deercountry | January and February Catch-All

[ Robby really doesn't mind if this goes nowhere (it's a memory, and who needs to suffer a beat down they had once again because of a memory), but maybe the fact the girl isn't actually swinging at him makes him take a breath. ]

No, alright-- I'm the douchebag sticking his nose in. [ Fine, he can be that guy. He is that guy, shrugging with his hands now down by his sides. ] They said- [ a tip of his head back ] -you all've got some photo album. Theirs?

[ And now, a nod to Basil who...he's assuming was the person who got cut off. ]

What's in it?

[Aubrey does chill out a little bit at that, bit still gives Robby a sneer.] At least you admit it.

[Kel perks up at the mention of the photo album.] Yeah! Aubrey has Basil's photo album. We just want her to give it back! Since it's got, uh- well we all used to be friends. So it has pictures of all of us together in it. And... [He glances hesitantly over to Sunny for a second.] It has pictures of Sunny's sister, too, who isn't with us anymore.

[Sunny's face is disturbingly neutral when Kel says this.]

[ Hey, he'll take it without making a face of his own--he doesn't really regret it (she has a nailbat), but not pissing off people usually helps. Robby looks back at Kel and Sunny as the former speaks, and he does see Sunny's unshifting expression.

His lips thin, but he looks back at Aubrey. ]

Okay. If that's true, why's a fight breaking out over it? [ He's going for a more neutral tone, but he's not sure how one thing leads to another, here. Either Kel and Sunny annoyed Aubrey by coming at her with an attitude, or--? ]

I don't know, Aubrey's the one being weird about it! [Kel insists, pointing at her but not also actually understanding what the fighting was about, either. Aubrey just wouldn't be reasonable about it for some reason.

Aubrey's response to that is to roll her eyes.]

I'm keeping the photos safe. You don't even know what that little creep did to them. [She turns a glare onto Basil, who shifts uncomfortably and glances down at the ground.

Sunny likewise looks over to him, before he turns his gaze away. Looking off somewhere that isn't at any of the people in front of him.]

[ Okay, geeze, there's a lot going on with this friend group. Or, ex-friend group. He looks over at Basil and their avoidant duck of their head, then back at Aubrey. ]

What's happened to them? Can they be fixed up?

[ Are we talking torn here, or...? ]

[Aubrey lets out an annoyed breath.] I already fixed them. He scribbled all over them with black marker.

[This surprises Kel, who looks over to Basil.] Huh, really? You did that, Basil? [The other boy doesn't respond, eyes still facing downward.

Sunny regards Basil for a long moment, before his gaze turns to Robby. Though it's hard to tell there's a subtle shift in his demeanor.]

No. [His words are so quiet they're almost inaudible.]

[ ...okay, okay.

Robby's moved some already so he can better look at everyone (and not continue to be a meat shield for Sunny and Kei--kind of gets in the way of everyone talking). He's caught glimpses of Sunny, mainly from how quiet he's been. Basil's been too, but Sunny's the one he knows here--Sunny's the one this dream is about.

He hears him, close to a mistake. Looking at him with a 'Sunny?', but pausing for a second. ]

...hey. We can't change what's happened, but if there's something you regretted here, this is a chance to make it play out differently. [ He's speaking low, though it's likely Kei (and maybe Aubrey) can hear him, though Robby's turned to Sunny, giving him a nod. ]

You're not on your own.

[Kel is baffled by what was happening, Aubrey meanwhile was getting impatient with whatever little conversation was happening without her.

But Sunny... He blinks, giving a little surprised look to Robby. Though his face is still relatively neutral, he looks more alive than he had at the start of the memory. He wasn't alone...

He looks back at Aubrey.]

Basil... didn't do that. I did.

[There's a silence amongst the former friends. Basil staring at Sunny in shock, Aubrey confused and angry, Kel simply confused.]

I'm sorry. I'm glad you were able to save them.

[ ...well. ]

Why did you do it?

[ Robby doesn't ask it immediately, but not hearing anyone speak up and say anything--he knows the question is going to come. At least this way, he can ask it calmer than anyone else here, a note in his voice encouraging an answer.

There was no way to change the past. But would this give Sunny anything, maybe? A reason to choose differently in the future. ...if this can go somewhere okay. ]

[Sadly there was no good answer to that question. Sunny glances off to the distance, not looking directly at anyone.]

I don't know. [Genuinely.] I... wasn't thinking clearly. [But obviously he feels guilty about it now.] I think I just couldn't stand the idea of looking at anything that reminded me of Mari. [It hurt too badly.

Aubrey's face is bright red.]

You... you couldn't stand it?! What about the rest of us? We all missed Mari, just because you didn't you-! [There are tears in her eyes.] You're awful, Sunny.

[ The sister that was gone, right? Robby rolls his lips, a glance taken at Aubrey, and--he gets it, even if he doesn't believe that. He knows a few things about turning to anger to hide grief. People break things because of it all the time.

And maybe he doesn't know Sunny well, but he'd like to think he isn't secretly malicious. ]

You really think he doesn't miss her too? [ He's looking at Aubrey at he speaks, though glances over at Sunny. ] People do dumb shit all the time--and yeah, it would've been bad to lose those photos. But that doesn't sound like a guy who's proud of what he did.

