28. » voice + private

[tolaywaste]

What do you do about alternate worlds?

I mean, I get that . . . that's a really broad question. I know that. But there are people here who know about me from comic books, and they say, you know, I've done all these things that I can't imagine myself doing. That I love all these people I can't imagine knowing, much less loving.

I don't know. It never bothered me before, but now I can't stop thinking about it. I can't block it out. So what do I do with it?

private } ben

I think I'm changing my deal.

Comments

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[tolaywaste]

Seriously?

[His fingers close automatically around the seed.]

But I don't - Morgana, you'd have to show me, I don't know the first thing about plants.

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[youwillgotohell]

[She shrugs, and later she might be surprised by the realization that she doesn't wonder why she's bothering.]

You'll learn. Water and sunlight - it's not that hard.

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[tolaywaste]

But what if I overwater it? What if I underwater it? What if I kill it?

[SWEAT DROP.PNG]

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[youwillgotohell]

Alex.

[She laughs, a little bit at him. Okay, mostly at him. She settles her hand over his closed palm.]

I'll show you. You won't kill it.

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[tolaywaste]

Okay. I don't want to kill it.

[Because it's a gift from Morgana, and he's never gotten a gift like this before. It's important, okay.]

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[youwillgotohell]

[It might be more important to him than it is to her, which occurs to her only distantly. As it is, she just nods.]

You'll be all right.

[Not just with the flower.]

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[tolaywaste]

[People keep telling him that. But Morgana wouldn't waste her breath on him if she didn't think telling him wasn't worth the effort.]

[He smiles hesitantly.]

Thanks. You're probably right. You're smarter than, like, eighty percent of the people here, so.

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[youwillgotohell]

[She's not sure she believes that, but she takes the compliment with a wry smile.]

Don't tell them that. I'll never get away with anything again.

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[tolaywaste]

You'd still get away with it.

[He grins, turning halfway to look at one of the flowerbeds. What she's made.]

But I'll keep it under my hat anyway, okay? In exchange for . . . plant lessons.

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[youwillgotohell]

Plant lessons.

[Her smile turns wry as she lets go of his hand, turning to see where he looks.]

That seems a fair deal.