“No, yeah, that’s fair. I guess it’s just one of those things where it doesn’t occur to you that your experience might not be universal. Which. My backlash sure does encourage those.”

 "Yeah, that makes sense." petpet. Hmm, could she... 

"Hmmm. If it seems like you're making that kind of assumption, do you want me to say something? Poke you? Blink repeatedly?" 

“Definitely say something.”

She nods seriously and does a silly little salute. "As you wish."

What.

You can’t just proclaim your undying love for someone during hellweek! Especially when you really did not know them that well before hellweek!

…Maybe the Princess Bride reference is unintentional. That doesn’t feel like a thing that would happen but on the other hand her backlash is deeply, deeply interfering with her sense of what things happen.

”Thank you, I appreciate it.”

-Huh. What was up with that...

Well, Lucy didn't say anything, and she doesn't want to pry. "Of course! I like being helpful."

“Yeah, that’s definitely all you and not your backlash.”

She thinks about it for a bit before answering. "...I'm pretty sure it is? I've always liked doing nice things for my friends, and... When I do something because of my backlash, it doesn't feel nice, the way doing someone a favor does. It doesn't feel like anything, I just - start doing it automatically, like yawning when I'm tired." Shiver.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to say you weren’t like that. Just, also.”

She leans onto Lucy. "Yeah, sorry, it's okay. I suppose the difference isn't very obvious, from the outside, and you've only really known me backlashed." ...she hopes they'll like her shhh brain she is in fact more likeable and interesting when she is allowed to be more of herself! 

“Even once the difference is obvious, there’s still enough similarity to be relevant. I think.”

"I suppose. I just... I consider it a pretty big part of who I am, too?" She shrugs. "I guess we'll see what you think next week." 

“I really cannot emphasize enough that I believe you about that part.”

Oh oops she overemphasized the point and now things are awkward... "Sorry."

Cheeksmooch. “It’s alright. I tried to make a joke, and it failed.”

This is a good way to distract a Cara! She blushes and giggles. "I know the feeling."

“What? No. No one besides me has ever had a joke fall flat before.”

 "Oh! Excellent news for comedians." Heeeeee

“Doncha know it’s a thriving industry.”

"Well, I was already planning on dropping out of school after this week! Maybe this is the perfect time to start my comedian career..."