[Noctis simply stares back for however long it takes for him to remember what he was going to say. Ravus did ask to speak with him in private, in his own way. But when he finally opens his mouth...


Ah. So that's why.]

I know, it wasn't.

[He gestures at the two empty glasses in front of him, the third still half-full. He's trying. Even if it's just for the night, he knows... After all, she never once spoke of her treatment by the Empire in her responses in their notebook.]

Gentiana shared- some of their last conversation, in Tenebrae.

['-where prying eyes cannot see the tears in mine.' That she only wanted to be with him, but fate and callings would tear them apart just as they reunited. His gaze falls upon the Ring she'd given everything to see returned to him, along with the blessings of their gods. He can feel the emotion knotting up in his throat, but he swallows it back down.]

So... it was already mine. Just not as clearly defined.

[His breath isn't shaky, either. It's just the air quality (shit, he thought he got this out of his system on the airship).]

Besides, [He says, in a far softer tone than he's ever used before Ravus since his brief stay in Tenebrae.] It- isn't a burden to me.

[He just wishes she'd lived to tell him herself.]