Tenth [Action]

[akapeanut]

[George hasn't woken up in her parents' house in two years. Even back home she never expected to again.

But here she is, waking up to her mom's nagging, her dad's apathy, and her sister's quiet devotion. She goes to work and Dolores hates her. After, she goes to the Wafflehaus and Rube doesn't know who she is.

It's not real. She knows it isn't. But there's no way she's getting killed by a toilet seat again. She's gonna stay here and have a family again. She's already died once, right? She has literally nothing to lose.]

Comments

[itsahotone]

[Tra la la, sooner or later Santana shows up at George's door. It may be deliberate, it may not.

It doesn't really matter, since now Santana is stuck who-knows-where, staring up at an all right looking house.]

[akapeanut]

[And George comes walking down the steps. Reggie trails behind her, clearly confused about this sudden attention from her older sister.]

Trust me. Frogs are reliable pets. They're, uh...

[Santana. Shit.]

...Fun.

[Reggie raises an eyebrow at the cheerleader, but more or less stays put as George advances on her.]

Why are you here?

[itsahotone]

Georgie!

[Cheery smile! And just for everyone's sake, let it be known that Santana is wearing a tight, short skirt and a much looser top, off one shoulder.]

Hoped I'd find you here.

[akapeanut]

[Reggie pretty distinctively and disdainfully mutters "Georgie?" from her place on the steps.]

Yeah, okay, now you can leave?

[George makes little flappy handed shooing gestures.]

[itsahotone]

[Santana will ignore the other tinier girl until that is impossible, and just give George a hurt look.]

You don't want to show me your house?

[akapeanut]

[George relaxes a little. Sure, this is probably a little fake, but. Well. She should maybe assume that Santana is capable of SOME feelings, right?]

Uh. Well, I guess. If you want. But then you should probably go.

[She glances around, vaguely nervous.]

I'm not sure how long you can stay.

[itsahotone]

Why?

[She puts her hands on her hips as she walks towards George. She leans close, which is very thoughtful in making sure George's sister doesn't hear, but it may look a little cozy to outsiders.]

Pretty sure you're not supposed to stay, either.

[akapeanut]

[George doesn't meet Santana's eyes.]

What's gonna happen? I'll die? Whoop-dee-friggin'-doo.

[itsahotone]

[Stare stare stare.]

Show me your house.

[She'll think of something.]

[airshipswank]

[ And who would waltz into the Lass residence if not our dearest duke in all his splendour!

He probably sauntered right out of a closet. Or basement door. Or wherever that magical portal is located. Wherever he stands, wherever he looks around now, things... don't seem entirely to his satisfaction. ]

Oh dear, a modern one again...

[ And he decides to raise his voice. ]

Now then, whose is this?

[akapeanut]

[The portal is in the toilet seat, but the narration supposes there could be others, whatever.

George is at the table eating oatmeal with raisins. And now she's just kind of dropping her spoon.]

What the-- go back, oh my God. You do not fit in here!

[airshipswank]

[ Well, good. Because His Grace is offended enough as it is without being forced to crawl through a toilet seat. ]

Miss George, what have I done to offend that would earn me this welcome?

[ Really now. How could you? How could you? ]

[akapeanut]

[Yes, or be hit in the face with one. :|a]

This-- this isn't your time! You look like you're wearing a costume in my mom's kitchen!

[Aaaand speak of the devil, there's Joy. Standing in the doorway leading to the living room. Arms crossed.]

Well. Isn't this a pretty picture. George, should I be calling the cops or do you know this pirate?

[George doesn't even have the words to point out that he's probably not a pirate. She's just facepalming eternally.]

Alright, cops it is. You might want to leave, Fancypants. I don't think your type does well in prison.

[airshipswank]

[ Oh please. Buckingham knows joy and this woman very evidently has nothing to do with it. Supposedly he could just shoot her since this is only a dream anyway, but that seems like a rather strong display of poor manners, so... a friendly smile? ]

Madam, you misunderstand. I'm neither marauder nor should young Miss George fail to recognise an acquaintance in me, although the fault is my own entirely for I failed to announce my visit in a timely manner and for that-

[ He bows deeply. ]

-I apologise sincerely.

[akapeanut]

[Joy stares. She's usually pretty decisive, but it's almost as if the dream doesn't quite know what to do about Buckingham. Maybe it's because George has literally no idea how her real mom would react to this guy.]

You...

[The dream world seems to sense George's discomfort with this change in her mother and suddenly everything snaps into motion.]

I don't think my daughter knows you or wants anything to do with you. So either leave now, or I'm calling the fucking cops.

[George winces again. She's only heard her mother swear once and that was after she died. This isn't quite right, and that hurts more than the thought of leaving.

Unfortunately, she is incredibly stubborn.]

Mom, I know him. Don't call the cops. I'll get him out.

[She stands, grabbing harshly at Buckingham's arm and dragging him into the living room.]

This isn't really the time, okay? Just...

[Let me have this.]

Go.

[airshipswank]

[ Mansion translation still in place Buckingham knows the implications of "cops" and, despite being fairly indifferent towards the threat, decides to let himself be dragged along although a glance should be more than enough to tell that he does not at all appreciate the reception. ]

Not the time? Pray tell, what was I interrupting?

[akapeanut]

Oh, I don't know. My life?

[Teenager huff.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is checking around on his friends and comes to George's door. When he peeks in, he vaguely recognizes the location from when he went there with George at Christmas.

He goes looking for her, checking the Waffle Haus first just because that's the only location he really knows.

[akapeanut]

[George is sitting in a booth against a wall. She never expected it'd hurt for Kiffany to not know who she is, but she's already dealt with that blow before Roxy and Rube settle in. It isn't long before Betty shows up too.

She feels like throwing up in her oatmeal.

Then she spots Souji and sighs.]

Might as well settle in. Everyone else did.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji slides into the booth across from her.]

Why are you staying?

[akapeanut]

I'm alive. Wouldn't you?

[Never mind that it's been nothing but depressing. Never mind that Santana came in after her. Then again, that didn't exactly make her want to go back, given what happened...]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji glances over at the Reapers at their normal table.]

...I guess it depends on what you consider alive.

[akapeanut]

I didn't die here. I just kept going. Sounds alive to me.

[eatsyourscience]

It sounds like what you did in the real version, too.

[akapeanut]

But I couldn't be with my family.