Her reaction to what has become such a practiced and automatic response to pain for Linden catches him off guard. He lowers the bottle slowly, no sooner than the acrid burn hits his tongue.

"Nill..."

Don't take this from me. It's all I have, ALL I--!!!

He suppresses the panic and anguish, both of which are crying out for a numb reprieve. He's gotten good at quieting them, even if only temporarily.

"It's not you. I swear it. If anything, you've... given me a reason to..."

NOT intentionally OD.

"You drink too. I thought it was a coping mechanism we shared. It's difficult for you to watch?"

Clearly it is, but he wants to know more. Perhaps it will explain why Nill has taken such a doomed interest in a ruined man like him.