mypartnerintime | [Entranceway IC Inbox]

[She looks at him, a little surprised at the kindness in his words, and takes the handkerchief. The gesture seems to make her relax. She fiddles with the cloth in her hands, crumpling and pulling at the fabric.]

You know, like, ninety-nine percent of Wonderland... doesn't even know that she and I... [She shrugs, still looking down at the handkerchief. For a long moment it looks like she wants to say more. But she's feeling more than she's thinking. It's hard to put all of that emotion into words.]

[Mettaton nods, looking out over the gardens thoughtfully.]

You've always been a private person, and that's fine. Just because a lot of people didn't know it happened doesn't make it any less real. Any less important.

[It's something he needs to remind himself of. His friendship, subsequent crush, and then ensuing rejection from Bucky had all happened relatively quietly, with only a few people even knowing it happened in the first place. It made dealing with the aftermath difficult since he didn't really want to tell anyone it happened. It was easier to bury it rather than face it.

However, despite his own difficulties, he didn't want Max to fall into the same hole as him.]

[And what a deep hole it is. To be honest, she's probably already in there- the fact that nobody knew about Chloe is hurting her badly. What's she supposed to do? Walk up to someone and say, hey, my best friend was actually my girlfriend and it's killing me right now that she's gone?

The fact is that she knows the whole thing, that whole relationship, is important. So important she can't get away from it. She doesn't even want to. But it'd be nice if there was some other best friend she had, besides Chloe- a shoulder to cry on.

But there isn't one, in Wonderland.

And that's a pretty difficult hole to climb out of, for someone like Max. Even if she's used to not having many friends, she's by no means used to losing someone so dear to her.]

Yeah... I know that. It sounds... really weird, but... I kinda wish more people knew about her. [She gulps.] I mean, not even about us, but... about her.

It's not weird, Max. You want to honor her memory. Keep her alive with other people too, not just yourself.

[It's building a fountain in honor of a passed loved one. It's keeping a house untouched, everything in its place. Everyone wants something to remember someone by.

Mettaton is quiet for a moment, then turns to her.]

Did you take a lot of pictures of her while here? You could add more to the Gallery; Maybe put up more entries about her and her life. You could talk about how much she meant to you there. Then anyone who walked through the gallery could see how special she was.

[She opens her mouth. Closes it. Stares.

Keeping Chloe's memory alive, honoring her best friend... that's exactly what she wants. She just never had the words to say it that way.

She can feel water in her eyes, and she blinks furiously to keep the tears from spilling over.

Chloe has always been so... alive to her. So unpredictable and crazy and daring. There are some people, like Max even, that kind of wander through life- but Chloe is so opposite that. Her absence- her death- feels so... un-Chloe like.

It's so stupid that one day Chloe's there, and the next she's gone.

The ending needs more than that.

So Max struggles, with difficulty each day, to keep Chloe alive in the little ways she can:

A sign hanging outside outside room eight on the third floor: "Do Not Disturb". A picture on Max's bedside table of Chloe dancing and smiling, taken with Lily's camera so it moves as though alive. A post-it note clinging to a page on Max's journal that she reads over and over again.

She doesn't know what to say. She wipes at her eyes.]

I was... thinking about that. I know she'd sort of like it. [She starts rubbing at her eyes more vigorously.] I just really... want it to be perfect.

[Max's eyes begin to water and Mettaton reaches out and gently wraps an arm around her shoulders, giving her a small squeeze.]

Oh absolutely. If you do it from the heart, it will be. Though if you want any help with putting something up or drawing attention to it, your favorite star is here to lend aid!

[He gives her one of his dazzling smiles.]

[It feels like a sweet moment, but for a second she's worried that his little self-centered jokes will kill the mood. Instead she finds it in her to give a small chuckle. More bitter than happy, but that's progress.]

...I guess I'll give you a call if it comes up.

[She pulls away from his one-armed sideways hug, taking a few steps away and breathing out a long sigh, watching the vapor in the air.

She sticks her hands in her pockets and fumbles with them.]

I should probably scoot.

[The chuckle is bitter, but it's not completely bad and Mettaton smiles. She pulls out of the hug and Mettaton stands up in turn.]

Very well, dear. I should also be going.

[He gives her another fond and gentle smile.]

Take care of yourself, all right, Max?

[She considers not answering, but instead gives a little nod and a forced smile. She has been taking care of herself... in her own way.

She grips the cigarette pack in her pocket, craving one at the moment, and only waiting for Mettaton to leave. She wonders if Chloe ever smoked in the gardens- wonders if the familiar and comforting smell of it will be washed out in the winter air.]

See you around, Mettaton.

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