[ He's not trying to get at Aubrey or chastise her, but he doesn't know if it'll help. She's got a temper, she's upset too, but maybe if she can actually talk to Sunny instead of at him...

Robby looks over at Sunny with some sympathy, saying his name - 'Sunny?' - just to include him into this -- to give him some encouragement to speak for himself. ]

[Aubrey is choked up, shaking her head.] I just... I don't get it. You don't talk to us for years but you did that?

[At least Kel doesn't seem to be mad. Instead he pats Sunny on his shoulder.] Hey, uh, I don't really get it but... I'm sure you must have been hurting. And no harm done in the end, right? [He turns back to Aubrey to say this as well.] You fixed the pictures.

[Sunny is having a hard time looking at them, feeling like his throat is closing up. He tries to take a few deep breaths to calm himself. He glances over to Robby again, as though needing to see him to keep himself grounded in reality rather than get lost in the memory again.]

I'm sorry... I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I should have been there for you, when you were hurting. But I couldn't.

[That last part surprises Aubrey. She's still angry, tears now streaming down her face, but she's at least listening.] Why not?! Why did... why did I have to deal with everything by myself!?

[Sunny forces himself to keep looking at her.] Everyone was dealing with it... in their own ways. Badly. [Very badly, in his case.] We should have stayed together. I would change it if I could. [But he couldn't. Even this was just a memory.]

[ Robby nods at Sunny when he looks at him, and there's a pang in him where he feels bad. This isn't the best onslaught of emotions to be dealing with, and how did it go back in reality? There's some good in seeing how events can go a different way, but he also...doesn't entirely think everything being talked about now needs to be brought up here, and now.

That's a lot-- a lot for all of them, even if this is just a memory. ]

You can change what you do now. It sounds like you all have a lot to talk about. [ He looks between Aubrey and Sunny, not sure which of the two to focus on. At least Kel is pretty easygoing....thanks pal... ]

How about you meet up again and finally do it? Get whatever you need out. No more making anyone wait--okay?

[ He does look at Sunny there, giving him a look, but one that isn't stern. He's the one who has to speak up, not Robby. He can only try to help in these small ways. ]

Set a time and place.

[The park really wasn't the best place to talk about everything they needed to discuss. In reality this wouldn't and couldn't change what had actually happened. But it was nice to imagine a world where he could have talked about things sooner.

Have told them everything in a better place than a hospital room.]

Can we all talk tomorrow? At my house, after Hero gets back into town? [They all had to be there. The five of them. Kel, true to character, agrees easily.]

Sure, it'll be best having us all together, huh?

[Basil stutters out an 'okay' wearing a look of simultaneous resignation and relief on his face. Aubrey is shaking with anger and unresolved grief and it takes her the longest to give a single nod.]

Fine. But you'd better explain things, Sunny.

[And that was that. Perhaps this meeting would never happen, but at least the intent was there. That was what was important. Sunny nods, before turning and giving Robby the faintest of smiles.]

Thank you.

[And this is where the memory ends itself.]

[ The memory might end, but unlike it, life doesn't stop there. Robby's startled into consciousness when he comes to, the book he'd been reading (and half the culprit for his slumber) sticking to his cheek.

Winter Mournings are supposed to make you feel refreshed, and they do, but Robby still feels and uneasiness regardless that follows him as he peels off the page, rubs his face.

...You know what, he'll wash his face first and then send Sunny a message--because he's not going to leave it quite like that. ]

hey sunny. how are u? sorry u got caught up in one of those. they call them winter mournings

u ok?

[Sunny himself awakens, sitting up in his bed in the quiet of house. While he doesn't feel bad about the dream, there's a tinge of regret at the idea that things could have gone differently in reality if he'd just spoken up.

But he simply couldn't back then. Things had changed quite a bit. He glances over at the bedside table when the omni goes off, before picking it up.]

i'm okay thanks
it was strange but not bad i don't think
i'm glad you were there
things went better this time around

i nearly stuck my foot in it
not every day i meet a girl w a nailbat
thought someone was gonna tell me about the monsters everywhere

[ A joke!! But also!!! ]

how long ago was that?

i'm pretty sure she carries it just for show
aubrey wouldn't hurt people like that
monsters though
if we had them she totally would

that was three days before i came here
so pretty fresh

damn
you had a lot going on before u showed up

did u get to talk to them back home?

things got kind of crazy yeah

i did
we talked about a lot of things
and i told them something really important
but i didn't get to see how they reacted before i came here

[ ???? ]

did u get interrupted?

[ By something other than magically appearing in Trench?? ]

i don't think so?
but then again i was in the hospital
so maybe i don't remember so well because of the pain medication

huh
things were foggy for me when i first showed up
but
aubrey didnt seem too bad
i get things being hard for u too after something like that
we dont have to talk about it but i just wanted to say its easy to regret what u didnt do
talking to ppl or not feeling like you can handle stuff
but a lot of ppl struggle before they finally find something to help them change
if you were getting there then thats good

no aubrey's a good person
she just felt abandoned

thank you
i'd be ready to talk to them about everything
if any of them showed up here
i want to now no matter how things turn out

until then you have the rest of us to hang out with
already said u can talk to me if u need it
but if u ever want a talk and good food ask sensei
hes always ready to feed everyone
👍

just say i told u it was ok

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject