[And the thing is, Clara understands perfectly. Artificial reality isn't something she's unfamiliar with, not after the dream crabs. She's silent for a moment, mulling over her words through the haze of vodka, and then she reaches out and takes Daisy's hand between her own.]

This is real. [She laces their fingers together, squeezes.] I'm real. Everything you see around you right now is real.

[A tiny bit clumsy, but with all the impassioned focus of her usual speeches. Her thumb runs over Daisy's knuckles.]

I know I spout a lot of rubbish, trying to make people feel better, and I know you see right through that as well as anybody. But trust me this once, alright? You aren't back there. You right here, with me, and we're going to figure this out.