[Uh-oh. He feels his nerves buzzing just under his skin again, and while Verso's default coping mechanism is to joke, to dismiss, to act casually flippant, this is not something he'd ever want to wear that particular mask for.

He clears his throat, eyes still wandering.]

I've decided that I want to carve a new path in life now. I still don’t know what it would be, but I know I want to make it my own.

[His. Not existing under the long shadow of someone else.]

But I… don’t exactly have anything to go back to, nothing waiting for me. [Messmer knows why.] So I was wondering if… maybe I could go with you? I know it’s just one more selfish thing for me to ask, but—

[Ohh his words are failing him. He looks at Messmer, finally, as if to forcibly will them out.]

I’d like to figure it out together, if you’d have me.