[ It might be worth it this time; what they've managed to gain might make this time worth it, but what about the next time? What wil the price be then? Who will have to pay it? Alan's been trying all along to limit the damage, even though the Dark Presence has fought him every step of the way. Once it's in the story, I have to use it. Even if I hate it. Even if it's not what I'd do.
If he can direct most of the damage to himself rather than to other people, that's good. Not good for him, but paying any kind of price never is. He's the one who started all of this; shouldn't he shoulder most of the fallout whenever possible? Yes. Yes, I have to do that. I have to fix this.
If he were in a better, lighter mood, he would have joked right back. He wants to do that; he wants to be happy, to make jokes, to laugh. ] Sorry. You're trying to help, trying to bring the mood up, and I'm just- [ A downer. The worst downer that's ever existed. ]
I wish I had half of your confidence. I had it, once, before all of this. But maybe you're right. Maybe this time, the key isn't just me. The key is you. Everyone who's trying to help in their own way. [ Not Scratch. He's trying to take everything away from me. I can't let him. ]
I know about Deerfest, but Coffee World? [ It sounds like an interesting place, at least, even if it doesn't sound likely that they'll get to check it out. There's probably a story there, and he hopes it's not one he had anything to do with. But knowing his luck? It probably is.
Encouraged by her reactions, he begins to be a little bolder with his explorations. Nothing outrageous, not forcing anything on her, but occasionally exploring a little bit past her lips before pulling back. This isn't his first time being intimate with another person, even if there's still a lot of "firsts" for them. But he can't help but feel apprehensive somehow, as if his advances might turn out to be unwelcome.
He feels her hand pressing into his back, and he feels her seemingly shift against him, almost melting into his hold, which in turn causes him to pull in his arms tighter around her, holding her closer as he presses a deep kiss onto her mouth. ]
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If he can direct most of the damage to himself rather than to other people, that's good. Not good for him, but paying any kind of price never is. He's the one who started all of this; shouldn't he shoulder most of the fallout whenever possible? Yes. Yes, I have to do that. I have to fix this.
If he were in a better, lighter mood, he would have joked right back. He wants to do that; he wants to be happy, to make jokes, to laugh. ] Sorry. You're trying to help, trying to bring the mood up, and I'm just- [ A downer. The worst downer that's ever existed. ]
I wish I had half of your confidence. I had it, once, before all of this. But maybe you're right. Maybe this time, the key isn't just me. The key is you. Everyone who's trying to help in their own way. [ Not Scratch. He's trying to take everything away from me. I can't let him. ]
I know about Deerfest, but Coffee World? [ It sounds like an interesting place, at least, even if it doesn't sound likely that they'll get to check it out. There's probably a story there, and he hopes it's not one he had anything to do with. But knowing his luck? It probably is.
Encouraged by her reactions, he begins to be a little bolder with his explorations. Nothing outrageous, not forcing anything on her, but occasionally exploring a little bit past her lips before pulling back. This isn't his first time being intimate with another person, even if there's still a lot of "firsts" for them. But he can't help but feel apprehensive somehow, as if his advances might turn out to be unwelcome.
He feels her hand pressing into his back, and he feels her seemingly shift against him, almost melting into his hold, which in turn causes him to pull in his arms tighter around her, holding her closer as he presses a deep kiss onto her mouth. ]