[Maybe that's it. As badly as he's taken some things lately... maybe it wasn't the absence of Terra and Aqua that messed him up, but the absence of people he felt he could be totally direct with. As honest in nature as Ven is, having to hold back as he's done has been difficult, to say the least. He's not used to it.

He still feels terrible about what he might have done, and that guilt will linger for a while still -- the guilt and frustration of not being strong enough, smart enough, fast enough -- but the weight on his heart is much lighter than it was half an hour ago.]

Yeah -- I've made some really good friends here... and I trust all of them. [His smile grows as he nods.] Heh... if I can ever do the same for you, I'd be glad to.

[Although she really seems to have herself together, so he doubts she'd ever need it, but...]