i need a cold glass of water + p, ophelia

[align=center][div style="borderwidth=0px; width: 65%; line-height:120%; text-align: justify;font-family: verdana;"]"You never have to apologize for being open with me. I prefer that to you feeling like you must close yourself off." Ophelia murmured in response to that fist apology, a smile on her maw. It was a delicate, gentle thing.

It didn't fade as he went on, a wave of emotion rising in her own heart as he laid his bare before her. She'd never been close with anyone in any sense of the word, always feeling as if others kept her at an arm's length. She didn't blame anyone for it, but it had never felt right. There'd always been a piece missing, something off about the lack of genuine care she received. She had always tried not to let it bother her, but now, faced with the real thing, she had to stave off the urge to let her emotions take control of her. It was a near thing, really. If she wasn't careful, she'd break, and she'd never been truly broken before. She couldn't let that happen now, not when Leroy needed her to be whole.

Giving her head a small shake, she'd look up at Leroy. She only hesitated for a small second, then slowly lifted up her paw. She gave him plenty of time to move away, but, if allowed, she'd rest her paw on his cheek, some contact to let him know that she cared as much as she said she did.

"I think... I think I'd like that, if it's truly what you desire. I care for you, too, Leroy, much more than you know. More than I know how to put into words. This is as special as you think it is, I assure you." she said, tone soft and cautious. These were uncharted waters for her, a depth of which she'd never tried to navigate. If she were any less self-assured, she'd likely be scared of the outcome. As it was, she simply carried on. "You can lean on me whenever you need to. I will never judge you for it, nor will I push you away. You know that."