[It's a little better, being face to face. It's a little easier (if a little more painful) to speak directly, to see what lands and what flits away without finding its mark.

William sways, almost entering the space but not yet able to.]

I loved the man who fought tigers. Deeply, properly. Like a brother--like something more than blood. But... all his ferocity was-- selfish. Was to keep himself alive, moving forward.

[A brief pang; another uncomfortable thought that he was only alive for someone else's ambition. It's soothed by taking another breath focused on the god before him.]

Yours... isn't. If-- If Thor stood before a tiger, if-- I were under its claws, I... I know you would be ferocious on our behalves.