[Well she can't say she didn't expect that question, at least on some level. To her credit, she doesn't balk, instead just looking back at Max with a steady, quiet gaze. Sipping her own tea, she mulls over the question before shaking her head.]
I'm not really the best person to ask that question. You should be asking Chloe. But if you want to know what I've felt?
[Rei takes a breath, trying to think of the right way to explain this.]
With the understanding that I cannot see beyond the surface, what she's feeling at the time? She's the same as you, and the same as me. There are things that make her very happy, like watching movies or playing D&D. And there are times where she's a jumbled mess, and she isn't happy. Like when something reminds her of her father, or when she's lonely.
I feel like she's improving, she's certainly more open than when we met, but she's working through a lot.
[She has asked Chloe... in a lot of different ways. Most of the time in very tangential, not-at-all straightforward ways. And she usually gets an answer that's... not a-okay.
She listens carefully to Rei's explanation, nodding.]
Yeah, she... she's... I guess lonely is a good word. And I'm trying to help with that, it's just...
[Her hands curl up into fists on the table.]
She's already dealing with so much, and then some asshole just decides to...
[She can't quite bring herself to say "kill her", so the sentence hangs unfinished.]
I don't know what to do. What to say if she comes back. I just... want her to be happy.
[Rei stares down at her tea, fingers wrapped around the cup. This is something she was worried about happening, honestly. She didn't want to leave Max without some sort of comfort, but it seemed like this wasn't just because she was dead. There was a kind of tiredness to her that Rei had seen in other people who had been through too much. She'd seen it in her friends from time to time, after a particularly brutal confrontation and it always made her thoughts slam to a screeching halt.
But, she was getting better at peopling, and recovered a little more quickly. She shook her head, and reached a hand out, covering one one Max's fists.]
She will come back. And you being here has been like a ray of sunshine for her. I can feel that, too.
[She looks at Rei's hand on hers. It's a comforting gesture. Or it should be, anyway, and she knows it's made with that intent... but it doesn't really make her feel better.]
You don't know she'll be back. I mean... you don't know it.
[In Wonderland, when Alex died, he never returned like he was supposed to. He left her a completely... inadequate letter. And that was that.
Her closest friend, gone.
But then, there is no good way for a best friend to die on you, is there?
Or to disappear on you, for that matter.
She pulls her hand out from under Rei's and pushes it against her forehead.]
I'm sorry. I'm just upset... and being selfish. [She heaves a sigh.] Has Chloe told you about Arcadia Bay at all?
[Rei makes sure that when she continues to speak, she's absolutely locked her eyes onto Max's so that her conviction carries through. Her violet gaze sparks, a kind of light shining just behind the surface of her iris, and her tone is absolutely confident. She's telling Max only a half truth, but it's one she believes firmly.]
I'm gifted in one other way. I can see glimpses of the future. Chloe will return.
[The tone of her voice and the look she gives Max seems to stick. She looks back for a moment before the corner of her mouth lifts in a tiny but sincere smile.
She doesn't know if she believes Rei. That sounds a little too good to be true. But the huge weight of worrying about Chloe lifts slightly.
She nods and reaches once more for her tea, looking away.]
It's terrible for her. [She sighs.] She needs to be here.
[Because this is the only place where she still is.]
[Oh. Ohhh. There's no real probing behind Rei's line of questioning, Max just assumed there was. And now she's given it away. But... it won't hurt to just talk about Arcadia Bay, right? Not necessarily tell Rei anything big.
And Max told Chloe about a month ago that she'd try to rewind less, so she'll see how this conversation goes before resorting to that.]
...Okay. But I don't even know where to start. [She shrugs. There's still that lingering look of surprise and worry on her face.] It's a seaside town, and quiet most of the time. Just a lot of boats and trucks... a bunch of artsy students up at Blackwell Academy. I studied there for a while.
[She'd appreciate a lack of rewinding, generally, yes. Better to have a conversation in good faith.
Especially something as innocent as this. Naturally ideas have sprouted, but she's sensitive enough to other people's feelings to know when not to pry.]
Blackwell Academy...is a private school? [Chloe hadn't mentioned her schooling, but then Rei didn't really ask.]
She went for art or something, didn't she? And what about you?
[She hasn't talked about Blackwell in ages, except to mention it in passing. It strikes her as an odd topic all of a sudden. Like a whole different life, more of a dream than even Deerington.]
