closed;

[maskmaker]

Date & Time: past midnight, August 1
Location: Chris and Erika's place
Characters: Monica, Christopher, and possibly Erika?
Summary: Huey hurt Monica and she goes crawling to Chris because Chris won't ask questions.
Warnings: Monica and Christopher.

[Maybe Erika told her when they moved. Maybe Monica just asked Christopher before she went looking. Maybe she just knew because let's face it Monica's really creepy about knowing where people live, though not as creepy as Elmer. Either way, she's here tonight, knocking quietly on Christopher's door. She's not okay but that's hardly a new thing. Still, Christopher Chareau de Red does not see smiles as Elmer C. Albatross does, she'd like to believe, and she's good at smiling.

So she smiles at Christopher, even though the smile is terribly out of sync with her actions. What normal girl with such a normal smile needs to show up at someone's doorstep at midnight?]

Would you care to share some space?

Comments

[inhumanity]

[He has hurt Erika today. He has hurt Erika, but it's all right. He has a history of letting his friends suffer. She hurt because she understands, and she can't protect him.

Something is wrong with Monica, too. He doesn't have to be a smile junkie to see that, even if he doesn't know why.]

I couldn't dream to turn you aside! Sharing space with friends is only like improving a small space without taking anything away from it. To have you in our home is to have extra chocolate chips in an already near-perfect batch of cookies. From another angle, you could say it's like one animal accepting another as its partner in symbiosis. By being together, all losses are mitigated and all gains multiplied.

[He steps aside to give her space.]

[maskmaker]

Cookies and animals are quite different, but I like it. They both sound very warm, don't you think?

[She steps inside, the smile on her face unwavering but completely out of place. In her hands she still clutches the handkerchief from earlier.]

Thank you. It's really nice of you to let me come in so late at night.

[inhumanity]

A concept like time is meaningless between us. It's sunrise when I see you. [The door shuts behind her. Humming, he heads to the kitchen so he can get some of the cookies he made earlier today.]

[maskmaker]

[She follows him to the doorway, but she doesn't intrude farther. She stands just outside the kitchen and watches Christopher.]

But what'll happen to the real sunrise if I stay here until dawn? Out of curiosity, of course. I don't want to intrude for so long.

[inhumanity]

We could have two suns. In other words, we could have two stars. That's twice as many wishes in an endless day. It's much like moving all the way North to where the sun doesn't set for six months. They say you can go mad from it!

[He comes back shortly with a glass of warmed milk and a plate of cookies.]

[maskmaker]

[She smiles and holds out her hands for the milk. It sounds nice and comforting, and it's nice of Christopher to offer.]

The nighttime is also nice, though. Do you like the sun?

[inhumanity]

[Food passed on, he chuckles warmly.] Asking me if I like the sun is like asking me if I like life itself. Where would flowers be without the sun? Where would we be without flowers? Of course, there are certain kinds of plants that also require the nighttime, but all the essential energy in the world comes from that luminous orb. We should turn to the sun each day in thanks like pagans towards their heathen gods. Every part of nature is beloved to me.

[maskmaker]

[She sips the milk while it's still warm, watching Christopher curiously.]

... Do you just love nature? or do you mean the whole world? It must be hard to be in a city like this, where not many things are growing.

[inhumanity]

It's boring. [He sighs, melancholy, and leans on an arm.] If I'm going to be on a dying planet, I want to be in a city that's very alive. Or if we have to be in a dead city, I'd like the planet to be very alive. This kind of consistency just isn't any fun.

[maskmaker]

So you're a man that lives for excitement and contrast. That's sort of nice, isn't it?

I think... I was all right with things being consistent, but it was more harmony than consistency. If it was comfortable, it was nice.

[inhumanity]

Oh, have you lost that? Then you should take it back.

[It's almost always impossible to do that. Christopher declares it anyway.]

[maskmaker]

There's nothing to take back from a world I can't go back to. But... I can... try here, can't I?

I don't know... if it'll be the same thing I had before, but I can try here.

[inhumanity]

[Christopher pulls up a seat and drops down.] Giving up is always an option too.

[maskmaker]

I won't give up.

Well... [She lowers her cup and shakes her head.] If Huey can't feel about me the way used to, I can't tell him I don't want that. But... I can't give up being around him.

[inhumanity]

[Silence.

A laugh.

A smile that just doesn't quite get the expression right.]

Hahah, what a—what a lucky man this Huey of yours must be to be so loved. Truly, that's the mark of a young love—

[He can't find his balance. He shakes his head and tries a better smile.] Tell me about him, friend.

[maskmaker]

... [She smiles a bit, her cheeks reddened, obviously embarrassed, almost happy to talk about him.] Huey is a bit of a cold person. He always sat apart from everyone in class, always reading. He went home without saying a word to any of us, but a few years ago, he let Elmer and me start talking to him.

