[ This time, his gaze lowers and his face falls, and it stays that way, as if he suddenly can't allow himself to keep trying to make eye contact. ]

Maybe not, but it's still my fault. It's still the fault of the Dark Presence. I let it get in, and I let it ruin... us. But... we'll find it again. We'll find us again.

[ It's a brief flash of determination, but it's one of the first ones Alan's had since coming back. The frustrated response that Kiran had to put up with doesn't count, not in his mind. ]

No, I guess not. But as long as you're willing to... move on... Maybe even try picking up where we- If you want to, anyway. [ There's no "we" in that. I'm the one who left her behind, right? She doesn't owe me anything.

Alan's expression darkens again, as he remembers his interactions with the FBI. They weren't harsh or anything like that, but he's firmly convinced it wasn't their job to make him comfortable. It's deserved, after all. This story is a monster, and he's contributed to it whether he meant to or not. And, well, he can't pretend that he didn't mean to. ]

Maybe, but I didn't expect them to. I don't expect any of you to.