It takes a great deal of effort not to stare at him with all the intensity she can scrounge up, and she only barely manages it. But she's still watching him carefully, every expression and movement, trying to gauge his reaction. The tone isn't...promising, and the panic edging the corners of her mind threatens to take over.

But she didn't come this far just to give up. Not when she wants something--someone--this much, not when she's spent her whole life giving in, and she's finally ready to go after her own desires.

She bites her lip, staring up at Alistair, apprehension and worry clear on her face, but there's still a stubborn resolve there. She patiently waits for him to continue, but. He...doesn't. He's just staring at the ring and he's going to get juice on it, for the love of--No. Stop, ignore the pleasant leg, focus. This is entirely off the rails from anything she had planned out, but. She could do this. She had to believe in herself.

"I'm sorry if, um. I said anything wrong, I've never done this--" Wait, no. Shit. That's not believing in yourself. Deep breath. Try not to cry, because that will probably not help (or maybe it will? Would that help??). "But I mean it. I'm tired of saying I don't deserve to have desires, or that they don't matter. So--I care about you, Alistair. Please, give me a chance--even a small one--and I promise, I'll do my best."

Well. That'll have to be good enough. Hopefully.