It's a good thing I'm none of those things, and that you touch of your own volition.

( aspen responds as quickly as a ripples form after a pebble's thrown; call and answer. he doesn't look directly at laurent as he speaks, his tone quiet; )

I understand. After such a long time, touch can be... difficult. Many don't feel as if they can reach out... and even fewer feel as if there's any good reason for it. When that was a weapon turned against us, why would we try? There does not need to be a 'good reason', though. Or a reason at all.

I won't judge you for what you will or won't do. I just think... that for all your talk of slaves and pets, you seem to be the one caught in chains the most.