[Mattias folds into the offered embrace, and Ryan holds him close, carefully as he can-- as if Mattias isn't just something fragile but one that he's keeping safe. He wants to coil around him, but his tail is too heavy, and so instead he settles for what he can do, softly stroking Mattias' hair.

The insistence isn't lost on him, and when Mattias lifts his head Ryan's hand trails with it, holding gently along his chin and jawline to ease some of the strain of that effort. His shortened lifespan isn't something Ryan exactly likes hearing about, but prefacing it with that pride in his accomplishments helps-- Mattias may be right, it may end up sounding cruel, but that's at least something Ryan can keep in mind if it does.]

I will. I promise, Mattias. [His voice is a murmur, and he pauses for a moment there.] I'll try, okay? I don't know if I can promise more than that until you tell me, but I'm listening to all of it.