[ It shakes her to her core, because she knows for certain that he's not lying to her.

He doesn't care, everything he's seen so far... It outweighs the rest of it.

And though it feels good—the assurance, the reciprocation to her request for physical comfort—

(she hadn't thought it would feel like this. so soft.)

She has to set him straight. If he knew, he wouldn't say that. She just has to explain.

Except she still feels dizzy. Maybe it's worse with her eyes closed, so she blinks them open, even though her head feels too weak to raise. She thinks the non-broken antler's digging into his shoulder. ]

Nn- no, you...

[ Much like Basil, she can't let that stand. ]

Basil... You're not... You're- so nice. And sweet. You...don't even get mad when I- say you're a nerd or, when I'm being just a- total bitch. You aren't- broken.

[ Right? ]