[ Ice skitters down her back. She hadn't done much in the way of pretending that had been anything but a lie and she'd known that her performance, as it was, had been a little embarrassing. But having the lie unraveled and having it thrown back in her face like that are two very different things. ]

That's not even close to being the same! [ Egged on by that same indignation, some urge to defend whatever tattered scrap of her pride is left over, she takes a step forward. The hand bearing that blue butterfly curls into a fist. ] I— I lie like that because I have to! Because I can't be an idol if I don't! I—

[ No. That's what he wants, isn't it? For her to be riled up, upset, defending herself. Distracted from the point. She swallows hard and takes another step forward. A challenge. She tries to keep her voice steady and fails. ]

I know I'm selfish. I know I'm... dirty and irresponsible and everything else that's bad. I know that and you don't need to tell me. But you said you were here to grant my wish — isn't that what this was all about to begin with? So the least you could do is tell me who you really are!