fandomtownies | T&C, Monday, 8/02

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didi

T&C, Monday, 8/02

Didi was still thoughtful at work today. It might have been -- stupid, arrogant, whatever, but she hadn't really realized how close she came to physically dying until Jono confronted her about it in the library.

She knew she was going to have to leave -- that was how the Death on Holiday thing worked. She even knew it would probably be soon. She hadn't let herself think about the people who'd stay behind.

She didn't have it in her to make much of a sign for the window today.

Squishy Flavors: Grape Judas, Orange Lazarus, Red

[OOC: Open.]

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Raven was more nervous about going to talk to Didi than she had been seeking out Jono the day before. She couldn't read her emotions as easily as others, but she'd heard her anger in her voice and seen it in her eyes after the healing had failed and Jono had transformed again. She didn't want any bad feelings to fester between them, however, so she made herself to into town that morning to visit T&C.

"Good morning, Didi," she said as she entered the store. "I hope I am not disturbing you." Because she was clearly so busy and all.

"Not a lot to disturb," Didi said, setting down the magazines she'd been getting into order. She felt a stab of guilt at seeing Raven; she knew she'd snapped at the girl and hadn't really said anything to thank her for saving her life.

"Hi," she added. "What's up? I think I owe you a thank you."

"A thank you?" Raven repeated, not expecting that. Thanking her for failing to heal Jono and causing him to painfully blow up again? Someone had guilt issues of her own.

"I wished to apologize to you," she said quietly. "I could not do what I promised."

"You saved my life," Didi answered humbly. "That's usually worth a thank you."

She gave Raven a long look. "I shouldn't have let you try," she said. "I ... had some idea, how big it was."

"I put you in danger," Raven said. "That was the very least I could do." Though the thought of saving Death's life was...strange.

"I truly thought I could do it," she went on, dropping her gaze. "I knew it would be difficult, but I would not have offered to heal him if I did not think I would succeed. I would never wish to hurt him with my failure."

"Didn't see you shoving me toward him in the woods," Didi said, shaking her head. (In an absolute technical sense, of course Death couldn't die from something this small -- but, as Jono reminded her, her physical death was still better avoided.) "You saved me. Thank you."

"And no, Raven. I know you care about him. You did your best -- it was just too much. But in the end, you gave him a day, right? A day is a lot."

Edited 2010-08-02 17:52 (UTC)

"I wish it could have been more," Raven said, lifting her head again. "He was so happy. But I am glad, at least, that he had some time that he could spend with you, though I wish I could have spared him the pain when the healing was undone.

"And you are welcome, of course," she added. "I was not certain if you could be harmed, but I did not wish to take the risk. I knew my Soul-Self would be able to deflect the fire."

"Pain's part of the circle," Didi said. "I wish I could take it away from him, too, but ... his mutation works that way for a reason. Even if it's not one I know. Don't feel bad for it."

She brushed her hair back. "Physically I would have been pretty badly hurt at best, yeah. Death wouldn't die that way, but that wouldn't have made it any easier on Jono. He's been through that before."

"He would not have gotten up," Raven said, frowning as she thought of what Jono had said to her yesterday about just wanting to stay there on the ground. "That is what I think bothers me the most, that he came so close to giving up."

She would've never forgiven herself if he had.

"He wouldn't have," Didi said. "He likes to say he would, but ... he has a good heart. He would have stood up as soon as he realized there was more for him to do. Suicides are much more dead inside than he is."

Raven nodded, though she was glad that hadn't been put to the test. "I told him I would not allow it. I would have dragged him if I had to before I would allow him to remain there."

"I know you would have," Didi said. "You're a really, really good friend. I wasn't really mad at you, you know."

"I understand," Raven said, managing a small, sad smile. "I have been so angry and disappointed with myself that it was easy to believe that you would feel the same way as well. But it is a relief to know you do not."

"No, no," Didi insisted. "Just mad I couldn't do anything. You did more for him than I could, and not having the power to fix things ... normally I don't mind. This time I did."

"Your gifts lie elsewhere," Raven said, "but I think your presence there afterward did as much as any healing could."

"Maybe," Didi said. "I like to think so, anyhow. I like thinking I helped."

"There is no maybe about it," Raven said, utterly serious and sincere. "I am absolutely certain of it."

"Thank you, Raven," Didi said. "Is there anything I can do for you? You fixed Jono for a while -- I still figure I owe you at least a free squishy."

"You do not owe me anything," Raven said, shaking her head. She paused to glance at the sign and smiled. "But I will try a Grape Judas."

"On its way," Didi said.

Delirium had blissfully skirted much of her sisters doings the last days, but even someone as lost as her knew when her family needed comfort. Or just a pat in the head. Or the shoulder. Or the hand. Maybe a poke? Del was still deciding as she entered the shop.

"You are thinking", pointed out as she got closer.

"Caught me at it," Didi answered, smiling a little. It felt good to see Del. "Did you hear about what happened with Jono?"

One finger on her chin, Del tried to put the memories in order. "Something something about a new, eh face?" Her attention span regarding the radio broadcasts was rather scarce, to put it in a way. "What was wrong with the old one?"

Typical Del, not to really see what the problem was. "He misses talking and breathing and eating and, y'know, mouth things."

Didi didn't let herself blush.

"Raven thought she could heal his mutation. It didn't work. So ..." Didi let out a thoughtful puff of hair, getting her bangs out of her face. "He's back to the face he's had as long as we've known him."

"And kissssssssssssssing?"

She totally knew what Didi was missing, of course.

"Hm." And after a bet. "Hm hm." Slowly putting herself together, Del decided to watch the issue for another perspective; she did like Jono after all, and totally approved the him kissing Didi. "It's not something I can't change without changing him." Not to mention a number of negative possible secondary effects. "He wouldn't want it, anyway."

"I thought of you," Didi said, not quite meeting Del's eyes. "It's ... not what we're supposed to do. And it'd have a cost. It always does, when we break the rules."

The question was what the cost would be.

"If somebody tried to fix him again and it didn't work," she said softly, "I think he'd just let go."

Robin had had a wacky idea, and he came into T&C to start seeing if it would work.

"Hi Didi!" he said cheerfully. "Do you have any kites?"

"Hey, Robin," Didi answered. "Back with the toys, I think? Let me know if you can't reach them."

"Thanks I will." It was more a question of whether he could reach them without making a mess really.

After a short time, he spotted one that he thought he liked best. The picture on the package showed that the kite looked like wings. And considering his idea, that was perfect.

"Uh, Didi I think I will need some help." he called out a little sheepishly.

"On my way," she called, and plucked the wings off the shelf to hand to Robin.

"Learning to fly?"

"That's the idea." he nodded, after thanking her for her help. "If the wind is good enough tomorrow."

"Well, good luck with that."

"Thanks! If you're not busy maybe you could come watch. Either way it should be exciting."

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T&C, Monday, 8/02

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