o8 | what more am I owed than certain death | open action/accidental video;

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Annie appears onscreen, looking anything but her chipper self. Seems that's more and more common, these days, especially after things like disgusting zombies. She'd kept her own and managed to make it to the farmhouse on the second day, and stayed there for the remainder of the event, helping people who managed to get there as well. It wasn't until the event was over that she realized that they were well into fall, and that Christmas must be coming up soon, and if Christmas is coming, that means Hanukkah's here, or...that it already passed.

And, okay, yeah, she doesn't have like, the best relationship with her parents anymore, but it's still a special holiday for her! And she could've had a sweet little ceremony each night and lit the candles and made matzoh ball soup in the kitchen and shared it!! But no, instead she was killing zombies and hiding in a farmhouse. Seriously.

So, she can be found in the diner, her crafting supplies spread out in front of her in a booth in the back. Currently, she's pouring glitter over a set of folded up pieces of paper-- Christmas cards. She missed one holiday, she's not going to miss another.]

Comments

action;

[oversight]

[The climate of John Blake, his overall attitude with himself and the world around him, has been nothing, if not volatile. He's gone from doom and gloom to sun and fun in less than a day, and over time, it's taken its toll on the former cop. He's been pushed and pulled and tugged so much by Wonderland, it's a wonder he hasn't been turned into taffy.

It doesn't help to see the accidental video of Annie Edison, either. In the year that he's been in Wonderland, or at least over the length of time he's known her, he can't ever remember a time when she looked so down in the presence of glitter; it's a sad state of affairs when it gets to that point.

And... well, there's more. Much more.

The last time they'd talked, they hadn't even talked. It had been Annie's Mirror and John's stupidity that lead to a kiss that should never have happened. At least, not in the way it went down. God, never in that way, because it feels like a violation on so many levels.

So, when Blake arrives, he wishes he's as small as he feels. Dressed as inoffensively as possible (solid colors, no patterns, lots of layers), he comes empty-handed, save for the apology he intends to offer.]

Hi, Annie... [A very thin breath shudders out of him. He's buzzing with a nervousness entirely disproportionate for the offense, but it doesn't seem to want to go away.] Mind if I join you? S'okay to say no, just thought... [He gestures vaguely.]

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[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Oh right, of course, how could she forget the part where her mirror took over her body and kissed John Blake? Haha, clearly the sad truth is that she totally didn't forget it and plays it back over and over in her head until it drives her nuts. Why is this happening to her? How did this become her life??

But, when he comes up she just gives him a tense smile, and takes a moment to think about it.]

Um, yeah, it's fine.

[And it is. It's not like she can really hold him responsible. For as long as they've been here, they don't know each other that well, so Annie can't like, be mad at him for not realizing. Even Jeff got fooled once, and that was way worse. So, whatever. It's all just a terrible situation in general.]

action;

[oversight]

[When isn't Wonderland a terrible situation in general? Sure, people could have it worse, much worse, but it was still hell a lot of the time. Maybe a little extra hellish when Blake actually takes a seat and solidifies his intentions to have this conversation.

His hands fold on the tabletop and Blake's eyes crawl over the cards laid out in front of her. She's always doing something, isn't she? He can't remember the last time he'd seen Annie at rest. It's an oddly familiar pattern.

Blake clears his throat, swallows, and tries to remind himself he's the Goddamn Batman, and this shouldn't be so damn difficult.

He can do this.]

Owe you an apology. [A good start.] Kissin' you was not good. [Oh god, no, don't say it like that!] M-mean, it was— [Stop. Just stop.] I was— I am sorry...

[...]

Really sorry.

[Better.]

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[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Annie takes a deep breath when he starts speaking. She's had enough of these conversations-- too many of these conversations, actually-- to know where it's going. And, really, hearing that someone else is sorry they kissed her is just more than she can handle right now. Seriously.]

It's fine! [She gives him a smile, bright and only slightly strained. She probably looks a little manic.]

Doesn't matter anyway, right? It wasn't really me you were kissing anyway.

[She laughs, but there's something sharp about it. Metallic. Wrong. She smiles again.]

So you have nothing to be sorry for. Don't worry about it.

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[eatsyourscience]

[Souji works in the diner, so he naturally sees what Annie's up to! He's curious, but he gives her some space before bringing over some hot chocolate (with teeny marshmallows!).]

