I always have this problem when I approach this particular trope, because I'm never sure what I want to say or how I want to say it. And this fic is Sam POV, and I'm pretty sure Sam has even less of an idea of what he wants to say or how he wants to say it than I do, so that just compounds the issue manyfold. It's one of those fics where like... Sam's just talking around an issue. And I think that's right, like. It makes sense for him to approach the subject elliptically. But I think that runs the risk of just being confusing and boring, because no one will be able to tell wtf Sam is talking about. But on the other hand, if it gets too straightforward, then it's just cheap and I dunno. Not right, either. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M BEING SO VAGUE AND ELLIPTICAL HERE. What am I worried about?? LOL. My own deep shame and self-consciousness, really.
This tag would certainly be shorter and more tag-like if I knew what I was doing. Or at the very least, if Sam did.