[ Rachel's mouth tightens at that, because she's not sure his reality is real. There's a lot they don't know about the Ellimist and whatever else might be out there. But there's no use telling him that, is there? Ugh, no. It's Marco. He's like the walking definition of pigheaded. Emphasis on pig.

But it's still Marco. The only tenuous connection she has to her own world here. And whether he likes it or not, she's the same for him. Which means that her reality is just as valid. She sucks in a breath, closing her eyes for a moment, just gathering her composure. She doesn't like feeling this terse. ]

Okay, yes. You're right. You're real, and so is the reality you came from. It's weird, but it's real. And so is mine. Which is why you have to know about it.

[ She looks uncomfortable, somehow, but she's covering it up with the hard set of her jaw and the stony look in her eyes. She rubs one arm, squeezing it. ]

You have to know, Marco. About morphing and the invasion and everything. Because back home, nobody knows. Nobody but us. And nobody does here, either. So you have to. And...I should know more about what happened in your timeline. It's just -- it's important, okay?

[ She doesn't know if she can articulate why, but it is. It's important because somewhere, even in this Marco's timeline, his mom has a slug in her head. And she doesn't think she can handle being the only one who knows it. Who knows about all of it. That's not a weight she's prepared to bear. ]