[It's a relief that Michael just accepts it. Harlan didn't want to waste time arguing. He closes his eyes, tips his head back against the cupboard. Squeezes Michael's hand.
He's going to die here. Hope will probably bring him back, but that's not a certainty anymore. This might be it. He hopes like hell that it's not—a feeling that, if he weren't distracted with more pressing issues, he would recognize as a monumental step forward—but it might be. He gives himself a moment to let that sink in.
Everyone back home would be fine without him. His death would be a blow to Counterspell, sure, but they'd bounce back. The guild doesn't need him. Kyna and Tucker don't, either. They've come a long way in the year and some change they've been working together. They could run the guild without him, even if they might not think they can.
His friends in Hadriel would be fine, too. There's always been a chance that any of them could disappear at any moment, and this is basically just that. Delmar would be heartbroken and Hayden would have to find someone else to watch out for him, but they'd be okay in the end. So would JF. Michael would take care of her.
Probably. Michael is the only one Harlan's worried about. Michael does need him, at least for the moment. Until he gets the Visitor under control. Michael can do that on his own, but he doesn't think he can. That's the problem.]
You can control the Visitor.
[He's still not answering Michael's question, but this is more pressing. He's not sure how much time he has. He opens his eyes again. He wants Michael to know how much he means this.]
You can. Don't fucking... Don't fucking give up on yourself without me.
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He's going to die here. Hope will probably bring him back, but that's not a certainty anymore. This might be it. He hopes like hell that it's not—a feeling that, if he weren't distracted with more pressing issues, he would recognize as a monumental step forward—but it might be. He gives himself a moment to let that sink in.
Everyone back home would be fine without him. His death would be a blow to Counterspell, sure, but they'd bounce back. The guild doesn't need him. Kyna and Tucker don't, either. They've come a long way in the year and some change they've been working together. They could run the guild without him, even if they might not think they can.
His friends in Hadriel would be fine, too. There's always been a chance that any of them could disappear at any moment, and this is basically just that. Delmar would be heartbroken and Hayden would have to find someone else to watch out for him, but they'd be okay in the end. So would JF. Michael would take care of her.
Probably. Michael is the only one Harlan's worried about. Michael does need him, at least for the moment. Until he gets the Visitor under control. Michael can do that on his own, but he doesn't think he can. That's the problem.]
You can control the Visitor.
[He's still not answering Michael's question, but this is more pressing. He's not sure how much time he has. He opens his eyes again. He wants Michael to know how much he means this.]
You can. Don't fucking... Don't fucking give up on yourself without me.