[ Noelle knows what Krouse is trying to do. He's decided he's the bad guy, and he thinks he knows why. He wants to pick that ledger back up, like there's any way that it could make up for anything. A familiar surge of anger rolls up Noelle's spine. Her tentacles pull away, and she forces all her eyes to look at the horizon.

She just wanted to sit in the sun. Nobody ever lets her. ]

Stop it.

[ Noelle says, too tired to summon any anger in her voice. There's just a resigned exhaustion. ]

Like you said. I know. And I know you know.

[ I’m okay with it. I enjoy spending time with you, and I didn’t get any impression you were having that bad of a time, either. ]

It wouldn't have made a difference, what you did or didn't say to me. Wouldn't have gotten me out of that cage.

[ As much as he likes to call himself an asshole, Krouse has always been good at coming up with the right thing to say. Or better than Noelle, at least. It's something she's always been a little jealous of. ]

So I just -

[ There's something she has to say. It's terrible. Her stomachs churn. Her tongue feels thick and heavy in her mouth. Noelle closes her eyes. ]

I want to enjoy this, okay? I don't want to hate you. Spent enough time doing that.