Not returning home, however I after the last few months I'm inclined to believe any destination will be workable. So long as I can make my own future.

But I do need to make what Arthas said true. I need to remove my mind from the boat before it slips again.

Believe me, I'm the last person to try to convince you to stay. This place isn't good for any of us, long term.

It's not been, no.

I was poorly matched. And I'm pleased to have finally succeeded this one. But I want you to remember- try to believe in more people when I'm done. Even if you can't stop them from making bad decisions, there's someone else here who can.

We're a forced community. We might not like it, but we are. We have been. And all it takes is a little bit of confidence in someone to make it better. It became difficult for me after a bit- try to do better than I did.

[Dick... honestly isn't sure if he has that in him anymore. Or right now, at least. It wasn't that he didn't trust people or couldn't give them the benefit of the doubt, but when he trusted people, things like that security breach with Ariadne happened, or the person you tried giving a second chance screwed it up and poisoned you.

He liked to think of himself as an optimist, and he still was, sometimes. Most of the time. But this place kind of seemed like it just wanted to beat that out of him once and for all, and he wasn't sure he could just say no worries, not a problem, everything's going to be fine. And he kind of hates that someone needs to tell him to be more optimistic now.

So he found himself settling for the next best thing.]

I'll try. [He means it, too, and it's not just trying to brush the situation off like it wasn't a big deal.]

And... thanks. For everything.

A good reason you ought to be more sure that you can believe in people, Dick? I very much doubt I would have kept myself together were it not for you and your brother and your father. You gave me a family when I needed it. Even with my brother here, you were always here as well.

[And that he doesn't mean lightly either.] If I had gone prematurely, this version of me was about to cease existing, become someone else with only quiet memories of having been myself. Simply being there saved this personality, this particular life.

Remember that in the future.

[Don't you make him get choked up. :|]

I will.

[Try me!]

You know, you did help with that. With him. Someone graduated, and has the freedom to return home because you supported someone else. Someone else graduated recently, because you gave your friend strength.

You do make lives better, Dick. Don't forget that.

[Curse youuuuu. ;;]

I won't. Thanks.