#save2

(Same,, ☺️) This would be one of those rare moments where he shuts off all his emotions and focuses on anything, everything but himself. It's highly unlikely that he would be be one to make the decision instead of desperately trying to make amends where amends can't be made.

He'd try not to think about it at first, and look for little things to distract and busy himself with so he doesn't have to, but eventually that empty feeling will catch up to him and he'll be pretty down for a while. It's one of those "ask him how he's doing and he'll start sobbing out of nowhere" things.

Hi? Dezzi??? dial it back a bit man,

It takes a lot of trust for Étienne to consider someone that close, so there isn't much that they would have to be wary of. At that point, anything that could have damaged his trust before would have already.

For one thing, he's particular about his secrets. There are things that his mind holds onto for years, and if he gets in that sad, mushy, sentimental mood, they might fall out in front of someone he values highly. Sometimes he forgets to say it outright, but he's not okay with these thoughts being spread any further than between them two. If that were to happen, he'd be... not ticked off, per se, but definitely offended.

Other than that, he'll close off pretty hard if his partner takes a stab at his character, and brings up something he's sensitive about. Assuming this is nationverse, there are a fair number of things he's sensitive about, but most of them are too obvious or too specific to be brought up if not on spite. That's why he takes it so personally, because he assumes that they were trying that hard to make him feel shitty.

Good, you deserve to know Everything!! (Also rambling into the void is Favorable) Étienne's a pretty good listener; as much as he'd have fallen in love with his partner, he'd have fallen in love with their voice and their words, and sometimes all it takes is hearing about their day to take his mind off those millions of thoughts that swim around in his head all the time. Inconveniently, he's lost for words when he's asked to do the same.

Étienne wouldn't hesitate much to say it directly. When he trusts someone enough, he'll be more open with his emotions (and maybe more annoying pff-). While he doesn't mind being alone for a while, there are times where he'll feel a little too lonely, and start bothering them for attention.