echidna | ❄ tenth reminder

[ action ; 1338 benny ; morning ]

[ so the previous day you likely noticed that Jade was a happy, cheerful drone! fortunately, today she is back to her normal self, up bright and early and just a little confused, all things considered. but for now, she's settled herself down at the breakfast table, humming and working at a bowl of cereal.

everything seems pretty normal, save for the pair of dog ears she's now sporting. ]

[ phone ]

Hi Mayfield, it's Jade! [ wow she sounds super excited! breeeeathe! ] I have so much to tell you!

I went home! I'm not really sure how, or if that kind of thing happens a lot but I went home and I don't think I remembered being here or what but it's really weird! I'm also not sure why I'm back but I guess I'm kind of glad because now I can tell everyone-- or maybe I'm not supposed to say anything! Does anyone know anything about that, I mean, I don't want to spoil anything for my friends who don't know what's going to happen.

Timelines are getting kind of difficult to keep track of, maybe I should make a list.

Anyway, does this going home thing happen a lot? Because I keep getting pulled out at kind of inconvenient times!

[ action ; around mayfield ]

[ Jade is quite active around Mayfield today, once again having donned her girl scouts uniform, but without the wagon of cookies in tow. She's chopped some holes into her hat to accommodate her newly regained ears, and is approaching just about everyone, be they girl or otherwise, with the intention of recruitment. ]

Hi, did you know that you look like you would make an excellent girl scout?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ !!!!!!!!!

Jade doesn't even bother answering his stupid question, just hops up from her seat and throws herself (quite literally) at him for a hug. ]

[What. A little surprised, but hugging her back.]

Are you okay?

Yes, I am just fine! I'm happy to see you.

Oh.

I'm happy to see you, too.

[He got his troll body back since she's been gone, btw!]

Edited 2011-11-04 04:01 (UTC)

[ She sighs quietly, rests her chin on his shoulder. ]

I got sent back home.

You did? For how long?

[Looking worried suddenly.]

Is everything all right?

I think it only amounts to a few hours, but um, lots of stuff has happened. I am pretty sure I'm ahead of everyone else on the timeline now.

Oh.

...I know you won't tell me anything, but you're scaring me right now. Please, if everything just goes further to hell, just let me know now.

I... [ She's quiet for several long moments, not sure how to continue. She doesn't know how to act when she knows more than the rest of them now. ] Everything's going to be alright.

Do you really mean that?

Or are you just saying that?

[ Her fingers curl uneasily into the fabric of his shirt, gripping tightly. ]

I mean it.

[Looking a little hesitant and unsure.]

I still can't go back. Even if there's a chance for some of us, I can't just...

You might not have a choice. I didn't.

...I know.

[Something in expression crumples a little at this admission because the truth is he's given his whole heart to something he has no control over.

He can't do it. He can't lose Tavros and Feferi and Nepeta again, or even Equius and Eridan and Vriska. He can't lose Gamzee. He's lost all of them once and now he's been given them back with the chance to really understand how much he cares about all of them and to do better by them. Losing them again seems to be beyond his abilities to cope.]

[ She's just going to go ahead and tighten that hug. If there's anything she wants to talk to about everything, it's him. ]

I wish we had more of a chance to talk before I die- [ uh. wait. ] die-uh, did, did, the stuff, that I did, that I can't tell you about.

Edited 2011-11-04 20:32 (UTC)

[His eyes widen a little at that, and he just looks sad. Come on, Jade, he's not an idiot, no one pronounces did that way.]

...We'll have time to talk now. I know past me isn't the same, but.

I'm not good at keeping secrets.

You know me, I'm not the one who goes around enforcing the secrecy of future events.

If you want to tell me what happens, just do it. I can live with it. I've learned enough that it's futile for me to try and change anything, every time I do it just winds up worse. I probably won't even remember.

I know, that's supposed to be my job! Or at least to try and not create weird paradoxes.

I want to, but I feel like I shouldn't. It sucks.

All right.

If you change your mind, just know that I don't give a fuck about knowing.

Okay. [ She lets out a long sigh, finally releases him from the hug. She almost tells him that she's already talked to the Doctor about it, but quickly decides that it is not a good idea.

She's quiet for a moment, but something non-spoilery to be dicussed comes to mind. ]

When I went back, I didn't remember anything from here at all.

I think that's happened before.

I think it's scary. What if one day we go home for good? We won't remember anything about this place.

Maybe that's for the better. If we had to go, and I could remember, I think I'd just...

[He trails off, though, knowing he's being selfish.]

But it's different for you. I know that. You four haven't lost anyone.