I think pursuing friendship is fine--it's true to you, and I don't see you as being all that pursuing inclined anyway. I have a hard time "seeing" you begging and pleading anytime soon.lol.
Again, because of how you are, I don't see that talking about the R will give him any indication that you are pursuing an R. You talking about the R in general terms will only show him you have "moved on" and aren't angry. Big step in moving towards a "friendship".
Staying true to you will always make you the "winner". You really have no choice but to try to be friends. This is who you are. This is who I am too. I'm not a vindictive, angry person. I keep in the front of my mind who I want to be, and then everyone else falls under that.
