Roxy and Claire are walkin' thru Meridian.
"I have issues with things," Roxy says, looking up at the sky.
"Like?"
"I dunno. Just, like. ACK!!!"
"What about Knight?"
"No die, I mean like. Okay, you know Venti?"
"Yes, I do."
"Okay. So. I don't get it. I don't get why they like me and that goes for you as well and also like, Stephanie, the one I was dating not the ARG character, as well even though she's gone and that's my fault."
"What do you mean?"
"I've just, like. Been having moments of extreme sonder lately? Like. Holy shit. These people all have such complex lifes and shit, I'm not the main character? Like. Actually wow that sounds so self centered let me rephrase. It's like. Dude, I cannot process the fact that everyone has their own like. Whole different perspectives on everything. It's so fucking weird." Roxy exhales. "Especially when, like, why do they like me? There was 7 billion people on this planet when I met Spider and they chose to stay with me. That's fucked up, not gonna lie."
"You're an interesting critter, Roxy."
"What if I killed you actually"
"You've already tried, little miss distortion," Claire smiles, looking up at Roxy.
"What if I ATE you."
"Do you like the taste of plastic and wires?"
"I will."
"Immerensis."
"What"
"That's what you're feeling, Roxy."
"I don't know what that word means you whore"
"It's the inability to understand why others love you. It's something Spider experiences as well, according to Clox."
"Why do you call her that"
"Hm?"
"Asphodel. Why do you call her Clox that's so weird she's not Clox in this Veil"
"She likes the nickname from me."
"Ok. Anyways. I'm just like. Augh. Sometimes I get scared when I feel like someone genuinely likes me. I can't help but think about the fuckin show I'm putting on for em, hiding parts of myself I'm insecure about."
Claire nods.
"I get nervous seeing people after they get something of a good impression of me because like. I worry they'll find good reason to dislike me after."
"And that's why we're working on the Experiment."
"I guess???"
"No, that's literally exactly why. So we can find out more about how we work as individuals."
"I'm gonna slit your throat in your sleep shithead"
"Mhm?"
"Yeah. Bitch"