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[The video opens up to Max standing in the kitchen, smiling halfheartedly at the camera. A small streak of flour stains her hoodie's shoulder.

Yup, it seems like Max has hit a not-so-uncommon phase among residents: baking.]

So, uh, I made a cake.

[She pans the camera around to said cake. Is it the first attempt she's made? You bet it isn't! Is it nice and moist inside? No way! Did she give up on decorating it, smear chocolate frosting all over it to cover up her mistakes, and bombard it with star-sprinkles as a distraction? She sure did!!]

This is a little beyond my stomach capacity, so... if anyone wants any, you can come nom on it here.

[She pokes it with a fork, because that's what you do to cakes, right? Especially when they're the suspicious sort.]

I just can't promise that it's actually chow-downable.

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i don't know.

[It's a legitimate question. Why's he being so nice to her? Why's he even bothering? He shouldn't be bothering. He shouldn't...care. He shouldn't feel like he's actually motivated to try.

He never does.]

just felt kinda like i should.
does that make sense?

['Cause it sure doesn't to him.]

...no? I guess??

[Well. She's seen weirder things.]

Is cake somewhere in your plans for the day?

[Because if this Tim 2.0 is coming over, then she kinda wants to know in advance.]

Edited 2017-03-18 05:21 (UTC)

don't worry.
it doesn't have to be.

[Much as he feels...better, he's not delusional enough to assume he should be inflicting himself on people when he isn't wanted. And he seldom ever is.]

[Well, that at least isn't too unfamiliar. As much as she's curious about what's going on with him, especially after the last few events, sharing a cake seems kind of absurd.

But there is a middle ground that she'd be satisfied with.]

how about a smoke?

sure.
but those things will kill you, you know.

[Almost sounds like a joke. Can't be, though. It's coming from Tim, and everyone knows Tim barely has a sense of humor.]

[Okay. Tim telling her that smoking is bad for her health. Tim, of all people.]

The huge warnings on the pack say as much..

Meet you at the tearoom near the kitchen?

lol
sure.

[And sure enough, he's there. He still can't put a word to how he's feeling, how it's almost like he's - better, in certain ways, even if he knows it can't be anything more than a temporary good day.

Feels weird, though.

Being "okay," for once.]

[She's already inside when he walks in, cigarette between her lips. She lowers it and lets out a breath of smoke before waving at him.]

Hi Tim.

[She looks him over, trying to be subtle about it (she's not), for any signs of him having changed.

At the same time she can't help the horrible and instinctive cringe as she sees him for the first time since the dream event. Suddenly this seems like a bad idea. She stuffs the cigarette back into her mouth to try and cover up her reaction.]

Hey.

[The difference isn't immediate, but it is there. He's standing straighter, his gaze is clearer, and the patina of perpetual self-neglect has been all but rinsed away. He even feels...well, he doesn't feel like complete shit.

Maybe that run-in with the machine down there wasn't such a bad idea after all. Her once-over gets a slow, inquisitive lift of an eyebrow.]

You okay there?

Yeah, sorry. [An instinctive response. "How are you?" met with "I'm okay." She brushes imaginary dirt and sweat off her forehead.]

How about you? You look a little... better. [And she'd be happy if he is. Of course.]

[He looks...better. Weird. He feels better. Like he's not quite as weighed down with all the accumulated shit in his life. His soul, since apparently he has one, not as heavy.]

Guess things haven't been as shitty as usual. [He blows a plume of smoke from between parted lips, and shrugs.] Weird, right?

Weird. Yup.

[No point in hiding how it makes her feel, really.]

Is there a story behind this or is a plain old miracle?

Really couldn't say.

[There's the machine that he kicked into, but that's...doesn't matter, right? Different body. He's back in his old adult one. No point in saying, right?]

Maybe the universe owed me a good day. [Yeah. Fucking right.]

[She huffs out a small laugh at that. Sort of dark humor. She shouldn't find it amusing, and she doesn't, really... more like it's weird.]

Congrats.

[She tries not to sound too sad about her own situation.]

So what're you planning to do with this newfound... uh, good-day-ness?

Don't really know. The possibilities are endless. I could go for a walk. Could even do something for once. Wild, right?

[It almost sounds like a laugh, the skeptical huff of air that follows as he exhales another long stream of smoke and promptly takes another drag.]

Things going...well, I don't wanna say "better." But maybe less shitty? For you, I mean?

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