No, [is as reflexive in her as that shell shocked look is in him. She has to gather herself after for a moment after, stood there in the hazy light of the tv's static. To rationalize what is knee-jerk.] It makes more sense for you to have some [—what, exactly? None of this makes sense if she thinks about it too long—] plausible deniability that it does for you to try helping.

[But that he'd offer— there's something tight in her expression that eases just faintly in response.]

You can do that, right? Act like you don't know anything if someone comes asking questions.

[It's a soft ball of a question. She has a feeling she knows the answer.]