looks at it critically, then changes his mind and sets it back on the plate.

"You might as well have a strawberry if you want before the chocolate melts."