[Honestly, Hermann could go for a Drift right now, too. They only had a glimpse into each other's heads, but that alone was better communication than they've ever had with words. Of course, the presence of the Other sort of soured it. Like a lot, actually.]

We'd only ever had friendly, academic debates on paper. When we got into a real argument in person, I thought- Well, surely, I thought you couldn't feel the same way. To pursue it would've been... awkward.

[He gestures with his free hand, not sure... exactly what gesture to make so just kind of waving his hand in the air.]

Besides, I'm... I'm not the only one who let that relationship go.

[Now it's his turn to sound hurt.]