Oh, um... I know, you seem to have, ah, several admirers, my own dating history here has been surprising too, but I just mean, um, I've gotten to know you better, and, it might seem strange to say, but learning more about you through the relationship we share with Shrike, ah—

Well, I didn't want to rock the boat, with what you had with Shrike, but gradually I realized, it was probably alright to come forward with this, no matter how you responded.