[It's a fair question. Tim holds his ground, doesn't shrink under Jason's gaze even as he steps in close.]

I do believe you, Jason. You're just - I don't know, it feels like you're hard to reach sometimes. Unattainable, I guess.

[Like a brass ring he'll always reach for and never fully grasp. Tim shrugs and looks away, face suddenly warm; this is more deeply truthful than he'd planned to be tonight, and now he's questioning whether it was a good idea to say anything at all. He taps his fingers on the surface of the table, then starts toward the kitchen.]

You want something to drink? I have - hm, coffee, more coffee, and water.