Harper
It's an unexpected offer, given how she'd spoken of the Grounds herself. "Would you even be around to visit?" The lopsided angle of his grin makes it clear he's teasing, but he wonders all the same. These paths they're taking - even if they desire the same thing with their hearts, would it match their goals? Looking down at the apples that hadn't met Maea's standards, his smile dwindles into a wisp of a thing. "Thank you. I'd like that." And even if the timing is never right, isn't what matters the offer?
The same offer that she makes, and he looks back at her quietly. "I feel like you've given enough to people who didn't deserve it," he murmurs. "I don't want to be another." And he's certain, despite her assured protestations, that he is not any more deserving. Everything he has lost was forsaken by his own actions. "I don't even know what I want. I left Torchline to live by my desires instead of my responsibilities, and I don't think I found it." But he'd been miserable before that, too. So would getting any of it back matter? He'd left on a path of self-discovery and all he has to show for it is a dirty mirror reflecting something two-dimensional and unfamiliar.
The same offer that she makes, and he looks back at her quietly. "I feel like you've given enough to people who didn't deserve it," he murmurs. "I don't want to be another." And he's certain, despite her assured protestations, that he is not any more deserving. Everything he has lost was forsaken by his own actions. "I don't even know what I want. I left Torchline to live by my desires instead of my responsibilities, and I don't think I found it." But he'd been miserable before that, too. So would getting any of it back matter? He'd left on a path of self-discovery and all he has to show for it is a dirty mirror reflecting something two-dimensional and unfamiliar.
I cut my teeth on second-hand sentiments
you can't trust a thing I say
you can't trust a thing I say
