"Hey." Sylvain's voice is firm as he grasps Jesper's jaw and does his best to interrupt that train of thought. "That's bullshit. Are you just going to stop trying?"

Because, oh, that hint of sadness, of hopelessness, cuts him deep. He knows how that feels. How many times had he been on the receiving end of those disappointed looks and angry words from the people close to him? Ingrid. Dimitri. Felix.

Sometimes it felt like a hole you could never claw your way out of. He's been there, too many times to count. He doesn't want to see Jesper drowning in it, either.