She didn't have a specialization yet. Maybe science or art at some point. But I moved to Seattle, so... [She still doesn't look Rei in the eye.] I went back and took photography classes years later, and by then she wasn't in school anymore.
[Right. Chloe had mentioned she'd dropped out, hadn't she? Rei swallows the last of her tea and leans back, focusing more fully on Max.
Why was she so skittish...?]
Max...I know it's not really my place to pry, so if talking about this is a sensitive topic, we can change the subject. I came here to try and help you, not...make it worse.
...No, it's okay. I just haven't talked about it in so long.
[She draws into herself a little before finally looking up at the other girl.]
Chloe's had a crazy hard life. And so much of it is because I'm such a shit friend, and... And please, please don't tell her, but... She dies back home, because of me, and I-
[There's tears in her eyes again. She blinks and fights them but it quickly gets worse. So much of this is suddenly bubbling to the surface, pouring out of her if not for the fact that she's running out of breath.]
[This is...actually kind of a stunning revelation. Something, she's not sure what, has bubbled up inside Max and she's clearly reaching out for assistance and it takes Rei completely off guard. Whatever this is, it's clearly a huge deal, so she does her best to school her face into neutrality and just listen to the outpouring of sorrow.
When Max cuts off like that, Rei scoots a bit closer, her arms opening a little to offer a hug...or something? God, why is she so bad at this?]
I won't tell her, Max. [She says, hopefully reassuringly.]
But I don't think she considers you a shit friend. Quite the opposite, in fact. And what happened here isn't your fault. It's that maniac's, and only his.
[Unfortunately, Max is a similarly awkward person, and this moment is a particularly vulnerable one. She sees the offered hug and leans in to give a very brief, light one. But only a moment passes before she pulls away.]
I know, but... I'm sorry, Rei. I didn't mean to dump this on you. I don't have anyone to talk to about it...
[Admitting that actually brings her down a little. She shakes her head and turns away, hiding her face as she wipes her tears.]
[She pulls back and slides back to her original position, looking the younger girl right in the face.]
You aren't dumping anything on me. I'm here to listen, if you need to talk more, whenever you need. Even if it's late at night, you just need a to text me, and I'll come.
[Period, no questions, no judgments, she'll be here. It's the right thing to do.]
[Max turns back to her, eyes drier but still shining. Her expression is soft, vulnerable. But there's also a small sincere smile. Rei's offer isn't one Max takes for granted. It's a gentle but powerful thing.]
...Thank you.
[For the offer, but for the visit, too. For listening.]
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mypartnerintime) wrote2030-12-10 10:14 pm
no subject
I'm not really the best person to ask that question. You should be asking Chloe. But if you want to know what I've felt?
[Rei takes a breath, trying to think of the right way to explain this.]
With the understanding that I cannot see beyond the surface, what she's feeling at the time? She's the same as you, and the same as me. There are things that make her very happy, like watching movies or playing D&D. And there are times where she's a jumbled mess, and she isn't happy. Like when something reminds her of her father, or when she's lonely.
I feel like she's improving, she's certainly more open than when we met, but she's working through a lot.
no subject
She listens carefully to Rei's explanation, nodding.]
Yeah, she... she's... I guess lonely is a good word. And I'm trying to help with that, it's just...
[Her hands curl up into fists on the table.]
She's already dealing with so much, and then some asshole just decides to...
[She can't quite bring herself to say "kill her", so the sentence hangs unfinished.]
I don't know what to do. What to say if she comes back. I just... want her to be happy.
no subject
[Rei stares down at her tea, fingers wrapped around the cup. This is something she was worried about happening, honestly. She didn't want to leave Max without some sort of comfort, but it seemed like this wasn't just because she was dead. There was a kind of tiredness to her that Rei had seen in other people who had been through too much. She'd seen it in her friends from time to time, after a particularly brutal confrontation and it always made her thoughts slam to a screeching halt.
But, she was getting better at peopling, and recovered a little more quickly. She shook her head, and reached a hand out, covering one one Max's fists.]
She will come back. And you being here has been like a ray of sunshine for her. I can feel that, too.
[She sighs.]
All you need to do is just be there for her.
no subject
You don't know she'll be back. I mean... you don't know it.
[In Wonderland, when Alex died, he never returned like he was supposed to. He left her a completely... inadequate letter. And that was that.
Her closest friend, gone.
But then, there is no good way for a best friend to die on you, is there?
Or to disappear on you, for that matter.
She pulls her hand out from under Rei's and pushes it against her forehead.]
