[ In a weird way, Matt gets this. He loves people, but he doesn't trust them. Certainly not to take care of him, to look out for him--how could he, when his deepest relationship was totally fucked up and his own parents tossed him out like an old newspaper? So he doesn't expect to be trusted in turn without a good reason. Especially not now, in the middle of a rapidly escalating conflict.

Not anyone to you prompts a spark of protest, however. Not "Ruby nooo you're so special to me," because they've only just met. It's like what Matt said to Amos, trying to explain himself: I want them to succeed, and I love them the way I love something divine. Using his power to benefit others is a matter of faith. What makes him up at the molecular level.

... That's too much. ]

I like casting spells, [ feels like the simplest answer. It's true, if only a drop of the truth in a vast ocean. ] I love it, actually. I mean, I should be clear upfront that cordoning off an area depends on a lot of factors--how much territory your friends need being a big one, but there might be others. So no guarantees, but I'd love to try.

[ A pause. He thinks Ruby will understand this part better than anyone else. ]

And it'd be nice to spend time on something that's just--not a part of the war they want us to have. Totally separate.