[Relief. It really is so much easier to talk this way. Sunny's been marginally more talkative here than he had been...while spending 90% of his time alone in his room over the course of four years, but that's not saying much. For the best chance of actually getting to share things with Aubrey in a meaningful way, the phone...will help.]
[Mental note made: Aubrey’s never going to try breaking or tossing the phone again. The discrepancy is a touch more strange, doing it in person like this, sure; but at this point, she’d talk with Sunny over tin cans with a string in between. Anything just to communicate.]
Special, huh… [Out loud, there’s a gentle pry. Fond. He has someone…]
[Breakfast’s over. Aubrey sets hers aside, phone along with; she didn’t get much further.]
Hey, hey… [She forces down a rising panic of her own, tries to keep her tone steady. Maybe grounding? It’s not at all practiced.] This place is confusing, I get it…
[Is this a good time to bring herself back in? God, Aubrey doesn’t know. It’s all she’s got.] I’ve wondered about it, too, but it… feels real. [Leaning in, tentatively, she reaches for a hand.] You’re real…
[Think, Aubrey. Is there proof in the house, anything someone else left here? Only Sunny could know that. Text history? If he doesn’t remember sending every message, then those received aren’t much better—especially from a phone with a mind of its own. Maybe if they have contacts in common, but who the hell has Aubrey mentioned Sunny around? She sure hasn’t wanted to. Only one—]
Luz. [Hushed, abrupt; Aubrey sits up straighter.]
Sunny, [more firmly,] I’m real. And if we know the same people, would that make them real to you, too?
[She tries very hard not to make it sound like a plea.]
Tell me who you know. [Intense. Gears are turning.] I’ll find as many as I can. A-and I know one person, Luz Noceda, who said she’s talked to you; I can pro—
[Aubrey reaches for her phone, but hesitates. That wasn’t in text. And if there’s no answer to a call or message, that’s no good.
[A grasp at something else, then:] I can prove it. That she’s real. [Biting back desperation. She clasps Sunny’s hands again.] Can I try…?
[She does not hold back the relief, eyes shut for a moment with a sharp huff, when Sunny confirms knowing one of the best people Aubrey knows. Mutters half-intelligibly, maybe a thank god; there couldn’t be anyone more understanding. Right?
[But wait, there’s more! Aubrey scrambles for her phone when Sunny does, and reads the names aloud with increasing fervor (if skimming through the less familiar):]
Luz, we both know her, she’s one of my best friends here. Kenma, he’s special to you. Xie Lian, Izutsumi, Malleus, Levi… I might know Le–Jean, Jean, I just talked to him the other night; Laserhawk, Aziraphale, them, too; Erwin…
[Holy shit.] Akechi? And Venat [reverence in that name], Adam [less familiar (sorry, Adam)], Grog…
[Aubrey can’t help it. There’s a grin tugging at her face, lopsided with relief, as she reads the list to herself, silently, one more time.]
Sunny… I know half these people. [She looks up to him, eyes gleaming.] They’re all real.
[Aubrey begins listing off the names, affirming which she knows; Sunny clutches his phone to his chest, watching, listening. Tears threaten his eyes, but don't quite well up. He lets out a shaky breath himself.]
It’s hard to believe, right? [Still smiling, though.] And they’re all from such different worlds… I don’t blame you.
[She gets the vague this is about more than just these people, even this place. No one else has talked about missing memories. So Aubrey keeps to herself the part where she’s not sure if Somnius is one big dream (or nightmare) sometimes, either.]
But it all has to be true. Even your cat friend… [A shrug, lighthearted.] I know a guy who turns into a wolf.
Really. [And tragically, they cannot meet onscreen. But Aubrey wouldn’t make the offer, anyway; it occurs to her, and then she remembers how all this started…
[The smile is dampened somewhat. She hopes Eren’s doing alright.]
A lot of weird stuff happens here. [People from the future. Being split in two. Reconciling after four years, after just a day…] But no matter what, I’m here for you now, Sunny.
[Part of him thinks that it must still be a dream. Aubrey is here, sitting across from him, smiling softly, taking his hand. It's not as if that's an entirely novel phenomenon, but after everything, it feels surreal (long-lingering childhood crush notwithstanding, but it doesn't help the reality factor).
[He has to trust her as much as he can, with what he can. He takes her hand and holds it to his chest again. It makes him feel anchored, doing it like that; squeezing, releasing...just like a stress ball.]
You too.
[He doesn't need to be coddled or cared for any more than anyone else does. He can take care of her too...
