[he was half expecting and half not expecting that answer, knowing Ryuji and the kind of guy he is, but also knowing Ryuji and the way he's never shot Dave down so adamantly on something before. it lights up all the wrong neurons, the kind that tell him there's nothing he can say that'll fix it; if anything, the retorts he does have will probably only make it worse. the kind that burns guilt and regret on his insides, for putting the both of them in this situation to begin with, and for letting himself be hurt enough — and showing it enough — that Ryuji feels the need to make up for it.]

[which brings him to another predicament. Dave wants him to know how dangerous the spiders are. tacking that warning on the wall may as well paint a target on the Matron's lair itself.]

[there's a middle ground here. he just hasn't thought of it yet — right now, they're likely trapped on the other sides of a glass box holding that compromise, trying to claw their way through to it and not reaching each other.]

I can't — [fuck, he hadn't meant to let his voice crack. he tries again.]

I can't undo it, dude.

[no time travel here. he might not even if he could, and then they'd likely be having a very different discussion than they are right now.]

The only thing I can really do is make sure it doesn't happen again. That's why I'm askin' you not to do this — all right?