[If Joan were pretty, she's sure this wouldn't happen. It's not that Daryl thinks she's ugly, exactly, but it wouldn't be so easy to reject her if she looked like a model, like everybody else here does. At this point, it's absurd to take it personally. It doesn't mean anything. It's just how life is.]
Yeah, well, I'm pretty cheap.
[That was pure bitterness, entirely unworthy of the kindness Daryl has shown her, unrelentingly if stubbornly applied. She shakes her head.]
Look, it's whatever. Just an offer, you know. [She looks away, frowning.] All I'm saying is-... thanks. For checking on me. That's all.
[She takes a step back, clearly preparing to turn tail and leave.]
[ It comes out a little defensive. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. Hadn't considered that someone who could offer it like it was nothing might still get cut with a 'no'.
He feels the old twist of bitterness that she'd made him have to say it. He sets his jaw a little harder to fight his pitching stomach. ]
You're welcome. [ A statement, final, like it's something she can't argue with. ] I'd do it again, too. Like it or not.
[And maybe that's the problem. She feels too comfortable with that normalcy, and it's causing her to expect more of Daryl than he ever signed up to give. Is she taking advantage of him? It feels likely. She takes advantage of everything in this place. Ruins everything good.]
[Mavis' image flashes through Joan's mind. Self pity. She needs to get over herself. She needs to leave.]
Yeah. I get that. Stay safe, Daryl. And if you find an ethanol car- [She makes the old-fashioned sign for 'phone' with her hand, thumb and pinky extended-] Call me.
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Yeah, well, I'm pretty cheap.
[That was pure bitterness, entirely unworthy of the kindness Daryl has shown her, unrelentingly if stubbornly applied. She shakes her head.]
Look, it's whatever. Just an offer, you know. [She looks away, frowning.] All I'm saying is-... thanks. For checking on me. That's all.
[She takes a step back, clearly preparing to turn tail and leave.]
no subject
[ It comes out a little defensive. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. Hadn't considered that someone who could offer it like it was nothing might still get cut with a 'no'.
He feels the old twist of bitterness that she'd made him have to say it. He sets his jaw a little harder to fight his pitching stomach. ]
You're welcome. [ A statement, final, like it's something she can't argue with. ] I'd do it again, too. Like it or not.
π?
[And maybe that's the problem. She feels too comfortable with that normalcy, and it's causing her to expect more of Daryl than he ever signed up to give. Is she taking advantage of him? It feels likely. She takes advantage of everything in this place. Ruins everything good.]
[Mavis' image flashes through Joan's mind. Self pity. She needs to get over herself. She needs to leave.]
Yeah. I get that. Stay safe, Daryl. And if you find an ethanol car- [She makes the old-fashioned sign for 'phone' with her hand, thumb and pinky extended-] Call me.