I don't want you to not stay. Roland can't help the wry twist of his lips when he hears that, or the brief but real amusement in his eyes, but even Roland is aware that there is a point where you do not push, and Firo has passed it. Roland lets the evasion stand, makes a conscious decision to take it in the spirit it was meant, and as Firo goes on, as his speech stops and starts up again and then goes very quiet, Roland feels his expression soften, as much as it ever does. He takes a further chance, not in moving closer because that would be very difficult, but in reaching out and taking Firo's shoulders in his hands.

"Do what you can," he says, as if it is that simple. It can be. Listen, Firo, and he will tell you how. "For now, what you can do is sit with me. As close or far as you like. Hm?" Roland raises his eyebrows, tilting his head toward Firo's bed and trying to catch Firo's eyes with an expression that is not gentle, but only quite, only misses it by a small margin. It's an expression which asks - not demands, which makes it soft enough for Roland, only asks - Firo to look up and meet his gaze. He'll keep looking at Firo expectantly until he does. Afraid there's no way around it.