⤷ ✧ @illusionprotected said, ❝ it's just—I'd hoped we'd never see each other again. ❞
his brief laugh doesn't contain any true humor — merely recognition of the absurdity of the situation and appreciation for her forthrightness. he wouldn't be lying to admit he has shared the sentiment, but there's no words he can find with which to say it that don't sound cruel in a way he has no desire, no reason, to be. ❛ I'm getting the sense things don't generally turn out how we hope. ❜ it wasn't, after all, like he'd ever envisioned setting foot upon this cursed planet again himself. then again, there was a lot in store that he hadn't necessarily envisioned.
he knows what his being here dredges up for him, but he cannot know what it dredges up for her. it scarcely seems fair, to impose without warning. ❛ for what it's worth, I am sorry about it. ❜ — and about other things as well.
but the rest of his guilt he'll leave aside for now, along with the thought that's slipped through his mind more than once since they'd set their course here that maybe, just maybe, this is a second chance, an opportunity to make sure they hadn't merely let her make the wrong decision, too eager to be gone from this place themselves.