[ Impatience is met with protracted silence. Richard lies on his side, his face half sunk into his pillow while he looks at his life, looks at his choices. ]

Athessa is poorly equipped to manage undesirable outcomes. You are likely to create an undesirable outcome.

I’m not advocating for you to abandon all hope of meaningful connection, [ even if that’s where the safe money is at ] I am attempting to avert a single disaster.

[ and muffled, as he turns his nose down into the pillow: ]

You don’t have to listen to me.