[ The pieces keep shifting, some becoming clearer, some more confusing. That Olivine likes him, and wants to keep insisting on it, makes his heart skip.

But so does the way he...doesn't dismiss, but slides over these questions. ]

I understand [ Because he does. That impulse is deep in him. ] But...please don't do that with me. You deserve somewhere to be honest, and I like taking care of those I care about.

[ it's more forward than he'd normally be. Is it their closeness, or perhaps another element of the transformation? It doesn't matter. It needs to be said. ]