Viktor huffs, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"I believe what I proposed was far more likely than any of those things, given how often it happens to Visitors here, but I suppose you have a point."

Fretting is useless when the future is out of your hands.

"I know." Even when Skan wasn't thinking straight and was terrified by what he thought was an immediate threat to their lives, he didn't leave Viktor behind. Still, he is wistful from thinking of all the ways they could be separated against their wishes.

"Have... Have you thought about... The option to stay here permanently? I did not want to bring it up to you, because I would never suggest that you not go back home to your children, but if your chance of survival there is so low... Perhaps it is worth considering?"