[ he's made them both uncomfortable. which, really, he's used to. he's not sorry he said it, but he leans back in his seat again, effectively backing off. they're adults, they can do what they like - but frank is pulling for them to figure it out anyway. he turns his full attention to raleigh and snorts, shaking his head. ]

Nah. I'm just a guy. [ he hesitates, but they've told him things. it gets easier to open up the longer time he spends awake and half-cocked on space liquor. and then there's just the fact that this subject is a raw one, even now. once you get him going on it, he can't stop. ] A guy who's lost a lot. [ read: everything. he's back to darting his gaze between them now, he has one last warning to impart. ]

Which makes me uniquely qualified to tell you both not to let go of something special while you've got it. Because the universe is out there just - biding its time, waiting until the right moment to- [ he snaps, a haunting look coming to his eyes. it's like he doesn't see them now, instead trapped in memory. ] Take it all away.