Echo did a gasp (rather dramatically) and defended herself and sharks with, "But they're so cute! And really cool! Have you even looked at a shark? Super cool! And their teeth are kinda cool, though! Like, they just keep regrowing and stuff!"

"Just, like!"

Echo pulled out her phone and quickly began typinging. She showed Time a picture of a Great White Shark she found on Google.

"Look at it! It looks like it would be called Fred or somethin' like that! Look! Cute!"

"Yea, but like, look at it's face! How very cute!"

The Glitchian was pretty stubborn on her idea that the shark was very cute. It was certain that there would be no convincing otherwise on the opinion, it seemed.

"I still think it is very cute!"

Echo put her phone away and crossed her arms, squinting her eyes at Time in a thoughtful manner.

"Hmm... there has to be some kind of animal you think is cute! Or possibly like! Like, at least one?"

"Oh..."

Echo didn't seem to have much to say now.

"Kinda..."

Echo ran her thumb over the lid of her drink's lid, trying to think. There wasn't much she could find to think about as her mind went blank.

"Because, like, I dunno, it just is, I guess. Like, I dunno, uh, emotions, dude. I think animals are pretty cool though... oh well."

Echo shrugged, then paused to think.

"So...uh, what are you interested in? Books or, like, uhm, reading?"

Echo thought he looked like someone who would enjoy reading. She wasn't really sure what else to say to at least make the conversation go better, or smoother, or whatever the word was to describe. Echo also wasn't sure if the conversation they have been having was going any good. She wasn't very talented in the social side of things, and this most definatly was a challenge. Although, Time was somewhat interesting, although he seemed to have some kind of... vague rudeness? Unintentional? Or maybe sometimes it was intentional? Echo wasn't quite sure as she didn't understand how socializing worked. Heck, why did she start up a conversation again? Oh, right, because her family was concerned. Maybe she was boring Time with random nonsense? Heck, she was probably being annoying the entire conversation! Ahhhhggggghhhhhh... okay, she needed to think...

Echo outwardly kept a slight curious expression, having a calm attitude, or trying to, anyway. There was some kind of nervousness starting to form in her body language. A slight shifting of weight here, no eye contact whatsoever, although there was barely any in the first place so that was less noticeable. It was only a very, very slight change, and could easily go unnoticed.

Inwardly, she was still having a huge outburst of analyzing and overthinking. Why was making a simple conversation so hard? Or maybe it wasn't? Was she overthinking the entire thing and the conversation was good? No, no, that can't be it. She had been rambling too much, Echo needed to let Time speak as well! Aghhhhggghhh, of course she took over the conversation with her meaningless words! This, to simply put it, was not the easiest task. Task? Well, not task, she shouldn't think of it that way! Ugh, now Echo felt bad because that simply type of wording said aloud would clearly upset someone! Good going... At least she hadn't said anything aloud, and that all this nonsense were just sentences going about back and forth in her head like the strange dot in one of those old pixel ping-pong games she saw, only with more of a slight sudden adrenaline rush mixed with the constant overthinking habit of her's.

Outwardly, simply, Echo seemed to be awaiting an answer about books, and wasn't having a sudden full on abstract panic in her mind about how conversations worked. Strange, strange lady, with her own thoughts and worries filled with simple words and simple concepts that painted a bigger picture full of a mess of scribbles and neon.

(Ope, big messy POV for no reason other than that I am tired and running on sudden energy to type)

"Ah. I like reading a lot. Do you have a favourite book?"

(I had to look at my book self and question which book would Echo like the most and I am not really that sure)

"Uhm... well, uh, I'd say that I really like... uhm... A Good Girl's Guide To Murder. It's a, uh, crime-mystery type book," Echo answered.

"N-no! That's not, oh gods," Echo laughed, nervousness suddenly planting itself in her voice. "I like the mystery of it, the way it leaves you wondering what is going to happen. N-not, uhm, that I actually want to murder. That would be bad."

"Because... because-"

Echo stopped suddenly, thinking as her mood shifted from Time's few words. Echo hated when that happened, when her emotions got out of hand so very suddenly with no explanation at all. But there it was, her emotions dropping like rocks, a sudden sinking feeling in her chest. All the feelings shifting and churning made her brain explode in a messy pattern of explaining, not helping how she felt all of the sudden.

Because of wartime, Echo wanted to say, to spill out that sudden weight on her chest that made the air hard to breathe. Because there was a dictatorship and I wanted to survive. Because it was either them or me. Because nothing in the world is ever right. Because war forced too much. Because I couldn't save so many people. Because I no longer know how to react to the idea of murdering. Because She will laugh. Because She might awaken again. Because nothing has ever been right, ever. Because I don't think I could handle a real person dying again. Because the book is fiction and helps me cope with death because in the end everything is okay. Because I am still guilty. Because I will never be right or just again. Because... because... because...

Echo took a breath then said, pushing back the tears that had threatened to spill due to her sudden rush of thoughts, emotions, and adrenaline,  "Because the idea of murdering people makes me uncomfortable. The book is not real, so it doesn't bother me, but the idea of just... a real life ending... I'm sorry..."

Echo quickly rubbed her eyes, trying to rub away the sudden wave of sickness and saddness. There was a sudden flash of an image of Jay that resurfaced in her mind, her older brother standing on the platform... the splash of red... the...

It is over now. Jay is at home or shopping or something. The war is over. There is no more Miles Volantes. We are safe. I am safe. Nothing is here to harm me. I am safe, I am safe, I am safe.

Echo rubbed her eyes again, rubbing away that image that had ingrained itself into her brain. She took another breath, and tried to smile over at Time. Her voice had raised slightly when she spoke, and there was a slight shake to it. There was still tears at the corners of her eyes, no matter how much she tried to wipe them away.

"Sorry... uhm, what's your, uh, what's your favourite... book genre... sorry..."



(Ughhhhhhghghhgh, I feel bad for her nowwwwww oof. Sorry for long angst post lol)

(I need to quit making so many long posts lol. Tbh they are kinda cringy and take an hour to type lol, also I am not good at narrating oof. But at the same time I'm like "Hmmm... clicky clicky ehehehehehe type, type, type!")

"I'm fine, it's nothing," Echo nodded, now feeling embarrassed over her reaction. "Just a bad memory, it's fine, I'm sorry."