[He does nod this time, acknowledging the truth of it. He has so many people around him, supporting him- and even those who are gone or might leave him in the future still believe in him, he knows. He's never truly been alone. Even when he thought he was, Carbuncle was there the whole time. And... she's here. She came, at a moment's notice, all because he asked her. He was an asshole about it, too, but still she came.
He gives her hand a small squeeze, pondering her offer for a long moment. There's probably plenty that he could say, but he doesn't trust his voice, and too many of his stories about them are sad. Broken promises and shattered dreams, a long-distance friendship and longing over too many years apart. So much of what he'd hoped for, taken away by the Empire under false pretenses. The Tenebrae visit. The treaty. The wedding. Silly ideas about happy endings or holding on to what he loves, torn away from him. He'll fight for everything he has left, but... there's no guarantees yet.
Finally he closes his eyes, shaking his head. He can't.]
Not yet. Not... right now.
[Glancing over at her, his eyes faintly pleading, he whispers,]
Can you tell me something? Anything? Distract me...
[Just let him think about anything but what's threatening to slip between his fingers.]
no subject
He gives her hand a small squeeze, pondering her offer for a long moment. There's probably plenty that he could say, but he doesn't trust his voice, and too many of his stories about them are sad. Broken promises and shattered dreams, a long-distance friendship and longing over too many years apart. So much of what he'd hoped for, taken away by the Empire under false pretenses. The Tenebrae visit. The treaty. The wedding. Silly ideas about happy endings or holding on to what he loves, torn away from him. He'll fight for everything he has left, but... there's no guarantees yet.
Finally he closes his eyes, shaking his head. He can't.]
Not yet. Not... right now.
[Glancing over at her, his eyes faintly pleading, he whispers,]
Can you tell me something? Anything? Distract me...
[Just let him think about anything but what's threatening to slip between his fingers.]