[...Ah. Yes, that was the response Rick was expecting, and it is just as unsettling and embarrassing as he anticipated it would be. If only his powers were working--then he could offer to carry them both! Predictably, though, his mind is as silent as the darkness around them; he has little else to offer that Asch can't bring himself, if not less. But he would feel dreadful for not offering anything at all!]

[Born of some stubborn niceness, Rick insists.] ...A-Are you s-s-sure? [The words suddenly tumble from his wireframe lips, and the faint image of his face flushes noticeably red.] --I-I m-mean--I d-d-don't w-want b-b-both of you t-to f-fall b-behind. I--I d-don't know w-what I w-would do if...

[Realizing that he's gotten melodramatic rather quickly, Rick trails off, awkwardly falling back into pace.]