[It's a non-committal noise. Does she know him well enough to handle what is pretty obviously an entrenched belief? Not really.
But at the same time, she's guessing this is probably one of the longest conversations he's had since he got here. Is he even from somewhere else? Maybe he's local. She has no real way of knowing. And that... settles it, really.
Being alone is her greatest fear. If that's something she can ease for others, even a little-- well. Why not. She's trying to be less of a hypocrite. She's mentioned Riley all of once since losing her, and that a year later to someone who she's not even sure she trusts. She would take a bullet for Joel, no questions asked, and he's the closest thing she's ever had to a father, but there's no denying he's shady as fuck. She'd have to be blind not to realize.
I've been on both sides. No one is innocent where she's from. She doesn't even think she can be surprised by the depths of human depravity anymore.
But people still need human connection. And this guy, who avoids humanity, gives out fake names, and worries about hurting others... fuck, maybe he just needs a friend. Maybe she's projecting. Either way, she thinks he deserves someone who tries.]
I don't know about that. If it's my delicate sensibilities you're hoping to spare-- [a slight upwards quirk of her mouth.] That's not really your call to make. I get being private, wanting to keep your secrets, whatever. But I've met bad people. I don't think you're one of them. You've obviously been through some shit, and there's nothing wrong with-- you know, needing some time to sort through it. Figure out who you are now.
[That's what she's had to do. She's at war with herself. Who she used to be, before that night in the mall. Before Sam and Henry. Before David. Reconciling who she's become has been hard, and she's still not sure where she stands. Sometimes she just feels like a bunch of jumbled up instincts all screaming at her to survive and not much like a person at all. Other times she's so acutely aware of her own humanity she just wants to scream.]
no subject
[It's a non-committal noise. Does she know him well enough to handle what is pretty obviously an entrenched belief? Not really.
But at the same time, she's guessing this is probably one of the longest conversations he's had since he got here. Is he even from somewhere else? Maybe he's local. She has no real way of knowing. And that... settles it, really.
Being alone is her greatest fear. If that's something she can ease for others, even a little-- well. Why not. She's trying to be less of a hypocrite. She's mentioned Riley all of once since losing her, and that a year later to someone who she's not even sure she trusts. She would take a bullet for Joel, no questions asked, and he's the closest thing she's ever had to a father, but there's no denying he's shady as fuck. She'd have to be blind not to realize.
I've been on both sides. No one is innocent where she's from. She doesn't even think she can be surprised by the depths of human depravity anymore.
But people still need human connection. And this guy, who avoids humanity, gives out fake names, and worries about hurting others... fuck, maybe he just needs a friend. Maybe she's projecting. Either way, she thinks he deserves someone who tries.]
I don't know about that. If it's my delicate sensibilities you're hoping to spare-- [a slight upwards quirk of her mouth.] That's not really your call to make. I get being private, wanting to keep your secrets, whatever. But I've met bad people. I don't think you're one of them. You've obviously been through some shit, and there's nothing wrong with-- you know, needing some time to sort through it. Figure out who you are now.
[That's what she's had to do. She's at war with herself. Who she used to be, before that night in the mall. Before Sam and Henry. Before David. Reconciling who she's become has been hard, and she's still not sure where she stands. Sometimes she just feels like a bunch of jumbled up instincts all screaming at her to survive and not much like a person at all. Other times she's so acutely aware of her own humanity she just wants to scream.]
But that doesn't mean you have to hide.