So it wasn't quite the same. But it didn't have to be; Anders doubted he'd ever meet someone who has landed themselves in the same situation as he had. He shouldn't hope, even. Hope always turned wrong, and he worked to get his relief and longing back in check even as the other man stepped back.

The change was dramatic. Not just the yell, but the red cracks that tore through him, the way everything seemed slower. Anders looked and hesitated. It wasn't like if he showed his in return he could definitively take control back, and there was also no guarantee Justice wouldn't find this man and the red offensive. The spirit was already muttering in the back of Anders' mind about how red was never a good sign.

"Pretty isn't something I'm worried about." But holding back completely wasn't really an option either, was it? If he could gain... He didn't know. Anders frowned and exhaled before deciding to take a semi-safe route. "I've seen something similar before, but not red breaking through. Blue. Have you seen that?"