[ch. 2] post-trial, w/ evan

[asswipe]

[Hey, Evan. Veronica's just... dragging a hand down her face when they stumble upon each other or something, looking wrung out.]

Hi. I hate this.

Comments

[asswipe]

Getting stuck is a small price to pay if it helps a friend feel better. [Point taken, though.

She's going to make her breathing as steady as possible, trying to keep her expression as some approximation of "comforting."]

None of that, okay? You have nothing to be sorry for.

[selfinserting]

[He wants to protest again, but instead he focuses on echoing her breathing, his shoulders rising and falling more and more steadily as time goes on. The situation isn't something that can be fixed with only breathing, but... Taking a few moments like this helps him more than he imagined it would.

Eventually:]

...Thank you.

[asswipe]

[She shakes her head.]

It's nothing.

[The situation certainly won't be fixed as easily as this, but... it's good that he's breathing steadily again. It helps her relax, if nothing else, and she folds her one hands in front of her lap.]

... Do you want to talk? It doesn't have to be tonight, or about the last three weeks. It can be about anything.

[selfinserting]

...Yeah. I, um, if that's okay... That would be nice.

[Everything that happened tonight is too close, too vivid; thinking about it again makes his stomach twist and heat crawl up his throat all over again. Shaking his head, he continues.]

I don't really, um, I don't know what about, though. If there's anything you want to talk about...

[asswipe]

[She thinks for a moment, trying to find something unrelated and simple enough that it won't make things worse. Finally, she settles on:]

... Movies. [unsure, but—] Are you a movie fan, Evan?

[selfinserting]

...Yeah. Yeah, I like movies, um, as much as anyone else.]

[A beat.]

What's your favorite...?

[asswipe]

Uh... I don't really have a favorite. But my best friend loves anything with a happy ending, and I guess I'm a fan of that, too?

[Probably. She pauses.]

That wasn't very specific, was it?

[selfinserting]

[He shakes his head.]

No, um - even, um, even if it's not specific, happy endings are... good. Your friend sounds like they, they have good taste.