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[She bites back her initial responses of spite, because the carnival had her showing way too many feelings, and it took work after the dungeon to shove those back down again.

She doesn't need feelings. They're too much work.]

You're welcome.

[She doesn't gloat though.]

I was just doing what I said I would do.

Sure. That's all it was.

(lizzie's very matter of fact voice says she totally buys that.)

[She turns and glares at her, because she should know better. She should know that Lizzie is just a means to an end. Landon tried to do the same, in the brief conversation they had. Scrape away the muck and find the girl underneath, but that's not how this is going to go.

And Lizzie also isn't going to get the cheat code to getting her sister back either. That would only lead to her throwing herself into more danger.]

Is there anything else?

So if we're not lying anymore, what should I be expecting out of you?

(sorry josiemort, she's not going to just brush away a chance to dig in a little.)

[She shrugs, because she can't say for sure one way or another. She can't say she has a grand plan.]

Just being a little more myself.

And who is that, other than someone who makes Wednesday Addams' outfit look cheery?

(if this is the version of josie she's going to have for a while, she needs a better idea of who that is. how does this josie define her sense of self, exactly?)

Someone who does whatever she wants, whenever she wants, and doesn't spend ten minutes monologuing about how everyone else is going to feel about it.

[It's not all of who she is, but it's the big difference that Lizzie will have to worry about.]

Even if she still cares. Because you do. You at least care about me. You can pretend you don't, that you were just upholding your end of the bargain by rescuing me, but that isn't true, is it?

(she may be gothic barbie josie but she's still josie and lizzie refuses to believe this is like that emotions off switch stefan would write about in his journals for vampires.)

[It's not. Not really, anyway. It's more like a mellowing. Nothing is as loud and anxiety inducing as it usually is, and she can just make choices rather than making a pros and cons list.

Also her impulse control is down to zero. That's a bit of a problem.]

I care about you because we can't merge if you're not a witch. Let's not take our eyes off the prize here. I couldn't bring you home as a mermaid, now could I?

But I would have been returned to being a witch eventually -- everyone who wasn't rescued were eventually returned to their original forms. But you couldn't risk that.

(and not just because of the merge.)

Are you saying I should have left you there?

[Honestly, are you complaining about her saving you? Because that's the vibe she's getting. She doesn't think it should matter why.]

No, I'm just saying it's nice to know you still care, sis.

(the why matters. it matters to lizzie. it means the parts of her sister she loves are still in there.)

[She rolls her eyes before leaning back on her bed again.]

Whatever.

[Lizzie can read into it whatever she wants, but Josie's never going to admit to feelings.]

Anything else you'd like to establish?

(there's something sad that settles in lizzie's heart the way josie speaks. like it's all negotiations. it can't be anything else anymore. how can her sister be right there but feel so far away?)

No, I guess not.

Good. Then we proceed as planned.

[Sorry Lizzie.]

We deal until we find a way out of here.

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