He laughs, and more than anything it is a sound tainted with weariness. No, he doesn't feel like he did anything to deserve that comparison.

"Can see why he would. Honor doesn't stop people from bein' dead. You just do what you can to stay alive."

The tension does fade, as intended, even if what mostly replaces it is a bone-deep fatigue to his movements. The horse in front of him is still twitchy, pawing the ground with discomfort once the first layer of paste gets applied. This, at least, was a problem that could be solved with a little more patience.