You don't want to let go of him.

Just as you had done when he'd arrived on your planet, you'd wrapped him in the tightest hug you could manage - he hadn't reciprocated it back then, but now, his arms rest around your shoulders. It's only a small comfort at the moment, because you know that once you let go of each other, then he'll have to leave.

He needs to go back to his own planet; his lusus is probably worried about him, and there's some other stuff he has to take care of. You understand, of course, but... it feels like you've barely had a chance to be together at all. It feels like he just got there, like he only fell through your gate a split-second ago. And now he's already leaving again. Unfortunately, going with him is out of the question, as you're a landdweller and his planet is completely covered in water. You don't think you could survive that long. So there's really no alternative.

You can see his words in the Trollian window through your Scopetop Lenses; he'll come back. He doesn't know how long it will take, but he'll come back. You nod, but as you hesitantly pull back from the embrace, it grows increasingly difficult to see the words. You're glad he can't see your eyes, but for a different reason than your usual one - you don't want him to see your tears. He'd seen enough of them upon your first meeting.

"Be safe, okay?" you manage to squeak out. He nods and gives your shoulders a squeeze, then lifts a hand to brush the bangs out of your face before turning toward the Return Node you'd led him to. As he heads for it, you almost start after him, but your lususprite holds you back. So all you can do is watch him go.

Just as he reaches the Return Node, he stops and turns back to look at you. He raises a hand and waves, then briefly hesitates before forming that hand into a sign: he curls his middle and ring fingers toward his palm, leaving the remaining fingers extended. You tilt your head at him in confusion - another one of those signs you can't understand...? Even stranger is the look of embarrassment that forms on his face as he turns and jumps through the Node.

You bite your lip and look down at the ground. It hurts, but you know you'll see each other again. You have to, there's still so many things you promised to do with each other... A light weight in your hand distracts you from your thoughts, and you open it up to reveal one of the gifts he'd given you: a smooth, shiny round stone that's nearly the color of your blood.

You tightly clutch the stone and hold it to your heart, and finally let the tears flow as your lususprite does her best to comfort you.