[ It had been on the tip of McGillis' tongue for a moment, but he had decided against saying it. It's the kind of thing he would have told Almiria - not a lie, but a little too sugary sweet to be the real truth either. It certainly kept her happy... and he's sure it'd keep Izou happy too, if he treated him that way. Izou is easily controlled by the right words to say and it's not like McGillis doesn't know what those words are.

But if that was all he and Izou amounted to, he wouldn't have come here.

So now he's a little put on the spot. ]

I didn't think you wanted any platitudes from me.

[ Okay, that reads wrong so let's try and elaborate. ]

I can't promise you a future in which I never feel that way... I can only promise you a future in which I'm by your side, regardless. Or rather, I have promised you that future already.

[ 'Yours, eternally'.

Even now, McGillis can't bring himself to say that he loves Izou, but those words... Those are words he stands by. ]