[ What separates an actor from someone in the crowd?

The spotlight.

Take it away and the poor girl has had to rebuild herself and her life. For the first time, it was hers and hers alone. The weight of responsibility falls on Neuvillette and the guilt does linger – but he can do more than she ever could, no?

There's times where she thinks of happier days, sitting on his desk and dangling spaghetti noodle with her fingers with some story about jellyfish stings or even catching him with an umbrella in the rain after difficult trials. Silly and somber days... like rainstorms and the sunshine.

These few moments, even if he seemed frustrated at times, were treasures for her in her loneliness.

And now, a lie brings them together yet again. ]

Oh... all of them? Even that spicy chilli one from Liyue?! [ She was eager to try them. She goes to try and take the cake with two hands but he seems lost in something. Peering over her shoulder – her foot barely grinds to the floor. ] Ah. Yes. That was a piece at the Sunday market. A person was selling it and... when I looked at it a little too long, they gifted it to me for quite a good deal.

[ It was at an angle different than front on – one that caught the window of Neuvillette's office. ]