This time, there's less uncertainty when Rosinante puts a hand on his head. There's less guilt. It's fine to take this, it's fine to want it, because he's not the only one who does. It's not as if he really regrets all those other times, with all those other people. It's just that this is different, and that sort of thing matters here.

He'd reciprocate the gesture but, well. Quite frankly his arms are not long enough.

"Right, one day at a time." Like everything else around here. And that's sort of the root of it, isn't it? Nothing is ever certain, in Beacon more than anywhere else. They could one or both of them just vanish into the woods, or be killed by spirits, with lanterns too damaged to repair. They could all be devoured by a World Eater. Another flood could sweep the whole town, what's left of it, off into the lake.

One day at a time is really all they can do.

"... You're allowed, by the way." He tries to pick up some of that charm he was laying on back at the carnival. "Just to answer that question from earlier."

You know, the one about holding him.