[She's not used to loss. Her only experience had been with Barbet, a deep cut opening up a great fear. Then more had followed here, and every time she struggled to comprehend how anything could hurt so much when she didn't want it to. When she didn't even want to believe in those sorts of emotions, like she could exclude them by will. She can't.
She's staring intensely at where his hand is, frowning and shoulders tense.]
I know. The serpent said the same thing. [Here's another quote:] I should expect that a quasi-successful suicide in the City is going to render null and void your ladybird self-abasement contract. Have some of the marzipan.
[Truthfully, if he's thinking about it, Chase might notice that she's turned to quoting others twice now. A simple avoidancy tactic that takes pressure off of her to voice her own messy thoughts. The dead girl had done it often.]
or steps leading into the sea
She's staring intensely at where his hand is, frowning and shoulders tense.]
I know. The serpent said the same thing. [Here's another quote:] I should expect that a quasi-successful suicide in the City is going to render null and void your ladybird self-abasement contract. Have some of the marzipan.
[Truthfully, if he's thinking about it, Chase might notice that she's turned to quoting others twice now. A simple avoidancy tactic that takes pressure off of her to voice her own messy thoughts. The dead girl had done it often.]