How's it going?

[This is a much better chance to talk than in a mine with killer doors.]

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[chloroformedthejanitor]

[It's been awhile since Annie's been in here for any significant length of time, so she doesn't know about Souji working here. Hot chocolate is always welcome, though, and she's glad to see he's unharmed this time. She gives him a smile and takes the hot chocolate.]

It's okay, I guess. I feel like I'm making a card for everyone who lives here. [A pause, because that's exactly what she's doing, but shhh, don't worry about it.]

That last event was pretty-- [She sighs and shakes her heads. No words.]

action;

[eatsyourscience]

[He nods.]

If the next one doesn't involve puppies, I'm going to be really disappointed.

action;

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[She laughs, taken by surprise. Being trapped next to a frozen lake next to an underground mine with someone isn't really the best way to get to know them, so Annie's glad to have a chance to laugh with him.]

Me too. I'll probably start a petition. You'd sign it, right?

[not_apriest]

[He hasn't seen her lately, but he's also reasonably sure his mirror didn't offend her. He approaches with his cup of coffee.]

I didn't know you were an artist.

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[The beach party feels so long ago...and oh, she realizes that it was pretty long ago. A month at least, and she hasn't spoken to Aramis since then. What an awful friend she is.]

Oh, I'm not. [She smiles at the compliment anyway.] I just like to...make things. With glitter. You want to make one?

[not_apriest]

Me? [He looks over the table and then...what the hell. It's not like he's got anything pressing going on. He sits and sets his coffee down.] How's it done?

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[She smiles, wide. You're gonna love this, Aramis. She grabs an unused piece of paper and folds it, and sets it in front of him.]

So, this is a card. And this-- [She grabs a tube of gold glitter glue and holds it out to him.]--is glitter glue. You write with it, like normal, but squeeze the glue out as you do. Then it'll dry and be glittery!

[Cue encouraging smile.]

[action]

[cowhouse]

[Friggin' zombies, yo, ruining... Everything.

Everything up to and including Jesse's appetite. Or maybe that'd been the death plague (not zombie related) he'd contracted during his camping trip from hell... That or the near-raw fish he'd enjoyed (read: choked down so as not to starve to death), that hadn't done much to help things either. Point is, he's pretty stoked to actually desire food again.

Hence the diner trip.

But it's been a while since he's seen her around- and the last time wasn't under the most awesome circumstances, if they ever are- and so of course when he spots Annie in the back of the diner he's gotta make a detour; food can wait a few more minutes. He'll live.]

Yo. [And then, noting the glitter and the cards:] ...Is it that time already?

[action]

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Yeah, seriously, who's lame idea was it to turn the mansion into a zombie movie?

But, that aside, the crafting is really helping Annie feel less....whatever. Blah. Depressed? Upset? Down in the dumps? The methodicalness of writing, gluing and glittering each card is helping clear her head a little, which upon reflection may be weird, but hey, it's working for her now, isn't it?

She has to admit, though, she's getting kind of hungry. She's just finished dumping some glitter back into a jar when he approaches, and she smiles at him, nodding.]

I mean, I think it is. Dates aren't really...a thing here, I guess. [She'd been keeping pretty good track, and then the mine event threw her off course.] I know it must be December by now, yeah?

[action]

[cowhouse]

Yeah, I guess we did just have the whole dinner thing... Trippy, yo, it wasn't this late in the year back home.

[It'd been like... July. ...Now that he thinks about it, he'd probably missed his birthday. Lame. Not like he would have partied it up, but... Damn. That's like time travel...

ANYWAY. He leans a bit against the booth, eyes scanning the assortment of cards and crafting materials littering the table.] Looks like you're going all out, though, that's cool.

[It's cute, is what it is...]

Festive. Feels like we need it after, you know... [He waves a hand. He's pretty sure you do know.]

[action]

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Dinner thing? Oh, right, Thanksgiving. Annie doesn't know why she didn't attend that. She can't remember. She must have had some reason, right? Other than being like, depressed or something. Whatever.]

Yeah, I know. [Yeah. Considering the almost-disaster that happened with him and her mirror and the general awkwardness afterward...and then the zombies. She's just glad he's talking to her, actually.]

And yeah. Why do anything if you're not going to do it, you know??

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[onsilksheets]

What are you making?

[She's genuinely curious.]

