[ Her mockery might hurt, if he thought she was right. If he were so self-conscious about his own humanity that admitting to his own faults and pain could effectively drive him back. But just because he doesn't like to admitting to that stuff gets to him doesn't mean he's wrong to feel gutpunched about this. Or that he's going to let her try and knock him back because she's fucked herself up so royally that she can't even look this in the face. ]

It's a good thing no one else will hear you talk about a dead child this way, ain't it, Max? They might get the wrong idea about you.

[ He's nastier than most might guess. But then, if anyone should have foreseen it ahead of time, it'd be her. ]

One liar to another— don't think because I'm here, now, that you can pull my strings like you might try to puppet the rest. I was peddling bullshit before you were born, Max. We both know hiding from it isn't going to solve anything. You think you can sell me on "ruthless ice queen" so you don't have to admit fucking up this badly gets to you? I'll let a lot slide for you, Max, but you don't get to treat me like a mark, ever.

[ Plas will feel sorry for all of this later. He will. She might think she's using him, and maybe she is, and maybe that's not entirely because he's letting her, but also, genuinely...she is his friend. ]

Does it just take too much effort for you to admit to anything real these days that you don't wanna waste it on me?