Something about "rank and file" does not sit right with Siebren. He doubts Xander has zero skills; even that optimism that Xander had been displaying could be helpful in the right situation. "I doubt there is any such thing as 'rank and file,' here," he replies. "From what I have observed, the train is full of unique individuals with unique talents. Everyone brings something." Openness and the ability to defuse a tense situation, for example. "Have you had any luck with the train?"

He listens, and considers. Not getting back to sleep implies something woke Xander up; a nightmare, perhaps? And the losses Seto mentions - were they from home, or experienced over the course of his time on the train? Both questions worth pursuing, but not at this exact moment. "It happens to all of us, at one point or another," he says as a response to both. "I have found a distraction is often the best option until you can relax enough to rest. Your mind does work through problems as you sleep, after all." Tearing the wound open further to investigate the cause only drives sleep further away. He has spent enough nights chasing his own problems to the knife's edge of his sanity to have learned at least that much. Best to leave it be and let the brain sort through it on its own time.