Among other things. That is a complicated subject that he doesn't really want to get into over the phone.
"I mean, they're both necklaced, it doesn't really surprise me."
"I have really complicated feelings about it," admits Aldaras.
"I'm okay with explaining it if it's a thing that you want to know."
"Okay, then - it's - I really want that," he admits, desperately. "And I know I shouldn't, and I know it's the freaky non consenting magic talking and I'm not going to - to -" He trails off, searching for the right words. "If you asked me to marry you I would say yes immediately and then after I'd make sure that you weren't - going crazy or under the effects of anything terrible and that you didn't feel like you had to out of obligation rather than an actual desire to. And that's - I'm - I'm jealous and also worried for them but I want them to be happy and wish there were a better option but it's still better than being cut, and, and I don't even know, I'm just - it's really hard to explain but I'm trying."
"It's okay to want it. I mean, I understand. You're being very responsible about not being - gross about wanting it, but the wanting part is fine."
"I'm trying to be responsible and reasonable," says Aldaras. "I - don't think I always manage it, but I'm genuinely trying. Tell me, when I screw it up?"
"Will do. If there's one thing I can be relied on to do it's knowing what I want."
"Good. I -" Pause. "I love you. I've been trying not to make it awkward by saying it, but I do."
"And - and I'm not saying that with the expectation that you should reply in turn, because don't, don't ever do that just because I said it, I am under the influence of funky love magic, that's - not what I - I'm... I'm making such a mess of this, sorry."
"Okay, good. I - realized after that in normal society terms there's a bit of an expectation behind it or - I didn't want you to feel like that, I didn't even realize until after."
"I understand. Is there even a point to me saying you can just skip past awkward apologizing for various consequences of being necklaced till I say otherwise?"
"I'll probably do it anyway," he snorts. "Sorry, it's - I'm not - I don't think I'm the sort of person that's good at being magically in love."
"I suppose. How's your sister, does she want to ask me questions like your dad did?"
"She's okay, she's not here right now, I think she's trying to find something to try and destroy the knife with. She wanted to throw it into a volcano earlier. And then throw it to rabid badgers or something."