[there's the smallest of pauses as Dohalim thinks on that. does he regret expressing his love? he doesn't think so. maybe it's just in the moment of when he said it that he's giving it a thought. but regret... no, there's no regret. not when he's so emotionally attached to the deity, and would give almost, if not everything to stay with him. admittedly, he's never actually fallen in love before, but he imagines this is how it feels.

so he shakes his head, inching his face just a little closer to Zhongli's]

No... I don't. I just... Perhaps I could have said it in a more eloquent way, and not when my physical needs were guiding me.

[Dohalim forces his eyes open to look into that lovely amber, letting himself be drawn in like so many times before]

I will admit... I do find myself wondering if I can allow myself to... What with Umbra... With everything. Do I deserve to feel like this... I want it. I want it so much, to be with you, to love you, but... There is a fear there. A fear of being selfish, a fear of falling so fast and so hard, a fear of it being ripped away from me.

But I do love you, Zhongli. At least... I think that's what it is.