poly_chromatic | 119 Howls: [Video] 3.14

[Mercy's looking absolutely exhausted, as if she hasn't slept for days. Which would probably be fairly accurate. She's been indulging in her go-to activities for dealing with bad emotions, namely baking and cleaning. The glimpses someone might get of the kitchen in the house show everything spotless and cleaned to within an inch of its life, as would the rest of the house if you could see it.

The problem at the moment is the sheets and sheets of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies - and are those brownies over there?

She's staring at the latest batch she's started in dismay.]

I don't know what's going on, but every time I try to make something I end up tripling the recipe. At this rate there won't be room for anything in the house but cookies and brownies and the freezer's already full. Including the chest freezer downstairs. And if I bring anymore to the store Donna may kill me for getting crumbs all over her paperwork.

Tosh? Ianto? Fresh hot cookies?

Could the Welcome Center or Youth Center use a few hundred dozen or something? Anyone? Please.

I have so many more than any of us could ever eat.

[Oh so very cursed. Come get a cookie - or 3.14 of them if you'd rather. Voice/video for anyone who wants, action for anyone in the house or who might want to come by to get cookies or make Mercy stop baking.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Looks like you've been busy. Youth Center could definitely use some if you're in the neighborhood. And I wouldn't mind taking a few off your hands just for me too.

You can have as many as you want - Youth Center, personal, whatever you'd like.

Derek...?

He's back.

And he doesn't know me.

[He'd have to be an idiot not to know who she's talking about. And Derek isn't an idiot. He can't even imagine how he'd feel if Reid or Penelope forgot who he was. Of course, he knew them from back home, not from here.] Aw, Princess... that's hard. For someone who's supposed to know who you are not to. I'm sorry.

[Penny, who he was very good friends with before, being back and not remembering anyone crosses his mind.] Seems to happen a lot here.

I just don't know what to do.

Except not ever let on that he and I were... involved.

I don't know. I mean what I'd do in your position, I don't know. But what I do know is that if he was a good friend before there was more to it, I'd want that friendship back. I know there's lots of other stuff besides the friendship. But with the nature of this City, you've gotta adjust to what you're given. And the way people come and go, you've gotta keep those who you make good friendships with close by. That's just me though, my opinion.

I know it's tough. But you've gotta do what's good for you. And right now you're holdin' all that inside of you and it isn't good for you. I can tell. It's taking a toll. So figure out what's best for you, figure out what you need, and baby step your way there if you've got to... but you've gotta eventually start heading in that direction. Staying stagnate where you are and worrying about it is only gonna upset you more. Trust me, I know. Just keep moving forward no matter what direction it's in, Princess.

There was another Jack here before. He's the one who built this place. And we... we were friendly, but we were never friends. There was no connection between us. So this one... I don't know.

I just...

I know I can't avoid him forever. This is his house and he should be here with his team. And even if he's not, he's sure to be here to see the hub underneath and see Ianto and Tosh and I'm not going to run away and hide. But to see him and not be able to touch him or be with him - or worse, to know that I can, but it won't mean a damn thing to him...

I was dealing with him leaving. It hurt, but even if he stayed he would have left me eventually. But this... I just need time. I have to pull myself together so that when I see him I can be casual and not let him see - not let anyone see - how hard it is.

It's not his fault, after all.

Yeah, no one's at fault here. I mean if you need someone to blame there's a City with Deities and whoever or whatever they're working for. But I get it. It's not gonna be exactly what you had and it's hard. It's tough losing something like that. Even tougher when the evidence of what you've lost is right there in front of you.

You know I've got your back, right? Whatever you need.

I don't want to blame anyone. I just... want it not to hurt so much.

And eventually it won't and I'll be able to pretend he's just some guy I met before.

I know you do. Thanks, Derek.

Right now I just need to deal. Which for me, means I cook and clean. Especially since I quit my job with Saya.

Yeah, you just keep doing what you need to do to deal. Time will eventually get you to where you need to be.

You quit the garage? I thought that would've been a nice fit for you, a nice outlet to work on cars.

I hope so.

Yeah. She was... she kept butting into my personal life and when I asked her not to she basically told me I'd better quit because she didn't plan to change. One thing and another and... yeah. This was after she asked me if I'd attack her if she didn't stop. Maybe if I'd said I would she would have cut it out.

Anyway, yeah. I quit. Loved working on cars, but...

119 Howls: [Video] 3.14

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