forty second dance | video; tiny bit forward dated to midmorning!

[motioned]

[The face on the screen, when first she appears, looks a bit somber.]

I guess the longer you live here, the longer you learn to expect the unexpected, huh? But even then, I didn't think - I mean, Halloween passed, so I thought maybe nothing awful would happen. I've lived here for two years and it still catches me off guard, things like that. I just hope it wasn't anyone with powers behind it. If it was, they should be ashamed of themselves. But that's not what I wanted to talk about, even though I'm really sorry to anyone who saw things that hurt them.

[But then her expression brightens considerably.]

I wanted to talk about, um, being here so long, but it's not as self centered as it sounds, I promise - I guess I just wanted to thank everyone. I think I might have said already, but it's been two years today, and even though the first few months I hated it and just wanted to go home, I think I wouldn't be the same person I am now if I hadn't come here. Not just a different person, but not as good of a person, either. I mean, I've learned so much, and so many people have helped me learn that stuff, both stuff about me and stuff about life, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Maybe not for any world. I can't help but feel like this is my home. I've met so many people, so many amazing people, people I think of as family who I would never have even known about otherwise. And a lot of them aren't here anymore, some of the best people I've ever met, but I would much rather have known them and lost them than the alternative, you know?

[Her voice gets a bit thick, though it's not in the least unhappy, and she has to pause for a moment to recollect herself.]

So I guess, just - even though horrible things can happen here and things can get very bad, and everything seems dark, I just hope everyone here can find as much light in this island as I've been able to. But I know not everyone's as lucky as me, and I know there are people who have been through things I can't even imagine, so... I'm not the best with technology, but I guess since I'm saying this to everyone, you can all tell what my NV number is, so if everything gets to be too much - there's always someone you can talk to, even if I don't know you.

[Filtered to Fakir]
I need to talk to you.

[Filtered to Gilbert]
Are you busy?

Comments

[rewritter]

I'll live. It was just... unexpected, that's all. What do you want to talk about?

[motioned]

Are you sure?

It's, um, it's sort of something important. Do you want me to come to your room? Or you can come here, or - whatever.

[rewritter]

Yeah. So don't worry about it.

Something important, huh? I'll come over to meet you right now.

[motioned]

I'm going to worry no matter what, you know.

Okay. I, um, I'll be waiting!

action

[rewritter]

Well, don't.

[ he's pretty worried about what she wants to tell him. is it that bad? hanging up and coming over asap. ]

action

[motioned]

[She leaves the door open so he'll know it's fine to come in; she's sitting on her bed, legs swinging absentmindedly over the edge as she waits for him.]

Re: action

[rewritter]

[ and he bursts in a few seconds later. she said nothing was wrong, but maybe he was still a bit on edge. ]

What's the matter?

action

[motioned]

[She's still plenty tense herself, thinking about what's about to come, so when he rushes in, she can't help but jump a bit, startled.]

N-Nothing's the matter, I just wanted to tell you something!

[rewritter]

[ she's that nervous, THAT HAS TO BE A BAD SIGN. ]

Are you sure?... You know that you can tell me anything, right?

[motioned]

Yes, I'm sure! And I know I can, that's why I'm - I mean, why I'm trying to - I know!

[rewritter]

Right. I just wanted to remind you of that.

Calm down, idiot.

[motioned]

I-I'm calm!

[Convincing...]

[rewritter]

You're not fooling anyone, you know.

[motioned]

I don't need to fool anybody if it's true!

[rewritter]

If it's true, you wouldn't be stammering like that.

[motioned]

I'm not stammering, I'm just - trying to tell you something!

[rewritter]

If you say so.

What is it?

1/3?

[motioned]

I do! I—

2/3

[motioned]

[And then she stops, nervous. She can feel her cheeks flushing already, she notes with a grimace; why had she thought this was good idea?

Because two years in this place had made her realize things she never would have known otherwise. Especially today, when she's thinking of all that time, it seems important. Today, she can't stop thinking of things that have made her happy here, things that have hurt her here, but maybe most importantly - the things she regrets. The way she hadn't told Jack thanks for always being there before the Core sent him back home. How she'd never said how much Maya meant to her. Waiting is always pointless in a place that could change your entire world in a matter of minutes, if not seconds.

And thinking of time - how many months had she waited for him? How many weeks had it taken her to know how to categorize the way he made her feel? How many days would she ache if she woke up tomorrow to find him gone again, without having a chance to explain this? How long has she been waiting to say these words to someone? Words that she could never say to Mytho, words that she might never be able to say to him if she stays a coward. If she doesn't hurry, if she ignores everything she's learned, everything that's telling her to seize the moment, each instinct that's overriding her fear, her anxiety, telling her to say—]

[motioned]

—I love you.

[rewritter]

[ ... he didn't hear that correctly. there was no chance he heard that correctly. ]

Wh... what?

[motioned]

[—and of course she goes completely red, now.]

I-I said I love you, you jerk!

[rewritter]

Wh-what are you talking about? There's no way that... you...

[ not as red as he is. this isn't some kind of joke, is it? ]

[motioned]

I'm trying to, trying to tell you something important, and you aren't listening!

[Avoiding eye contact (like a boss).]

[rewritter]

I am listening! I just...

[ Mytho. everything she'd done, everything he'd done was for Mytho. he couldn't blame her. everyone was in love with Mytho, he was just that kind of person. story-perfect.

and he'd chosen Rue. Ahiru was fine with it, and Fakir was fine with just being by her side. but she'd given up everything for Mytho, so why was she saying something like this now? ]

... I just don't understand.