[He uncurls his hand from hers to hold out his pinky. Not everything has to change just because time moves on, right?]
[There’s something soothing about the way he squeezes her hand like that. Makes Aubrey feel like this is actually helping, for all her sputters and flaws. Sunny needs her to be stronger than that… but they can fall asleep in his pile, too.
[They hadn’t talked in four years. They’re closer than they’ve ever been.
[Aubrey’s not sure they can be certain of anything anymore. This place isn’t kind. But as far as she can help it, she’ll try; she has to trust Sunny believes it.]
[He has other people here, too. Aubrey relaxes again as Sunny takes his phone, and reaches for the rest of her food. It’s cold now, but whatever.]
Two of these? [She gestures at the phone a bit, its giant list of Sunny’s… friends? People he knows, in some way. When she gets back to her own house, she’ll have to write this down....] On the list.
[Were it not for their preceding exchange, Aubrey would half wonder if Sunny’s making this up, too. He’s gay?]
You’re… dating? [Sunny would date a cat-person. Aubrey’s not judging.
[Actually, she has a few questions about a person who’d get into a relationship with someone who doesn’t remember half his day. But from Sunny’s earlier description, Kenma seems nice enough, and Sunny trusts him. Aubrey will just have to see for herself that the trust isn’t misplaced.]
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kenma
is special to me
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[Mental note made: Aubrey’s never going to try breaking or tossing the phone again. The discrepancy is a touch more strange, doing it in person like this, sure; but at this point, she’d talk with Sunny over tin cans with a string in between. Anything just to communicate.]
Special, huh… [Out loud, there’s a gentle pry. Fond. He has someone…]
What’s he like?
1/2
hes nice
and quiet
we text in person
like this
its easy
+ he likes me
[Sunny might love him.]
he can turn into a cat 😺
2/2
[Sunny frowns, lowers his phone. His face looks briefly pained. He rubs at his temple.]
No...that's not...real...
[Kenma's not...? Aubrey's never heard of him...]
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[The cat face is precious. —But something’s wrong.] Sunny…?
[She lowers her own phone, watching him with a frown tense with concern.] What’s not real? [Is that a question he can answer?]
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[He pushes the plate away from him. He's had three bites.]
I don't...know...
[He hangs his head, scrubs his hands through his hair. It's not a particularly...panicked or manic motion, but...distress is clear enough.]
I don't...
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[Breakfast’s over. Aubrey sets hers aside, phone along with; she didn’t get much further.]
Hey, hey… [She forces down a rising panic of her own, tries to keep her tone steady. Maybe grounding? It’s not at all practiced.] This place is confusing, I get it…
[Is this a good time to bring herself back in? God, Aubrey doesn’t know. It’s all she’s got.] I’ve wondered about it, too, but it… feels real. [Leaning in, tentatively, she reaches for a hand.] You’re real…
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[She's here. She's real. He's real. Kenma...Xie Lian...
[Are any of them...?]
I don't...know which...are dreams...
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[Okay. The hand helps. Right? It has to help. She closes her other over his, squeezing back, steady as a heartbeat.
[Steadier than she feels, at least. The bar could be higher.]
“Which”… people…? [Which days, which places. It could be anything, but Aubrey reaches for specifics.]
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[Grief. Confusion. Sleep...
[He clutches her hand like she'll fade away.]
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[She shifts closer to him. This is impossible…
[Think, Aubrey. Is there proof in the house, anything someone else left here? Only Sunny could know that. Text history? If he doesn’t remember sending every message, then those received aren’t much better—especially from a phone with a mind of its own. Maybe if they have contacts in common, but who the hell has Aubrey mentioned Sunny around? She sure hasn’t wanted to. Only one—]
Luz. [Hushed, abrupt; Aubrey sits up straighter.]
Sunny, [more firmly,] I’m real. And if we know the same people, would that make them real to you, too?
[She tries very hard not to make it sound like a plea.]
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Who...?
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Tell me who you know. [Intense. Gears are turning.] I’ll find as many as I can. A-and I know one person, Luz Noceda, who said she’s talked to you; I can pro—
[Aubrey reaches for her phone, but hesitates. That wasn’t in text. And if there’s no answer to a call or message, that’s no good.
[A grasp at something else, then:] I can prove it. That she’s real. [Biting back desperation. She clasps Sunny’s hands again.] Can I try…?
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I...know Luz...
