"So, if you don't need that, it's better to focus on something that you do need."

He takes one of his hands in both of his own and kisses it.

"That's all I had to say.

Enjoy your tea. Start thinking about nice places like Paris. I want you to have good dreams tonight."

"Don't answer, I just want you to know that I know.

If you ever need to talk about anything...if you can...

I'll be ready to hear it."

"About not liking talking about yourself...

Is it the fear that I'll leave, the fear of accidentally lying or being inconsistent, the fear of becoming controlling, a feeling of burden or overload caused by the act of making choices..."

He holds his hand.

+

If you start with those questions, that's real interest.

If you use those questions to redirect a conversation, that's buying time, and I don't think you're trying to intentionally give that impression.

I'll be more careful in the future too."

He stares a moment.

+

He kisses his cheek.

"And you listened! I said you should try asking specific questions that you wanted to hear an answer to, and you did give me one.

You just didn't start with it, and I guess that's the point I want to make.

+

I love leading conversations, but if you try to distract me, I'm going to try to find what's wrong.

Just take those conversations exactly where you need them to be, especially if you need them to be away from you.

I'm okay with that."

He takes a sip of tea.

He's holding his cup with an expectant look on his face.

He sets it down and pretends to open the imaginary box he created earlier.

"I don't like that you're still centering me when you need to take attention away from yourself. It doesn't feel bad, but it doesn't feel good either.

+

When they get back home, Ted changes into something comfortable to sleep in.

This time, it's a shirt with a cassette on it. The front has the A-side, the back has the B-side. Purple pants.

He makes them both some tea.

+

"Take me then. I'll pack some stuff, get some equipment ready. When you get the opportunity, we'll go."

He finishes his plate.

--

He glows.

"I like creativity and adventures."

He touches the tips of his fingers each time he adds a new one.

"A car.

A pocket dimension.

One of my virtual reality rooms set to a location that can't naturally exist on Earth."

+

He continues eating.

Only after he's taken several more bites of food does he reach for his wine glass again.

He pauses and pretends to put the idea away in a box. He puts the imaginary box away in his pocket.

"Later, we'll get back to that later.

I think I wrapped up my other thoughts, but you know...If you have something you want to learn, I want to help you know me too."

+