there's so much that we share

[amadeusrockette]

[If there's one thing Julia's good at, it's feeling guilty. Once they're let out of the awful stretching room, she sets up in the kitchen and makes another cake. It's the same sort of coffee cake she made for Lea's wake, but this time it's got apples over top. While it's going, Julia writes notes for everyone except Elsa.]

I made cake and coffee. It's in the lounge, if you'd like to come by and not be alone.

Comments

[aboyandhiscar]

Heeey. Uh, here. [he sets the cake down next to her.] In case you were hungry or something.

Iii just wanted to say. Well. [Not 'sorry' because after losing two people she was apparently close with, that's just needlessly shallow at this point. He sighs, rubbing his neck.] . . .thanks. You really helped us out back there.

[chainbroke]

Thank you.

[ She doesn't tell him she's already had a piece, at Julia's gentle behest. Kindness like Mike's, she appreciates. And she understands what he's saying--had she not pushed Demyx, they'd all be... ]

I didn't do very much.

[ ... except she had. She just.... doesn't feel good about it. ]

[aboyandhiscar]

You did enough. [to say the least.]

I don't really know all that's going on--or any, really, but you and Demyx seemed like you really had a connection. So. . .I know that had to be hard. But I want you to know, we've all got your back, okay?

[chainbroke]

[ She hesitates, picking at the cake again. ]

I know. I know I'm not alone.

[ She nods once. ]

... Demyx and I were from the same world.

[aboyandhiscar]

. . .well that would explain it.

Do you think that would have really happened? The whole--[he gives an awkward, vague hand gesture]--disappearing thing?

[chainbroke]

You mean... what happened in his video?

[ She nods once, quickly. ]

It... it did, for me. I didn't see it happen, but I caught word of it.

[aboyandhiscar]

Woah. . .

So you mean, you're--but you're--?? [Dead?? No, he doesn't want to say that. She's alive, right here, right now, right?]

You're. . .some kinda ghost? That can't be right, maybe someone was messing with you.

[chainbroke]

Oh-- wait, no, I meant... for him.

[ She takes a breath. It's been a long day. ]

No, I... I'm meant for something else. Similar, but very different, I guess.

[aboyandhiscar]

[WHEEZE, Mike breathes a sigh of relief.]

Whoo, okay, don't need both of you disappearing on us. [He rubs at his head.] Guess his fears weren't for nothing. . .dang.

But. . .mm, I dudnno. I don't think anyone's ever meant for something though. If you know what's up, you can change it. Right?

[chainbroke]

[ Oof... she doesn't want to tell him that's what she's going to end up doing... ]

Yes... That's what I told him. That if he really was worried, he didn't have to return to the Organization. That he could find a different world.

I thought he'd listened to me, but... he didn't.

[aboyandhiscar]

Guess he got cold feet. Or, uh, wet boots rather. [Tact!!] At least you tried?

[Then, thinking on a moment, he brightens some.]

Huh. . .actually, I do think he listened to you. Or he tried to, anyway.

[chainbroke]

[ She winces a little. Good try, Mike! ]

... Do you think so?

[ She doesn't sound sure at all. If he did listen to her... well, then he obviously thought her advice wasn't good enough. ]

[aboyandhiscar]

Yeah, think about it.

What he did was wrong, but even still, all the while, even though he was scared for his life? He thought killing a robot wouldn't "count." 'Course, Wall-E doesn't count as a normal robot, so he was still in hot water, but the guy still risked hurting something he thought wasn't real instead of like. . .you, or any of us. The bug dude could have laughed in his face and told him nice try or something instead.

So. . .I think you probably got through him a little.

[chainbroke]

Oh... That does make sense.

[ She sighs, though. Anyway. ]

Back there, you called him a friend. Did you spend a lot of time with him?

[aboyandhiscar]

Well, yeah. It's hard not to think of folks you've been locked with for over a month as anything but friends. [as far as Mike is concerned, anyone who does not immediately try to kill him is a friend. At least up til they do try, anyway.]

We had some fun knife throwing and jammed a bit in the music room, he was a chill guy to hang with.

[chainbroke]

I think so, too. I've never had so many friends before.

[ She just says it so casually, too. ]

I'm sure he enjoyed playing music with you. He would say there's nothing that gives him any enjoyment, but I know that's not true.

[aboyandhiscar]

What, really? You're a great kid, I'd peg you for a popular type.

[And that makes him even MORE confused.] No way, he looked like he was having tons of fun. Why'd he think that?

[chainbroke]

I-- really? Th-thank you.

[ She pauses. ]

It's... the nature of some of the people in our world. That's all.

[aboyandhiscar]

[Why would she not be popular??? Surely everyone here has tons of friends, that is how it works, Mike thinks.

He tilts his head a bit, considering that.]

Nature? Sounds like someone was just telling him a lie, and he fell for it.

[chainbroke]

[ Oh man, Mike has no idea how much he's hit the nail on the head, at least in one way. ]

Not... exactly. [ She sighs. ] It's a complicated situation, but... I'm glad he was able to spend time with someone who appreciated music like he did.