[He'll have to type the rest...He reaches for his phone, sending names as he thinks of them. It's difficult to remember everyone, but...]
luz
kenma
xie lian
izutsumi
malleus
levi
jean
laserhawk
aziraphale
erwin
[Who else...]
akechi
venat
adam
grog
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[She does not hold back the relief, eyes shut for a moment with a sharp huff, when Sunny confirms knowing one of the best people Aubrey knows. Mutters half-intelligibly, maybe a thank god; there couldn’t be anyone more understanding. Right?
[But wait, there’s more! Aubrey scrambles for her phone when Sunny does, and reads the names aloud with increasing fervor (if skimming through the less familiar):]
Luz, we both know her, she’s one of my best friends here. Kenma, he’s special to you. Xie Lian, Izutsumi, Malleus, Levi… I might know Le–Jean, Jean, I just talked to him the other night; Laserhawk, Aziraphale, them, too; Erwin…
[Holy shit.] Akechi? And Venat [reverence in that name], Adam [less familiar (sorry, Adam)], Grog…
[Aubrey can’t help it. There’s a grin tugging at her face, lopsided with relief, as she reads the list to herself, silently, one more time.]
Sunny… I know half these people. [She looks up to him, eyes gleaming.] They’re all real.
And I’d bet the rest are, too.
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i
didnt realize
how much i wanted
that to be true
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It’s hard to believe, right? [Still smiling, though.] And they’re all from such different worlds… I don’t blame you.
[She gets the vague this is about more than just these people, even this place. No one else has talked about missing memories. So Aubrey keeps to herself the part where she’s not sure if Somnius is one big dream (or nightmare) sometimes, either.]
But it all has to be true. Even your cat friend… [A shrug, lighthearted.] I know a guy who turns into a wolf.
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Really...?
[Sounds lame. What a lame guy that must be.]no subject
Really. [And tragically, they cannot meet onscreen. But Aubrey wouldn’t make the offer, anyway; it occurs to her, and then she remembers how all this started…
[The smile is dampened somewhat. She hopes Eren’s doing alright.]
A lot of weird stuff happens here. [People from the future. Being split in two. Reconciling after four years, after just a day…] But no matter what, I’m here for you now, Sunny.
[She reaches for his hand again.] Promise.
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[He has to trust her as much as he can, with what he can. He takes her hand and holds it to his chest again. It makes him feel anchored, doing it like that; squeezing, releasing...just like a stress ball.]
You too.
[He doesn't need to be coddled or cared for any more than anyone else does. He can take care of her too...
[He uncurls his hand from hers to hold out his pinky. Not everything has to change just because time moves on, right?]
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[There’s something soothing about the way he squeezes her hand like that. Makes Aubrey feel like this is actually helping, for all her sputters and flaws. Sunny needs her to be stronger than that… but they can fall asleep in his pile, too.
[They hadn’t talked in four years. They’re closer than they’ve ever been.
[Aubrey hooks Sunny’s pinky, and squeezes.]
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[Pinky promises are, in all reality, often broken.
[It's the thought that counts, for now. He thinks she'll try to keep it; he will.
[He takes his phone again.]
theres two people
i want 2 tell u about
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[Aubrey’s not sure they can be certain of anything anymore. This place isn’t kind. But as far as she can help it, she’ll try; she has to trust Sunny believes it.]
[He has other people here, too. Aubrey relaxes again as Sunny takes his phone, and reaches for the rest of her food. It’s cold now, but whatever.]
Two of these? [She gestures at the phone a bit, its giant list of Sunny’s… friends? People he knows, in some way. When she gets back to her own house, she’ll have to write this down....] On the list.
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[He nods as he types.]
kenma
its a little embarrassing
[His face is going pink again.]
we like each other
like that
i figured
i just made that up
[Which is...really a lot more embarrassing than revealing to his also-teenaged friend that he's kissed
and uh--someone.]no subject
[Were it not for their preceding exchange, Aubrey would half wonder if Sunny’s making this up, too. He’s gay?]
You’re… dating? [Sunny would date a cat-person. Aubrey’s not judging.
[Actually, she has a few questions about a person who’d get into a relationship with someone who doesn’t remember half his day. But from Sunny’s earlier description, Kenma seems nice enough, and Sunny trusts him. Aubrey will just have to see for herself that the trust isn’t misplaced.]
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shakes fist at html fail
I could have stopped the rumbling (said something) and chose not to
😔. hands you a seashell.
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cw: eating issues
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holy crap
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eren jaeger: guess i’ll go fuck myself—
he (eren jaeger) did the mash (rumbling) he did the monster (eren jaeger) mash (rumbling)
smash… :pensive:
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