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[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Forgive her for not picking up her device to speak into it-- she assumes you're a person standing over her at the diner.]

Christmas cards.

[And she looks up as she puts the final dab of glitter glue on one, only to find that no one is actually standing next to her. Okay, weird. She digs around a little, and finds her communicator.]

Oh, sorry! I thought you were..here.

video;

[onsilksheets]

It's fine.

[Bela waves it off with a hand, not needing for her to apologise. She didn't exactly announce herself after all.]

Wouldn't it be easier to just ask for Christmas cards instead of making your own?

[action]

[selfrespecting]

[Martha's dealt with quite a lot in her time as companion and then UNIT doctor, but zombies had been a new addition to the list. It had been a rough few days, but as someone who'd had to travel a world torn apart by the Master on foot, Martha had been prepared to rough it for as long as was needed.

That doesn't mean she's not relieved that it's all over now. She's been doing what she can to put in extra shifts at the clinic and see to it that everyone's healed up and taken care of, but even doctors need to eat sometimes. So she sneaks up to the diner, hoping to get some homemade Japanese food from Tohru or whoever's on staff.

It's hardly surprising that the diner has a few other people in it when she gets there, but Annie's the only familiar face. Martha passes by her on the way to her usual table, but pauses when she spots the glitter and cards. Some Christmas symbols are already starting to form.]

Starting a bit early, are we? I can hardly believe it's December.

[She got here in April, and they're now in December. She remembers when she first got here and how she'd been convinced that she'd be home by now.]

[action]

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[Annie can't think about what it was like when she first got here, mostly because...well, because she did get to go home. She went home and got pulled back, and maybe that's when this all actually started. Maybe if she hadn't she'd still be-- no, that's probably wrong. This place has a way of draining your life, and she knows that.

She looks up when she hears Martha's voice and gives her a smile. It's been awhile since she's seen her. It's hard to keep up with everyone, especially during events like the last one. But she should try more, right? Maybe that will be her New Year's Resolution. Be a better friend.]

I'm guessing on the date, [she says with a shrug.] It's cold enough that I'm guessing it's December, so I thought I'd spread a little cheer, you know?

[action]

[selfrespecting]

It's definitely December. Early December, though. [Martha keeps track of these things as best she can. Thanksgiving had been a good marker, even if she's not that familiar with the holiday. She's got a hand-written calendar in her room and in the clinic.

There might not be much point to it, except that she'd rather not let the days blur together if she can help it.

In any case, it's nice to see someone taking time to do something nice for others, and Martha smiles down at Annie before taking a seat across from her.]

I've never been any good with things like this, but if you need any help...

[Or they could just chat while Martha gets some food in her. That sounds good too.]

[Action]

[cursebreaking]

[It's entirely by accident that Emma runs across Annie in the diner, intent on making a surgical strike to get hot cocoa for Henry and herself, but spotting the familiar face when she walks through the door makes her tense up. They've never had many chances to talk without being under the influence of some kind of event.

Some might say this is as good an opportunity as any, but their last meeting had been rough, thanks to the mirrors. It takes her a moment, but she finally heaves a sigh and heads over towards Annie's booth rather than straight up to the counter.]

Hey.

[She knows enough, at least, to recognize that this kind of behavior isn't normal for Annie.]

Why the long face, huh?

[Action]

[chloroformedthejanitor]

[It's kind of weird, actually, because of all of the other people who have approached her, Emma, the one who's only ever interacted with her through, well, proxy, basically, is also the only one who's actually just sat and asked her what's wrong. It's nice, in a way, but also...weird. Bizarre. Maybe Emma's just ultra honest all the time. Annie can deal with that.

She just shrugs in reply, though.]

You know, this place. [It's a pretty universal feeling, right?] I think I missed Hanukkah.

[Action]

[cursebreaking]

[Emma is nothing if not direct. Beating around the bush has never been her style, and she's come across Annie often enough during hard times that she feels oddly invested, even if they've never had the chance to really talk.

She grimaces, understanding.]

Same shit, different day. Kind of the Wonderland motto.

[She helps herself to a seat without waiting for an invitation. Better than standing awkwardly beside the table, and she's not all that interested in formalities.]

Didn't realize you celebrated. [Of course. They weren't friends, how the hell would she know? That sounded dumb.] Guess it's easy to lose track of time here. ... I'm sorry.