Xanthippe made a vague noise that could've been one of protest, but maybe it was just grudging acknowledgment. Or something. Whatever.

She felt worn down.

"Can we just... pretend this isn't happening?" she asked, but then her fave scrunched up. "I don't know if that's the right way to say it." Especially after their heated discussion about pretense, just now. "I just mean, like, I just want to not think about it right now." Next time maybe being the last time. "I don't want it to like, steal this from me, too."