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

[ilovepuppies]

[Star is in the foyer in time to see Mike zip on by. She almost waves him off but decides that no, she's gotta talk to him, so she runs to catch him.]

H-hey! Wait up!

[aboyandhiscar]

[He spares a glance over his shoulder hearing her call out, and then pauses when she starts running. ]

What's up? Something wrong?

[ilovepuppies]

[Hggggh okay she actually has to have this conversation now. She looks down at her feet.]

I was- uh- what you said during the trial. That you'd be okay if everybody voted for you.

That was, um... I dunno, brave? Impressive?

[aboyandhiscar]

--oh that? It's nothing. I just wanna be able to help someone, you know? Aaand it's less impressive since if I hadn't known the details I would've gotten you guys accidentally killed. [let's just accidentally bad end with good intentions oops!!]

Thanks, though. It was close, but glad we got out of it.

[ilovepuppies]

Well, yeah, obviously, but we didn't know about that part before!

What you said, about getting even one person out? It made me think...

[okay, she's gotta get this out of her system before she chickens out]

I feel like you're the only one who wouldn't jump down my throat about this, so I'm just gonna say it. I thought about doing it.

[aboyandhiscar]

--?

[At first, he doesn't really get what she's trying to say. Did she mean she was gonna take a hit too?? Wao. But then the wheels in his head slowly start turning more, finally starting to click. Oh. OH.

His eyes go wide. Super chill level headed Star considering murder?? Whodathunk. He leans in, voice sort of hushed.]

What the--seriously? You? Man, guess this place really is digging into people, hard. [He doesn't sound angry at least, just ridiculously surprised. He rubs at his head.]

Well, you. . .didn't, so hey. No harm no foul, yeah?

[ilovepuppies]

[Star feels an immense swell of relief as Mike confirms her suspicions. Mike, you're a bro.]

I just thought... maybe... if I got away with it, I could go back in time and stop ALL of this from happening somehow. Even the person I...you know... would be okay. But I didn't know if everybody would go for it. I couldn't do it.

So I guess I kinda lied to you before. My bad.

[aboyandhiscar]

[He thinks back to that day--and feels kinda silly. He shakes his head.]

Well dang, you're a good actor. [correction: Mike is too naive.]

Iiiit's probably for the best you backed down. Think about it--those guys are only willing to let the killer go, right? No way will they keep their end of the deal and undo all their hard work of putting us through pain here.

[A little sigh.]

But looks like your heart was in the right place. Just don't go throwing yourselves to the lions so quick, yeah? Uh. Like, metaphorical vicious lions, not cool ones like Kiara, heh.

[ilovepuppies]

[NERVOUS LAUGH]

Yeaaaah... I thought I could beat them at their game, but I guess I'm not that tricky.

[She just really misses Wander and Syliva, ok.]

Thanks, man. I'll... try to be more careful. And I'm not lying this time, either!

...Wait that sounded suspicious, didn't it?

[aboyandhiscar]

Hey, I did too. We both got doors shut in our faces.

[He laughs a little, shaking his head.]

Nope, you just sound nervous. Don't worry, I believe you. [Then, it belatedly occurs to him--] But uh, have you told anyone else about this?

[ilovepuppies]

Whoa, no way am I telling anyone else. Not after what happened last time!

[Jeez, if she had told anyone before the trial, she would've been on the chopping block for sure.]

You handled it way better than I ever could.

[aboyandhiscar]

I don't think there's a "better" way of handling that. But thanks? It's mostly from experience.

[Who isn't well liked back home?? This guuuuy. He nods though, it's an understandable situation.]

Here's hoping we won't have another incident like that. But in the meanwhile, if you're not telling anyone, I won't either. Scout's honor! No need in getting folks riled up.

[ilovepuppies]

Thanks, Mike. You're really cool, you know that?

[And she means it. He's like the big brother she never had.]

[aboyandhiscar]

[He's basically a Big Bro for rent at this point. He laughs.]

Well, you're really cool too. Don't let this place drag you down even further, okay?

Go on, go back and join the others. Grab some cake--and tonight's as good a night as anyone to add a ton of extra sugar to it.