[She's honestly not sure WHICH was more disastrous-- the beach party or the trip that followed. Both went appallingly.]
[But her tone sobers up as the topic of Phoenix re-enters the conversation.]
Yeah, he was... one of my best friends here. Right off the bat, practically.
He got me through some tough times.
And-- ... [A quiet, bashful laugh as she reaches back to rub her neck awkwardly, eyes suspiciously shiny.] Obviously I got well over it, but back then I had the most embarrassing baby puppy-crush on him.
[AND HE ONLY KNOWS ABOUT TWO OF THEM. He lets out a sigh. He understands that sentiment way too well. Anyone who's been here as long as they have knows it.]
[The offer to fly out and see her in person is on the tip of his tongue. But he can't, not with Wrath still here.]
Yeah. Yeah, I know.
[It's a quiet acknowledgement, accompanied by a little nod. Oh, does he ever know.]
I don't blame you for wanting to go off on your own for a while. [He can't talk, with his bad habit of trying to drop off the planet.] Just keep calling us, yeah?
[Maybe her malevolent cackle isn't nearly as boisterous as it would have been on any other occasion than just coming off of the loss of a friend, but she's still doing it, and that's a good sign.]
It was too late a long time ago!
I'm like, The Zyng, but with friendship instead of horrible mutations.
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[He also can't deny that Henry's been miserable, just from what he's seen during their 'Gear conversations.]
Y'know, I'm starting to think this trip of yours is cursed or something. You'll have to be careful.
[It's a joke, but it's the kind meant to be reassuring.]
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I was thinking it'd be nice to get on the road again, y'know-- make some s'mores, sleep under the stars, send some 'Wish You Were Here' postcards....
I must've walked under a ladder on my way out of Goldenrod.
That's all I can think of.
[She's joking right on back, but he's known her long enough that he can probably still hear an undercurrent of sorrow in her voice.]
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Must've been that.
Hell, maybe all of us walked under a ladder before we even went to the beach.
[He's quiet for a moment, thinking of what to even say.]
...I talked the guy a few times, way back when. But I never did get around to it this time.
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[She's honestly not sure WHICH was more disastrous-- the beach party or the trip that followed. Both went appallingly.]
[But her tone sobers up as the topic of Phoenix re-enters the conversation.]
Yeah, he was... one of my best friends here. Right off the bat, practically.
He got me through some tough times.
And-- ... [A quiet, bashful laugh as she reaches back to rub her neck awkwardly, eyes suspiciously shiny.] Obviously I got well over it, but back then I had the most embarrassing baby puppy-crush on him.
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Aah, I guess you're lucky I didn't know you well enough back then to figure you out.
[It's just that light, reassurance teasing instead of the more full-blown kind that he'd do if the guy hadn't just left.]
He was a good person, I remember that much.
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[She hadn't let anybody close enough, back then.]
But yeah.
I was... hopin' we'd have a little longer.
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[AND HE ONLY KNOWS ABOUT TWO OF THEM. He lets out a sigh. He understands that sentiment way too well. Anyone who's been here as long as they have knows it.]
It's never long enough, is it?
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[She sighs... then laughs slightly. It's genuine, but not too mirthful.]
Man... we're such a couple of sad-sacks, aren't we? We've been here too long.
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It's true, we're a couple of jaded old fogeys by now, aren't we?
But still...it's a good thing, to have had them in the first place.
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[But she trails off there, grin fading again.]
... Yeah.
Yeah, it's good.
I'd never trade this for anything.
It just... still hurts, sometimes.
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Yeah. Yeah, I know.
[It's a quiet acknowledgement, accompanied by a little nod. Oh, does he ever know.]
I don't blame you for wanting to go off on your own for a while. [He can't talk, with his bad habit of trying to drop off the planet.] Just keep calling us, yeah?
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Don't worry.
You made the mistake of lettin' me into your house, now you'll never get rid of me.
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Oh god, we've made a terrible mistake.
The Heather Mason infestation in the office is permanent.
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First I invade your homes... and then I invade your hearts.
[She clasps her OWN face and bats her eyelashes exaggeratedly.]
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Noooooo...your plan was foolproof, none of us could have seen this coming....!
Now it's too late.
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It was too late a long time ago!
I'm like, The Zyng, but with friendship instead of horrible mutations.
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So you're...what, the Fryng?
That's it, that's you.
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[Her laughter trails off into a sigh after a moment or so, but she looks a little better than she did when she first called.]
Man, I shouldn't watch any horror movies on the 'Gear while I'm out camping in the woods, but you guys should rewatch that in my honor.