catchall for emma

[leaberator]

Comments

[foodbin]

...Yeah. Kind of.

[A beat.]

I know how that sounds. It's not that I don't trust her.

[leaberator]

So what is it?

[foodbin]

I don't know. She's really nice. I get the feeling she wouldn't want to be a bother even if anything was wrong. You know?

[leaberator]

[ ... he huffs, a bit ]

You're not wrong. That's pretty much how she is.

[foodbin]

...I wondered.

[She gives him a grateful nod.]

I won't tell her you told me.

[leaberator]

That she's got bad self-esteem? I've told her that to her face.

[ he hasn't in those terms at all, and also, pot kettle black, but the sentiment is there ]

[foodbin]

I don't want to make her feel even worse, or like I'm talking about her behind her back. That's all.

[even though she definitely is doing that second one.]

[leaberator]

I think she'd just be surprised you were talking about her at all.

[foodbin]

Well, that's... really fucking sad.

[She sighs.]

[leaberator]

... Yeah.

[ he cannot disagree? with that assessment? ]

Just... be there for her. It'll help a lot.

[foodbin]

[She nods.]

I will. The two of us are in this together, after all, right?

[leaberator]

[ he smiles, a bit ]

Yeah. We are. ...Thanks. I'm glad she's got you around.

[foodbin]

[A low laugh, but one with a little edge.]

Don't be too glad. I think I freaked her out pretty well. Some of my memories aren't exactly... Well, you know. Aliens.

[leaberator]

[ yeah, he does know, which is why he puts a concerned hand on her shoulder at the laugh ]

Hey, she was probably just worried about you. It kinda sounds like you didn't really need the reminder.

[foodbin]

[She shakes her head, even if she gives him a small, grateful smile.]

No, I'm fine, really. I just hope it doesn't bother her too much.

[leaberator]

She'll be alright. She's seen some pretty messed up stuff herself.

[ is that reassuring? no ]

[foodbin]

Yeah, I kind of... gleaned that. Still...

[She sighs.]

If I could show you, I think you'd know why I was worried.

[leaberator]

[ he huffs, a bit amused ]

Too bad it doesn't work like that.

[foodbin]

Actually, I'm pretty glad about that, gotta say. Can you imagine what a nightmare it would be if everyone was seeing the sordid details of everybody's past as easy as that?

[leaberator]

[ inner screaming ]

Just the one guy for me was way more than enough, thanks.

[foodbin]

What did you even see...? Knowing him, it must have been... unpleasant.

[leaberator]

[ he waves a hand ]

Ah, nothing good, really. Believe me, you're better off not knowing.

[foodbin]

...Just tell me it wasn't, like, overtly violent.

[leaberator]

[ a beat ]

He was petting a bunny.

[foodbin]

[She laughs after a moment.]

Right. Very funny.