[ the second he sees her watery gaze he knows he's made a mistake. one he can't take back this time. his breathing turns shallow as the words wash over him. he wants to reassure her, they're both plenty fucked up, but... how does he even go on without hurting her further? that's all he ever wanted to prevent and yet it seems to be all he's good at. ]

Karen... [ he starts, the same way he always does, but he takes a half-step backward, stopping just before the shelves full of bottles, colored glass casting eerie shapes over his bruised face in the dim light. ] It's not like I'm not- [ flattered? like he said to sarah, right? except he has to ditch that script. it's not fair to her. it's not even honest. she's being honest with him, but she says he doesn't owe her anything. does she really believe it? a darkness brews over his expression and she'll know from experience that what he says next will be just as grim. ]

I'm not who you think I am. I'm barely even a - who - at all. I know you want... a life for me, right? That's what you said. Well, my life ended two years ago. I think on some level you know that. [ frank takes two quick paces forward again, eyes hard when they meet hers. ] Is that what makes me "safe?"