[video forever]

[akapeanut]

[George keeps this message short and sweet. It doesn't need to say much to get what she needs across. The raw, puffy mess of her face and the pink of her eyes more or less says it all. Before she speaks, she takes a brief moment to swipe a tissue over her nose, then:]

And to think, I missed my body when I couldn't do this last night.

Anybody want to distract me from crying like a bitch?

Comments

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji takes a seat on the bed next to George.]

Why wouldn't you deserve it?

[akapeanut]

[She hesitates, not sure how to put it without sounding dumb. But there doesn't seem to be a way, so she just lets out a bitter laugh and says it:]

Because I couldn't save you in the future that might not even happen? And that seems like it was...the...only reason I was there...

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji considers this, blinking.]

I don't think that was your fault.

[akapeanut]

...No. I know. Not like it even happened yet. I just feel weird about it, I guess.

[She's quiet for a moment, not sure if she should mention, but...well.]

Did James...tell you about the future at all?

[eatsyourscience]

He told me a lot. About the Jabberwocky and that you and I both died.

[akapeanut]

And that's, uh. It?

[Wow, way to sound like you're fishing, George.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Strictly speaking, James hadn't told him that he and George were together--he only barely implied it, by saying that George was with them because of Souji. So Souji isn't putting things together just yet.]

What else?

[akapeanut]

[George watches him silently for a moment, but there's no point. Souji's always been as honest as possible with her. It's not different here.

She just doesn't know if she should mention it.

Maybe not yet.]

Nothing important. Just...wondered if he said.

[George wonders, if the situation had been reversed, if Souji would've immediately told her. She isn't sure. Omission isn't lying, exactly.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's pretty sure there's more to it than that--George isn't the most subtle person he knows--but he doesn't push the issue. Not just now.]

He didn't tell me much outside of what happened to Wonderland.

[akapeanut]

Right. Which was the same as what everyone else said. So no news, I guess.

[Is she relieved? She can't even tell anymore.]

[eatsyourscience]

We have plenty to work with without more news.

[akapeanut]

Yeah...at this point more news does kind of sound like a pain.

[So she's probably right to keep this particular news to herself. Right?

She sits quietly for a moment, mind sort of numb from all the conflicting emotions. She sniffs back some leftover crying-snot and sighs.]

Every time I think I'll get used to this place...every time I think I'll be stronger than the last time, I just get. Fucking destroyed, one way or another. I'm so tired, Souji.

[eatsyourscience]

I know.

[He feels the same way. Normally, things are okay. But then something always, always happens to throw him off balance.

He puts an arm around George's shoulders.]

All you can do is keep going.

[akapeanut]

[She leans against him again, despite the part of her brain (which may very well be her common sense) telling her this is a bad idea.]

Would you mind just. Staying here like this? For a while?

[eatsyourscience]

Of course not.