Sabine isn't sure she believes him entirely. Not even with the excuse of only the bare edge of ten minutes in the guy's presence. But the second part makes her press her mouth into a thoughtfully straight line, and she inspects Coffee Dude, who is now also Blake With A Name.

It's a severe inquisition across the counter in those green eyes.

"I don't know if you've had enough coffee yet to engage in this discussion," Gas Station Girl says, setting her hands on the counter loosely (though still not having moved, taken, eaten, or thrown away said half-eaten candy bar still sitting there between them). Their talking allegories for kids but also all of humanity's children. "As much as he's easily this allegory for the respect people deserve even if they aren't kind, or content, or optimistic, or accommodating to your expectations in action or deeds—"

Sabine shifted slightly. "—he always came off more sad than mad to me."

"The kind of person who went through too much, maybe in their childhood, maybe in their adulthood. But just someone who has been through so much before you met them on the page n' stage that day and is making the best way they can. Often in the only ways they can for protecting themselves from it happening again."