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it was not spurning that came; it was the gentle uncertainty given to love's overwhelming clasp. while part of lasher wished for dante to have given an answer, so that they would not hang in some purgatory of unrequited affection, but this .. .this was enough. i will take whatever reply it is you have to give, dante. i would not demand such an answer from you.
and it was true; he would not. taltos recognized that he was quite an oddity when it came to romance; he had the capacity to encompass several with his love, while others clung to the tried and true way of single pairings. but he had never been compelled in such a way, and thus he would not manipulate the silver man standing so bare before him to choose. he had spoken out of an inability to keep inarticulate, keep silent, the depth of his affections.
at length, he smiled wanly toward his companion. he wished humbly, in his heart, that they could remain close in friendship, despite the pallor that his admission had cast over their relationship. however, if dante could not, or would not, maintain the facade, lasher knew he could accept such gracefully, if not with a degree of quiet pain.
it is not a skill, to love; there is nothing to perfect. it is only a feeling, one free of denial.
and lasher was silent.