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He's okay.

[Boxer shrugs. He's a little nervous about critiquing movies because he doesn't know them that well, but analyzing the attractiveness of people? Any day. Have the remote, babe.]

A little squinty for my tastes. I like bigger eyes.

[... Wait.]

You're right. [She had never realized that about him, but Boxer makes a very good point.]

But big eyes, you say?

[After she's found the page for the movie she looks at him and makes her eyes slightly wider, like the playful fool she rarely allows herself to be.]

Yeah.

[It takes him a second to realize she wants him to look down at her, but when he does, he cracks a smile.]

Kitten, you don't need to endear yourself any more than you already have.

[And he leans down to give her a kiss on the forehead.]

[That she manages to stay still for that kiss while giggling is a little impressive.]

That's good to know, but it never hurts to gain points, right?

[She goes ahead and starts the movie, and her hands go back to massaging his tentacles.] I love Cameron Diaz in this ...

[Wistful sigh.]

You broke the scoreboard a while ago.

[He reaches out for her hand. Can he hold her hand while they watch the movie?]

Charmer.

[But she really is touched by that, and when he reaches out she gives her hand over immediately, and even scoots a little closer. Hand holding is perfect for movies!! No need to even worry about it. The other arm drapes over his tentacles so that they shift and wiggle over that one, if they like.]

[They will. Oh, they totally will, and he won't even realize it.

And even better news: he actually likes this movie a lot better! If the occasional chuckles are any indication.]

[She probably won't either unless they try something funny.

Nariko glances a bit at him a little into it and beams. He likes it!!! Oh, she's going to enjoy this even more, now! ... Now hopefully the twists aren't too weird for him, because it definitely gets dramatic after a certain point.]

[Not intentionally. They're very idle movers.

Here comes the twist!]

Oh, no, she didn't...

[Well, it's going to be difficult to ignore them if they crawl around her torso or her breasts but otherwise it should mostly be fine!]

Keep watching.

[They're not even to the shocking part yet.]

[Nah, they're quite content to play with her legs. They don't go any higher than the crests of her hips.]

...she's gonna kill him, isn't she?

[What nice tenta-friends.]

Just watch!

[She's not gonna spoil it!]

[They're the best, aren't they? They all collectively love their new girlfriend.]

--AH! No!

[Total sweethearts ♥

But as far as his reaction is concerned she reaches over to pat his arm. It's okay Boxer, let the feelings about movies wash over you. Enjoy the moment.

Until the ending and the mild lack of resolution threatens to crush your soul.]

[They might be suckering her skin gently with the anticipation.]

Wait.

[And then it ends.]

They can't--they can't end it there!

[He holds out his hands.]

The story isn't done!

[She's going to have little circles all over herself if his reacts are anything to go by.]

That's it!

[It's pretty much done whether you like it or not, handsome.] If the worst part of it is that it's over then it's not a waste of time.

[You're gonna have to get used to sucker hickies pretty quick if you want to stay with him, Nariko.]

Uuugh. [He's pulling on his face.] How can you stand this stuff? I'm so frustrated.

He lived, though!

[Boxer. What is there to be frustrated by. Explain it to your future-basically-official girlfriend. Use graphs and pie charts.]

But what about everyone else?! Like her best friend?

That was part of the simulation! He had to leave it and come back to the real world!

[So as for what actually happened to their real world selves is ... Something else.]

But they implied that the simulation still runs even with him in it!

[...it's an interesting thing to bring up: there's only one small tidbit that actually brings up that detail--lots of people would overlook it.]

First of all, kudos for even noticing that.

[She actually didn't catch it until her fifth viewing which was ... A long time ago.]

But don't you think he could have chosen to end it or stay in it with more than a dramatic jump? It's true that we can't be completely sure if he left it or not, but choices like that aren't meant to be cut and dry anyway.

[And the emotional breadth needed to fully expand on that and make either decision as weighted and realistic as needed would be whole other film. Maybe two.] Either way, it's a choice he got to make after learning the truth.

I would've stayed...

[Boxer fidgets with his hands a little before turning to her.]

If I were him, I wouldn't care that they're "fake"...the relationships in there were way better than the ones he had in reality. I don't understand why he'd go back, other than the attempt to make it sound like the morally right decision.

[He feels bad that he's being all negative again.]

[... He's doing the fidgeting thing again, which still doesn't make any sense to her. He'd seemed perfectly fine on the rest of their date and yet now it was as if he was worried one slight word might throw off everything between them.]

Because ... [She tilts her head to one side, clearly struggling to articulate her words.] Even though the relationships in the simulation are perfectly valid, there's also a whole other world that's just as deserving of experience, right? It's defined as 'real', sure, and it's going to be much harder and much more complicated to survive in, but sometimes you have to try anyway. If you don't then it's like not knowing what could be on that other side is absolutely maddening.

[Nariko tilts her head back, looking up at the ceiling.] And maybe by falling like that, there's a little hope that the other side isn't as bad as it's being presented, and that even if the 'real' world is difficult, the progress that could be made in it would be better than what the simulation can produce.

[Something dark and almost upset passes through her eyes, but she sighs, rights herself, and smiles normally.] Still! I do agree that the way it's presented does make it seem like the 'right' decision and that wasn't the best choice for such a symbolism heavy theme! It's one of those situations where once you start deciding what's 'right' and 'wrong' for the viewer, it's much less fun for them to watch it!

Hmm.

[He's quiet and thoughtful at her response.]

I get it. The perspective makes sense, but I still would've stayed. Maybe it would be selfish some way, but after having a history like that...there's a difference between taking responsibility and willingly exposing yourself to such a toxic environment.

[A shrug.]

We only got one life to live, and you should take whatever path that makes the best of it.

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oops, meant to write "without"

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