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

action;

[retraced]

[Blink. Blink...............]

They fell...

action;

[motioned]

[This might be the awkwardest moment of her life and that's saying a lot.]

I-I, um, I'll help you pick them up.

[Bending down...]

action;

[retraced]

[And he realizes, somehow, just how awkward he's made it.

So he offers as a useful excuse:]

I'm sorry...I was just so shocked by what you said I think I forgot to breathe...

action;

[motioned]

[WOW]

D-Don't do that!

action;

[retraced]

[He grabs for an apple with a shaky hand, promptly drops it again and then picks it back up. Little apple, stop running away...]

T-this person...it was - Fakir?

[Because crawling on the ground trying to collect apples is the best place to continue this conversation.]

action;

[motioned]

Yeah, it was, but - you can stand up, you know! You don't have to stay down there...

[dad why are you awkward]

action;

[retraced]

A-and you're...happy about it?

[It's pretty obvious that she is, but you know. Just checking.

Also he'll just stay right here on the floor. It's better this way.]

action;

[motioned]

Of course I am! I mean, I... I don't think I've ever been so happy.

action;

[retraced]

[I don't think I've ever been so happy.

His eyes widen. Ahiru is a positive person, and someone who can keep that positivity no matter what sorts of terrible things happen here. No matter who leaves, who returns, she's never completely lost herself. She deserves nothing but happiness, in Gilbert's opinion, and if this is what makes her the happiest she's ever been...

Even though it pains him to think that she'll have to grow up and he'll have to deal with making sure that she's treated with nothing but respect...!

He'll just have to accept it. He'll have to.

But he still starts...crying. Just a little. There are definitely tears in his eyes and in his voice. DON'T LOOK AT HIM.]

Then...I'm glad.

action;

[motioned]

[fjd;fldkf no]

D-Don't cry! [She bends down, setting down the apple in her hand to rest it on his shoulder.]

What's wrong?

action;

[retraced]

Nothing! I'm just...happy...

[Pathetically wipes at face...]

action;

[motioned]

Y-Yeah, I—

[And it's at that moment she realizes she's about to inevitable start crying again as well.]

I-I'll get you some tissues! [BOLTING AWAY]

action;

[retraced]

[And while she's gone, he'll just slink along the ground and gather his apples into his arms...

Apples, you'll never start dating and leave him, will you? No...no you won't.

And it's about this time that Gilbert realizes that this is the most pathetic moment of his entire life. This right here.]

action; i can't stop laughing why are you doing this to me i quit

[motioned]

[And a couple minutes later (she needed to compose herself!) she hurries back with a box of tissues in her hands, pulling one out and offering it to him.]

Sorry...

action; the apples are symbolic of everything wrong in his life

[retraced]

[He's still crouched on the ground, but at least all of the apples are collected into a neat little pile on the floor. He's going to have to wash them all...for a while. Actually, maybe it's a lost cause at this point. He'll have to go back to the store for new ones; these are tainted with his tears and his angst. There's no way they can taste good after this...

He takes it from her and clenches it in his hand, but at this point he's pretty much stopped. Weeping. Enough that he's able to look up at her for the first time since she'd Broken the News to him.]

No...I'm sorry.

action; i'm going to cry

[motioned]

[She smiles and shakes her head, a little bit teary despite herself.]

Don't apologize for being happy for me.

action; /weeps on

[retraced]

[Gilbert...is fairly terrible when it comes to giving hugs.

His brother once pointed out that in all the years since they'd been reunited, he'd never once hugged him. Or anyone. And when challenged, in the most annoying passive aggressive way possible, he'd finally given in. It's easier to give simple pats to the head, encouraging shoulder grasps, or even hair ruffling. Those are more convenient methods of affection, and they make sense to him.

But this situation...it feels like it calls for something more.

So he wipes the last of the dampness from his cheek, then leans over and wraps one arm around her, gently.

Albeit awkwardly...and in the middle of this terrible apple purgatory.]

action;

[motioned]

[She responds immediately, leaning forward to wrap both arms around him in return.]

Thank you.

action;

[retraced]

[He sniffles weakly and continues holding on, silently. Please let this heartwarming moment make up for his dramatic loser-reaction.]

action;

[motioned]

[She laughs lightly and pulls back to grab the tissue box, holding it up to him again.]

Here.

action;

[retraced]

[Well, at least he can hide himself this way. He takes it from her with a small 'thank you' and mops up his stupid face. Someday he'll stop being awkward, really.]

action;

[motioned]

[She laughs again, thickly, brushing away a few tears of her own.]

Are you okay?

action;

[retraced]

[He nods and then, finally, gathers what apples he can carry and stands up to put them back on the counter.]

I'm fine. I just didn't know how to take that at first...

action;

[motioned]

I-I would've been more careful if I knew it would make you panic!

action;

[retraced]

Don't worry. There's no way you could have known.