[she doesn't move away, but she's also not wrapping her arms around him in kind, either. Max really wants to just let it all out and sob her heart out for hours, but she stops and thinks about Chloe. What she would do. Definitely not sit here and cry in some guy she hardly know's arms.]
I don't, but whether it's all fabrication or not, it doesn't make it any less my reality. I don't have anything, here. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to act or spend my time or who to––
[sniffles...]
All I can do is march forward until the path ahead of me comes to a stop.
[now that she's calming down at least-- a little. He feels awful, and it weighs on his chest. But he pulls back from the hug, and settles for rubbing her back for a moment-- as long as she hasn't pushed him away.]
There's no one? Not a single person you trust? I get not trusting me, but what about the other people from the entrance exam? So many of them are here.
So many? There's six of us, Han. Out of almost thirty. I don't even know if the others are still alive--those of them that weren't already dead.
[That last line, remembering Mishima and Sherlock and Aiden and Vivian...She grits her teeth.]
I do trust them, for your information. But that doesn't....It doesn't change the way I feel. If anything, it makes it worse. It's not just me that's expendable. It's everyone. We're all constantly in danger, and this time I don't even have some stupid deus ex machina bullshit to fix my stupid mistakes.
I'm doing everything I can, so don't think that I'm weak just because of...this. But I'm eighteen, Han. I'm a kid. I'm in high school. I can't take it. I feel completely numb and in constant pain at the same time.
[a few deep, long breathes. She runs her hand over her face and tries to regain some semblance of composure.]
[he just... this wasn't something he could solve. he could say what she wanted to hear, but it felt like it'd be a lie the minute the lecture started. And he didn't want to make things worse.
Don't worry about it. I'm the one that should be apologizing to you.
[he exhales, and his foot taps nervously, while he tries to figure out how to phrase it or what to say. it's his tell, and unfortunately for him, it's easily noticeable.]
Sorry. I wish I knew how to send everyone home. But-- just. Bear with me while I figure it out, okay?
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and then, he hugs her, she seems like she needs it, even if he's. probably a big reason why she's upset.]
You're not-- look. Don't listen to this place's shit attitude, okay? This place is bullshit and you shouldn't believe a word about it.
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I don't, but whether it's all fabrication or not, it doesn't make it any less my reality. I don't have anything, here. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to act or spend my time or who to––
[sniffles...]
All I can do is march forward until the path ahead of me comes to a stop.
It sucks, Han.
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There's no one? Not a single person you trust? I get not trusting me, but what about the other people from the entrance exam? So many of them are here.
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[That last line, remembering Mishima and Sherlock and Aiden and Vivian...She grits her teeth.]
I do trust them, for your information. But that doesn't....It doesn't change the way I feel. If anything, it makes it worse. It's not just me that's expendable. It's everyone. We're all constantly in danger, and this time I don't even have some stupid deus ex machina bullshit to fix my stupid mistakes.
I'm doing everything I can, so don't think that I'm weak just because of...this. But I'm eighteen, Han. I'm a kid. I'm in high school. I can't take it. I feel completely numb and in constant pain at the same time.
[a few deep, long breathes. She runs her hand over her face and tries to regain some semblance of composure.]
I should stop. I need to stop talking about this.
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It's just.]
Not all of us are against you.
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Trust me... You and I both think it's better that I just say I ran into a cabinet.
[and then he sits across from her]
But look, what you're feeling... that's pretty natural. This is a messed up situation that no one should be in.
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[shivers, biting her lip]
You'd think I'd be used to it by now.
[The eye contact slowly but surely breaks.]
...Sorry.
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[he exhales, and his foot taps nervously, while he tries to figure out how to phrase it or what to say. it's his tell, and unfortunately for him, it's easily noticeable.]
Sorry. I wish I knew how to send everyone home. But-- just. Bear with me while I figure it out, okay?
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Please, don't say that.
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[he offers a weak smile.]
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Just tell me one more thing.
Do you know what happened to the others from the entrance exam? Are they alive?
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[he knows the one, and he is. going to just make sure to wear makeup from now on]
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[she stands up, wiping her eyes that totally don't have residual tears in them]
Great.
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[...okay, she feels bad about that. she leans against the door, contemplating apologizing.]
Sorry. I do think you're a good person, it's just...complicated.
[her nails lightly scratch at the door before she opens it.]
I needed someone to listen to me today, so thank you. I owe you one.
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Of course. Anytime.