Neverwinter Forest never thought i could miss you around here

explaining the whole situation would've opened up another unsavory conversation, so mathieu kept things short. brothers, apparently, he replied, we've got the same mom. stephanie hadn't left him with much, but she'd given him siblings. decent gift, all things considered.

matty's smile slowly faded as he listened to simmik speak. he frantically shook his head, shouting, no! and then, after recovering his tone: i mean, no! no, i'm glad that you feel that way 'cause i do, too. alright, not quite the confession that he'd planned. i mean, if you do still feel...that...way, it'd be really cool.

mathieu cleared his throat and turned his attention back onto the trail. he'd stiffened up, suddenly doubting himself again. i don't know how this stuff works, either, he confessed, which is why i keep making things weird.