[He closes his eyes, lets himself enjoy this warmth. It's different with every soul he's come to care for, come to love. With Stephen, there's the faintest glimmer of hope there. If he can just keep hold of it for a few moments longer -- ]
We have been trying to go it alone, or just as adults, all this time. No more. I... do not want to put the weight of the world on children's shoulders, but we need their help. We need Nana's strength and Christine's spontaneity just as much as we need Steven's optimism and Santana's cynicism.
[He swallows and leans back, but only far enough to stare Stephen down.]
For all my loathing of the fragile bonds between humanity, it is your greatest strength. Our greatest strength. And there are more bonds between us than there are between the Phantom and this Wizard. We just have to... exploit that.
no subject
[He closes his eyes, lets himself enjoy this warmth. It's different with every soul he's come to care for, come to love. With Stephen, there's the faintest glimmer of hope there. If he can just keep hold of it for a few moments longer -- ]
We have been trying to go it alone, or just as adults, all this time. No more. I... do not want to put the weight of the world on children's shoulders, but we need their help. We need Nana's strength and Christine's spontaneity just as much as we need Steven's optimism and Santana's cynicism.
[He swallows and leans back, but only far enough to stare Stephen down.]
For all my loathing of the fragile bonds between humanity, it is your greatest strength. Our greatest strength. And there are more bonds between us than there are between the Phantom and this Wizard. We just have to... exploit that.