I'm sorry. I'm just upset... and being selfish. [She heaves a sigh.] Has Chloe told you about Arcadia Bay at all?
no subject
[Rei makes sure that when she continues to speak, she's absolutely locked her eyes onto Max's so that her conviction carries through. Her violet gaze sparks, a kind of light shining just behind the surface of her iris, and her tone is absolutely confident. She's telling Max only a half truth, but it's one she believes firmly.]
I'm gifted in one other way. I can see glimpses of the future. Chloe will return.
[As she has foreseen it]
And no, not really. I don't think you're being selfish, just...upset. You have every right.
[Pausing, she shakes her head one more time.]
And no, not really. Other than it's in Oregon, and it gets cold.
you are a huge repository of wonderful gifs/videos... except on fridays
She doesn't know if she believes Rei. That sounds a little too good to be true. But the huge weight of worrying about Chloe lifts slightly.
She nods and reaches once more for her tea, looking away.]
It's terrible for her. [She sighs.] She needs to be here.
[Because this is the only place where she still is.]
...Please don't tell her I said that.
Guess what tomorrow is?
[Rei rather emphatically taps the table. Chloe's said stuff about the storm...]
She absolutely does.
[And...Rei leans in a little closer.]
And I promise, I won't tell. If you tell me about Arcadia Bay.
son of a
Wh-what?
[Is Rei being serious? Max stares at her, searching.]
Why?
no subject
[Jesus...that's not the response she expected.]
Max, if that isn't an innocent enough question...then I'm missing something big. And I won't seriously tell Chloe anything, but...humor me?
no subject
And Max told Chloe about a month ago that she'd try to rewind less, so she'll see how this conversation goes before resorting to that.]
...Okay. But I don't even know where to start. [She shrugs. There's still that lingering look of surprise and worry on her face.] It's a seaside town, and quiet most of the time. Just a lot of boats and trucks... a bunch of artsy students up at Blackwell Academy. I studied there for a while.
[Years and years ago. She pauses.]
Chloe did too, actually.
no subject
Especially something as innocent as this. Naturally ideas have sprouted, but she's sensitive enough to other people's feelings to know when not to pry.]
Blackwell Academy...is a private school? [Chloe hadn't mentioned her schooling, but then Rei didn't really ask.]
She went for art or something, didn't she? And what about you?
no subject
[She hasn't talked about Blackwell in ages, except to mention it in passing. It strikes her as an odd topic all of a sudden. Like a whole different life, more of a dream than even Deerington.]
She didn't have a specialization yet. Maybe science or art at some point. But I moved to Seattle, so... [She still doesn't look Rei in the eye.] I went back and took photography classes years later, and by then she wasn't in school anymore.
no subject
[Right. Chloe had mentioned she'd dropped out, hadn't she? Rei swallows the last of her tea and leans back, focusing more fully on Max.
Why was she so skittish...?]
Max...I know it's not really my place to pry, so if talking about this is a sensitive topic, we can change the subject. I came here to try and help you, not...make it worse.
no subject
[She draws into herself a little before finally looking up at the other girl.]
Chloe's had a crazy hard life. And so much of it is because I'm such a shit friend, and... And please, please don't tell her, but... She dies back home, because of me, and I-
[There's tears in her eyes again. She blinks and fights them but it quickly gets worse. So much of this is suddenly bubbling to the surface, pouring out of her if not for the fact that she's running out of breath.]
I can't-... save her. Even here, I can't-...
no subject
When Max cuts off like that, Rei scoots a bit closer, her arms opening a little to offer a hug...or something? God, why is she so bad at this?]
I won't tell her, Max. [She says, hopefully reassuringly.]
But I don't think she considers you a shit friend. Quite the opposite, in fact. And what happened here isn't your fault. It's that maniac's, and only his.
no subject
I know, but... I'm sorry, Rei. I didn't mean to dump this on you. I don't have anyone to talk to about it...
[Admitting that actually brings her down a little. She shakes her head and turns away, hiding her face as she wipes her tears.]
Uhm. Thanks for the food.
no subject
[She pulls back and slides back to her original position, looking the younger girl right in the face.]
You aren't dumping anything on me. I'm here to listen, if you need to talk more, whenever you need. Even if it's late at night, you just need a to text me, and I'll come.
[Period, no questions, no judgments, she'll be here. It's the right thing to do.]
I'll keep bringing you food, too.
no subject
...Thank you.
[For the offer, but for the visit, too. For listening.]