If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks...
It's customary to have a Wake after the subject thereof dies. Even Loki knows that. But this is a special occasion. Ego-death is coming to his alternate, and the idea of letting him go off to perish alone, uncertain he will even be mourned, is too dark a proposition even for a flawed and callous person to contemplate.
That, and this Loki has been in a melancholy mood since speaking to the spirit of Frigga. He anticipates a dark choice of his own, sooner or later, and where the fates will send him after that, he can't know. Maybe oblivion, although even at that rate there may be worse places.
What's important right now is that no one dies unremembered. And honestly, any excuse formischief a party. The first text rolls out to Harley, an innocent enough invitation to join them for milkshakes. Cricket is next, because it occurs to him that Cricket has plenty of liquor, which is good for a reckless celebration.
Things snowball from there.
As long as they don't destroy too much property, they'll call the night a success.
That, and this Loki has been in a melancholy mood since speaking to the spirit of Frigga. He anticipates a dark choice of his own, sooner or later, and where the fates will send him after that, he can't know. Maybe oblivion, although even at that rate there may be worse places.
What's important right now is that no one dies unremembered. And honestly, any excuse for
Things snowball from there.
As long as they don't destroy too much property, they'll call the night a success.
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It's not the time, nor place to ask. At least Marie isn't planning on giving up, no matter how miserable she is. That gives Adia a small measure of relief.
"My world died, too," she confesses, lest Marie think that her sympathy is superficial. "It's true, we cannot outrun our past. But I do believe we can make peace with it."
Marie's double loss makes more sense, in that context. It must feel like karma catching up to her. She takes a small sip of chai, glancing worriedly at those balled up fists. Marie might take her professional loss harder than her personal loss, but Adia is more concerned about what happened with Jeff. "He left you? I-- I'm sorry to hear that. Was it because of the secret he was keeping from you?"
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Her anger seems to ease up, hands uncurling, but still visibly tense. Talking about Jeff is a rarity, since she's been keeping her feelings compounded within for weeks. It feels weird using Adia as a literal dumping ground, but the other woman did offer to hear her problems. The specific details where she cheated and spied on Jeff are calmly left off the table. "It just didn't work out, that's all. We have conflicting personalities and it finally came to an end. I just wish I could've done more before everything came crashing down. Helping someone who has no self-confidence is harder than is looks."
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No. No, this timeline is better. Adia has to believe that. Not just for people whose lives she's saved, but for Marie, too.
"My people believe that the universe works in cycles. That everything that's happened before will happen again. But it's never the same. One small variable can make a difference. I'm sure you've already made a difference in the lives of the people you've helped."
Like Jeff, she can't help but think. They were happy together once, weren't they? Even if the relationship is truly over, it didn't end in murder. She listens quietly to Marie's response. If she knew about the spying, she'd have a much better understanding of what went wrong, but even with this censored reply, she has a vague sense of what happened.
"That's hard," she says sympathetically. "But that's not something you can fix in another person. He needs to make his own path to self-improvement."
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Adia's comment causes Marie to frown, no longer calm like before. There's no way she can tell Adia about her primal nature, that she must kill humans in order to survive, lest her sanity be lost. No matter how many good deeds she's done, nothing outweighs the need to slaughter. "Perhaps you're right..." It's a weak, cover-up answer, but one that tries to paint Marie in a fetal position, appear depressed and in sorrow.
"I wish him all the best in his endeavors. There's no hatred in my heart towards his decision."
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And anyway, it's not like she's being honest, either. She's not about to tell Marie that she already knows all about Jeff. It makes her uncomfortable, though, to keep that a secret, and it's a little while before she replies, her gaze on her half-finished chai.
"We can wish others the best... but it still hurts. I know how that is, too. You think you'll ever see him again?"
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"I appreciate your company, even if it was for a little while. However, I imagine your boyfriend wants some time with you." She stands up, taking a moment to ensure all of her belongings are claimed, before nodding to Adia. "I'm glad we were able to talk about our problems openly."
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Shouldn't she be relieved about that? Isn't this what she wanted? To stay out of Jeff and Marie's way? So why does it feel more like resignation instead?
She gives Marie a weak smile, not putting up more of a protest. Me, too," she replies, though the words feel like a lie. She'll have to take comfort in the fact that an attempt was made. They can go their separate ways with no hard feelings. "Take care of yourself, Marie."
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That's why she can never truly have friends, for fear of hurting them. No one can really know about her demon lineage, at the risk of losing everything.
"Goodbye, Adia." Those words are said with the intent of hopefully never seeing her again. Without saying another word, she's out the door of the Crossroads Cafe, destination unknown.
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It's not Adia's place. Even if she feels responsible.
"Bye," she echoes softly, watching Marie leave.
In a moment, Caspar will come down the stairs, pretending to be casual but failing miserably, and join her company. He'll put his arms around her and tell her that it's for the best that Marie is out of their lives, and she'll agree.
But for now, she can't help but wish the conversation had gone differently.