The bat wings at his ears stretch out and forward and cover those hands.
He's grateful to Ryou for buying him time, for getting between them, so Atem doesn't reply I'm asking because I'm NOT assuming, I'm the one who's chasing pathetically, putting what I have at risk so that I can have something more! Instead, while Ryou talks, Atem takes a breath, and lets it out. He doesn't need to breathe, but it's calming.]
It's complicated, and we're all tired. I'm sorry for bringing both of you here for a difficult conversation at a time like this, but the truth is, there's no telling if this wailing will only last until the end of the Fog, or if it will last through the 22nd...
...and a lot might happen between now and the 22nd. I can't be sure I'll get another chance. Even if I'm clumsy right now...I still don't want to wait.
[He takes another breath in, and lets it out. The ear-wings retreat back to the sides of his face, and he looks up.]
Can you accept that, Nagito? That I might not be able to talk about this perfectly, and might get it wrong...but that I'll try? I -- I can't promise anything more than that. Even if you deserve better -- you deserve to discuss this without it hurting you, without me hurting you, both of you do -- I --
[He can't surpass his limits, no matter how much he wants to. No matter how much Atem wants to handle this perfectly, kindly -- it's beyond him. He'll try, but...]
I can't do better than my best. And, sometimes, it's not enough!
[You could never, ever be better than you.]
I...I think it's better to talk about it, even if it doesn't go exactly right...than to not do it at all. I want to do this. But if that's not okay, and this is too hard...then, we can stop.
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[Atem puts his face in his hands.
The bat wings at his ears stretch out and forward and cover those hands.
He's grateful to Ryou for buying him time, for getting between them, so Atem doesn't reply I'm asking because I'm NOT assuming, I'm the one who's chasing pathetically, putting what I have at risk so that I can have something more! Instead, while Ryou talks, Atem takes a breath, and lets it out. He doesn't need to breathe, but it's calming.]
It's complicated, and we're all tired. I'm sorry for bringing both of you here for a difficult conversation at a time like this, but the truth is, there's no telling if this wailing will only last until the end of the Fog, or if it will last through the 22nd...
...and a lot might happen between now and the 22nd. I can't be sure I'll get another chance. Even if I'm clumsy right now...I still don't want to wait.
[He takes another breath in, and lets it out. The ear-wings retreat back to the sides of his face, and he looks up.]
Can you accept that, Nagito? That I might not be able to talk about this perfectly, and might get it wrong...but that I'll try? I -- I can't promise anything more than that. Even if you deserve better -- you deserve to discuss this without it hurting you, without me hurting you, both of you do -- I --
[He can't surpass his limits, no matter how much he wants to. No matter how much Atem wants to handle this perfectly, kindly -- it's beyond him. He'll try, but...]
I can't do better than my best. And, sometimes, it's not enough!
[You could never, ever be better than you.]
I...I think it's better to talk about it, even if it doesn't go exactly right...than to not do it at all. I want to do this. But if that's not okay, and this is too hard...then, we can stop.