[ he hears the good guy sticks around, meanwhile karen is thinking i don't know if i could handle the chance you might not pick up. and she knows that isn't fair, knows that she's projecting fears and insecurities that logan didn't ask for, and doesn't deserve. part of her is glad that he doesn't press, even if she feels immediately guilty once the words are out there.
next time I will, she says, and she means it. means it more than even she realizes in that moment. because what if she had called him? what if he was the first call she made when she woke up to the mannequin standing over her head. would she have slept any better? would this have been such a scare?
karen's mind is wandering when logan's fingers brush against her own, and while she doesn't jump, she does immediately turn her eyes to him. watches him nod. okay.
okay.
karen watches him for a moment, then a moment longer, before he mentions the cupboard and she pulls her eyes away. ]
There's no rush. You're the only guest I've had. [ and she means it as a joke, that the two times he's come in have been the only other body to occupy the space with her. which feels... karen's not entirely sure. because honestly, it feels right. it feels like this space is as much her's as it is somehow theirs. and maybe that's why her eyes are still falling on that bottle, on the (childish, maybe, she knows) way she feels like she was trying to hold onto something that had felt easy, had just been nice. but she knows she needs to move on, to either say something, or do something, or make this something, but it's not like now is the time when there's a mannequin out there that looks like her and is attacking people she cares about, and-
logan rights a picture frame on the wall, and karen feels a distinct, overwhelming urge to lean forward for a hug. feels the need for one, even if she won't quite take it for herself. you gonna be okay? she almost laughs, but she's glad to stop herself, worried the noise might be too angry. too sharp. ]
I will, yeah. [ she nods, letting out a breath and combing her fingers back through her hair. ]
But I do need to go. [ a pause, and then she reaches out squeezes his hand, once. ] Thank you for helping me pick up.
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next time I will, she says, and she means it. means it more than even she realizes in that moment. because what if she had called him? what if he was the first call she made when she woke up to the mannequin standing over her head. would she have slept any better? would this have been such a scare?
karen's mind is wandering when logan's fingers brush against her own, and while she doesn't jump, she does immediately turn her eyes to him. watches him nod. okay.
okay.
karen watches him for a moment, then a moment longer, before he mentions the cupboard and she pulls her eyes away. ]
There's no rush. You're the only guest I've had. [ and she means it as a joke, that the two times he's come in have been the only other body to occupy the space with her. which feels... karen's not entirely sure. because honestly, it feels right. it feels like this space is as much her's as it is somehow theirs. and maybe that's why her eyes are still falling on that bottle, on the (childish, maybe, she knows) way she feels like she was trying to hold onto something that had felt easy, had just been nice. but she knows she needs to move on, to either say something, or do something, or make this something, but it's not like now is the time when there's a mannequin out there that looks like her and is attacking people she cares about, and-
logan rights a picture frame on the wall, and karen feels a distinct, overwhelming urge to lean forward for a hug. feels the need for one, even if she won't quite take it for herself. you gonna be okay? she almost laughs, but she's glad to stop herself, worried the noise might be too angry. too sharp. ]
I will, yeah. [ she nods, letting out a breath and combing her fingers back through her hair. ]
But I do need to go. [ a pause, and then she reaches out squeezes his hand, once. ] Thank you for helping me pick up.