There's another laugh, because ha. All of this is easier said than done, Norman. This is the mindset Quentin's had for years by now. It fits him like a well-worn sweater.
"Connections break. In one day, they can be gone. What's the point when it's going to happen again? Nothing's permanent, and it's-" Quentin lets out a shuddering breath and vaguely shifts so he can look at Norman again, chin resting on an arm.
He's less pale with the truths he's coughing up, but still looks some degree of wrung-out. He certainly sounds it.
"I don't want to do that. Not again. There's only so many times shit can break before you just- write it off entirely. And things keep breaking." People keep leaving, goes unspoken. Everything keeps getting ripped out of his hands no matter how hard Quentin tries to hold on, so why should he keep reaching? All it's ever gotten him is handfuls of ash.
cw: vague references to The Snap, not great mental health on display
"Connections break. In one day, they can be gone. What's the point when it's going to happen again? Nothing's permanent, and it's-" Quentin lets out a shuddering breath and vaguely shifts so he can look at Norman again, chin resting on an arm.
He's less pale with the truths he's coughing up, but still looks some degree of wrung-out. He certainly sounds it.
"I don't want to do that. Not again. There's only so many times shit can break before you just- write it off entirely. And things keep breaking." People keep leaving, goes unspoken. Everything keeps getting ripped out of his hands no matter how hard Quentin tries to hold on, so why should he keep reaching? All it's ever gotten him is handfuls of ash.