[That's a new question. By now he's used to the "Do you want to be free?" one (he's not sure why Phil still keeps asking that, as his answer hasn't changed a bit over the years), and he can fend it off pretty easily. This... this one trips him up for a moment before he huffs another sigh and shakes his head, even though he knows Phil won't be able to see that.]
Are you gonna follow that up by asking me if I want you to release me? 'Cause I think I've already made my answer to that one pretty clear.
[It is and will always be 'no' no matter what, even if it means he's going to die when Phil does. He knows that and is prepared for it, because honestly, the other option - living without Phil - is unthinkable to him.]
If we're having honesty hour here... sure, sometimes it can be pretty inconvenient not being able to go that far away from you, and I don't enjoy getting a front row seat every time you're feeling down on yourself.
[A pause, and he focuses his attention back on that knot in Phil's neck, kneading it gently.]
But that doesn't come anywhere close to 'resent.'
[He belongs at Phil's side. As far as he's concerned, it really is that simple.]
[ Some of the tension in him does seem to release with that, at least, with something somewhere between a sigh and a tired laugh. ]
Ha... Right. I'm sorry. I know you don't like questions like that.
I don't know the precise reasoning behind what happened in Nibelung back then...
[ Though there are plenty of things he can imagine that might have incited it; he could hardly pretend otherwise after everything with the dead mirrites. Maybe one of them was just finally the straw that broke the camel's back. ]
I just don't ever want you to feel like I'm forcing you into anything.
[ His awareness of what was going on while Phantom was in charge of things is hazy, but he can guess how that went. And he can't pretend he doesn't bear responsibility for that. ]
Or like I'm holding you back from something better.
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no subject
Are you gonna follow that up by asking me if I want you to release me? 'Cause I think I've already made my answer to that one pretty clear.
[It is and will always be 'no' no matter what, even if it means he's going to die when Phil does. He knows that and is prepared for it, because honestly, the other option - living without Phil - is unthinkable to him.]
If we're having honesty hour here... sure, sometimes it can be pretty inconvenient not being able to go that far away from you, and I don't enjoy getting a front row seat every time you're feeling down on yourself.
[A pause, and he focuses his attention back on that knot in Phil's neck, kneading it gently.]
But that doesn't come anywhere close to 'resent.'
[He belongs at Phil's side. As far as he's concerned, it really is that simple.]
no subject
Ha... Right. I'm sorry. I know you don't like questions like that.
I don't know the precise reasoning behind what happened in Nibelung back then...
[ Though there are plenty of things he can imagine that might have incited it; he could hardly pretend otherwise after everything with the dead mirrites. Maybe one of them was just finally the straw that broke the camel's back. ]
I just don't ever want you to feel like I'm forcing you into anything.
[ His awareness of what was going on while Phantom was in charge of things is hazy, but he can guess how that went. And he can't pretend he doesn't bear responsibility for that. ]
Or like I'm holding you back from something better.