We'd walk home together... at least part-way, and he would say "see you tomorrow" every day. He's actually really warm to be next to, you know, even if he's not very friendly? His eyes are really beautiful, like gold.

[inhumanity]

[...'Elmer'...?

His eyes are really beautiful, like gold.

Christopher laughs again, pushing to his feet and drops down beside Monica on the couch.] You know, it's funny to hear you talk like that. You see, your description reminds me of Huey Laforet.

[maskmaker]

[She startles, blue eyes widening as they turn to Christopher. If she was sad just seconds earlier, it's gone now, or at least switched off.]

Why, yes! That's his name. Do you know him?

[inhumanity]

Do I know him? [He smiles with warmth and easiness and the practice of someone who has surrendered already a hundred times before.] Why, I sometimes think he is all I know. I have the honour to be a creation of the incredible, superior alchemist called Huey Laforet.

[maskmaker]

[Monica blinks. She looks confused, peering at Christopher as if trying to decipher the true meaning behind his joke for a moment.]

... Are you his child?

[wait that's what you meant, right?

[inhumanity]

[He chuckles] I'm flattered that anyone could think that. No, I'm his creation, as I said. I am a homunculus.

[maskmaker]

He made you, then. Wow! May I--?

[She puts down the cup on a nearby table and holds out her hands. Let her touch your face.]

[inhumanity]

[Christopher's mouth is full of fake shark teeth, and his expression of acceptance is just as fake.] Why, of course.

[maskmaker]

[Monica is very gentle. She just wants to peer at his weird teeth and eyes and feel his hair and wow it feels like real hair and wow!] I didn't know he was interested in homunculi. Back then...

[She shakes her head, pulls her hands back and drops them in her lap again.]

It's Huey. He must have had some big goal in his mind again. Does he talk to you?

[inhumanity]

[Christopher sits still and lets himself be examined. He tells himself that it is better than how the scientists touch them, and then he tells himself that of course he's perfectly happy with what the scientists do as well.

Then he smiles at her and hums thoughtfully.] Well, he certainly speaks me, but I certainly don't need to know his reasons for anything. All that matters is his will, after all.

[vimdicare]

[This will be without a doubt one of the most ridiculous entrances she has ever done. But no matter, for she, Furudo Erika, has duct tape. And with duct tape at her side, she will not fail Christopher.

And so with the duct tape firmly - and magically - sealed on the ceiling, Erika swings around a corner, holding the roll in her hands and letting it out more, somersaulting into the kitchen.

She grins as she holds up the duct tape.]

Look, look! My weapon has evolved enough that my seals work again. By this evidence alone, this level of an entrance is possible for Furudo Erika. What do you think, everyone?

[maskmaker]

[Monica quite positively yelps when Erika crashlands into the kitchen and nearly knocks the cup of milk over. She manages to catch it, and clutches it close to her as she stares wide-eyed at Erika. That's Erika, right? What's she doing here all of a sudden...]

... I-I think... it was surprising. That's good for surprise attacks, Erika.

... W-what are you doing?

[inhumanity]

[Christopher notices Erika's entrance as the swing begins and so, instead of leaping back, he rises to his feet to greet her, moving away from Erika so he can hold her clasp in congratulations] Incredible! Marvellous! Heartbreaking! No, sorry: stunning! Truly, I'm inspired to new heights at such a sight. I could even climb to the top of the Empire State building for it.

[vimdicare]

[She grins, holding one of Christopher's hands while flashing Monica a victory sign.]

Thank you all for the well-deserved praise. You recognise skill when you see it. Of course, it still needs some work. I could probably scale the complex with just a few strips though!

[As an after thought.] Oh but I live here now, Monica! I didn't mean to startle you but I was experimenting with my weapon.

[maskmaker]

What is that? [She puts down the cup and leans forward in her seat to get a better look at the tape. She's never seen anything like it before.]

I didn't know the two of you lived together. But it did look like you both got along well since the beginning, so I shouldn't be really surprised. Hello, Erika.

[inhumanity]

Like calls to like. [He grins. (He hasn't let go of Erika's hand.)] So I guess you could say we're a boring couple. Remember to bring us a good wedding gift!

[vimdicare]

[Erika would like to explain the beauties of duct tape but Christopher is currently really misinforming Monica about their relationship.] W-Wait don't listen to him! I have no romantic or sexual interest in him at all!!

[maskmaker]

[She laughs, clearly not taking Christopher seriously as she shakes her head.] Christopher's a joker. It's nice to know you've made friends with each other, though. I hope I'm not in the way.

[inhumanity]

Friends are like flowers: you can never have too many, unless they're weeds that choke away all the nutrients for essential crops and leave you to die of starvation. Wow, this is a dangerous situation we're in already! Everyone, try not to die.