[Joshua, intentionally or no, seems to be on the right track. Dion hadn't meant to lead into this with his speech, only to express his intentions. But now that the words have been spoken into the air, he knows that this is the only moment in which he can act.
He glances down into a freshly filled hole, carefully spreads dirt back over it, and then looks back to Joshua's eyes.]
May I ask you something, then?
[The moment he starts, his heart leaps into his throat. It might have been better for both him and his nerves to launch into his speech now. Instead he waits. He'll get permission first, thank you.]
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He glances down into a freshly filled hole, carefully spreads dirt back over it, and then looks back to Joshua's eyes.]
May I ask you something, then?
[The moment he starts, his heart leaps into his throat. It might have been better for both him and his nerves to launch into his speech now. Instead he waits. He'll get permission first, thank you.]