[It should be absurd, how comforting it is to hear that should he falter and begin to fragment, someone is there to help piece him together again; nevertheless, the relief he feels can't be measured. Ardyn had promised the same, to take his hand and pull him back from the edge if he began to wander from reality, someone who would recognize the signs of it happening and understands how it can feel. Even if it never happens again, even if he's able to forever lock away those fragments of whatever Bahamut shoved into his mind, knowing he has a few people to lean on is enough that he can relax a little. He's not alone. Very rarely has he been alone, either here or on his world. He was alone in the Crystal, so as long as he's not... he can stay as himself. He can believe that for a while.
He stays like that for a long moment, just watching her expression, trying to hold her gaze and letting her quiet certainty ease his worries. He nods, finally, and lets his eyes close. Okay. Okay. She's got his back.]
...Will it hurt?
[He slides a hand up between them, fingers touching her shoulder, his thumb brushing up against the fabric next to her crystal. Not connecting, not yet- still hesitant and not sure of how it works. But he's not trembling anymore, even if he won't yet look at it.]
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He stays like that for a long moment, just watching her expression, trying to hold her gaze and letting her quiet certainty ease his worries. He nods, finally, and lets his eyes close. Okay. Okay. She's got his back.]
...Will it hurt?
[He slides a hand up between them, fingers touching her shoulder, his thumb brushing up against the fabric next to her crystal. Not connecting, not yet- still hesitant and not sure of how it works. But he's not trembling anymore, even if he won't yet look at it.]