Alycia stares at the email on her phone, a fierce glower across her brows and forehead. “God dammit,” she mutters. “You have got to be some sort of … evil fiend. Because nobody can be that … goddammed … noble.”
She realizes to her horror that her eyes are wet. Ugh. How does that girl do that?
She closes her eyes. Regains her composure. Takes deep breaths.
Then dives into a reply. Because this needs to be cleared up before she can move in. Elephants in the room are one thing. Awakened Eldritch Beings from the Netherworld are something entirely different. This is definitely on that level.
Summer:
I fully expect Jason to call me Summer some time by accident. Two reasons.
First off, he really, *really* likes you, and has unresolved feelings for you too, and I am *fully cognizant of that.* If we (me and him) fall madly in love and get married and happily live to be 100 (so very unlikely) I will still expect him to call me Summer sooner or later.
And for that matter if he calls me Summer by accident in that kind of circumstance you describe, it would be because maybe he was associating being with me with being with someone really nice and comfortable and pretty and safe and NICE. So it would be a *compliment.*
I would still retaliate against him in a way that doesn’t bear contemplating. Continuum of response my ass. (Just Kidding) (Mostly)
(If he called you Alycia some time, it would probably mean he was feeling like you two had a long enough history that you were associated with lots of good memories (I hope). So that would be a complement, too.) (I would still expect you to retaliate against him as well, not just get all sad. Because of the second reason:)
Second reason, it’s Jason. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t call me *Hecate* some time, even after that 100 years thing. Because his brain works in mysterious ways, its wonders to perform, but few of them meaningful. Which drives me nuts sometimes.
People are complicated, and carry baggage and regrets and what-ifs and stuff. Even if they make up their mind about something and are satisfied with that decision, that stuff is still in the mix somewhere. BELIEVE ME. *Whatever* happens, whether it’s Alycia + Jason, or Summer + Jason, or Ultra-Knockers Lass + Jason, or whoever ends up with (and don’t count out that last one, because Jason), he will have bits and pieces of you and me running around in his memory (that was the whole point of the Heart Machine repair stuff, right?), and that *never* really goes away no matter what he decides. Which may lead to blurting of wrong names.
I know you are a person, but you may not have enough experience with your own time on the planet to realize this. Memory is good sometimes. Memory sucks sometimes. But Memory is.
Don’t be afraid of others memories. And *really don’t* give up going after what you want. (Except Jason, he’s mine. (Just Kidding (Mostly))) We will always be rivals for his heart (I cannot believe I actually *just wrote those words*), whichever he chooses (or even if he chooses neither), and even if we’ve both moved on, too. He’s stuck with that, as are both of us.
Also, to be perfectly clear, I accept your support. But I DON’T accept your concession. I am not a charity case in this, too. And if things end up Alycia + Jason, how secure can *I* be in the result if you gave up the match? And how would Jason feel if he found out?
And this all even assumes that Alycia + Jason is a real thing.
(And I will confess this to you *once* because you wrote this note, dammit. I think *you* would be better for Jason than me. But I’m not conceding, either, because I’m selfish enough not to. And if you show that to anyone it would be very bad.)
This is way too long and I should probably either delete it or rewrite it or wait until after lunch to send it, but I do *not* want to leave this stuff churning through my own head (memories!). We need to talk about this, like maybe in person or something radical, but let’s wait until *after* the dance when I might have better Alycia + Jason answers.
I ask only one thing: please don’t do the “I see them dancing together and my heart goes [shattering sound] and so I run from the dance in tears.” Because that is so cliche and only makes everyone miserable. Plus then Jason would see that and run after you and OMG now I’m worried about romance movie tropes, too, dammit. Another thing to piss me off. Don’t do that.
Okay, I ask *two* things: if this is going to cause a problem with the room mate arrangement, wait until we can talk about it before kicking me out. Priorities.
I am more embarrassed about writing this letter than anything I’ve ever done. Also, my thumbs are really sore and if I get into a fight with a supervillain this morning and die because my thumbs were too sort to use my guns, I will haunt you like fuck. So there. See how mean I am? Grr.
Alycia starts to re-read it, growls, and hits [Send]. And tries not to immediately regret it.
She shakes her head again. “Dammit, Jason.”
author: *** Dave H.
url: Community Forums: 50.2 - The Odd Couple (Alycia and Summer Edition) | Roll20: Online virtual tabletop
]
But this choice is for me, and about me, yes. Me supporting you means letting you and Jason choose your own fates without interfering.”
If he does, which of us gets to retaliate in assorted unspeakable ways? Is there a round-robin system? Do we flip a coin? Anyway, hopefully we will not find out.”
Like don’t do this if Aria’s around though. Like in North America around.”
