poly_chromatic | [audio]

Crazy week, huh? People dying, people coming back to life for a day, the network turning into a weird version of The Sun. I'm not a fan of gossip. What people do, who they do it with--that's all their business, no one else's.

I'm even less a fan of murder, but I'm sure the police will take care of that.

Coming back to life, though... that's really something. I ended up running around the garden most of the day. Maybe this doesn't make sense, but being alive seems to make everything brighter. Things taste better, flowers smell better, running is more fun. I never would've guessed that I'd actually miss getting my heart rate up and needing to breathe. It was a nice day, but being like this--being dead, I mean--isn't bad. It's way better than not being in the City would be, and I still get to do the things I care about and meet people.

[Her voice takes on a gloomier tone that is very unlike Penny.]

Jenny went home. I checked the Hall and there she was. I'll definitely miss her. I didn't know her for very long, but she's always so sweet and cheerful, and she's pretty much the only person I've ever had a serious conversation about freeing the animals in the zoo with.

She said I could be part of her family, too--that I'd make a good sister. I've never had anyone invite me into her family before. Having a family...

[There's a brief pause, a sniff, and then, with forced brightness:]

So! Charlie, Sophie--shopping tomorrow, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're not? But you're so nice, and you know so many people--not that not being gossiped about isn't great! And yeah, I'm good. No gossip about me, either.

I'm glad people left you alone with all that mess. [A little protective? Yes.]

Well I know a lot of people, but being close to them is... well it's different, for me.

Me too. [So sweet, Derek.]

Is it hard to get close to people? ...You don't need to answer that, if you don't want to.

I don't mind answering it, not to you anyway. I've always had a problem trusting people enough to let them in. I mean I can fake it to make it but that's not... letting people in. That's being personable. So yeah, problems getting close to people.

You, on the other hand, seem willing to let most people in. You remind me so much of my best friend back home. Her name is Penelope Garcia and she you would get along really well, open and bright-eyed and always seeing the good in everything even when you have to look really hard for it. It's attractive.

You do what you have to do to get by. I don't blame you for being careful.

I think I like Penelope Garcia. [What are the odds that Derek knows another Penelope?] Does she keep you positive--looking on the bright side?

Yeah definitely keeps me in line. I have a tendency to get lost in my own stuff, can get kind of dark. She always draws me back into the light, gives me a good kick when I get to far gone. People like me need people like her... and like you.

Well... I'm not much of a kicker, but if you ever need anything...

I'm sorry things can get dark.

Right back atcha, Red. Anything, really.

You know, that's life. We've all got our stuff. Sometimes I wish I were better at compartmentalizing things, like you and Penelope. I think it's great that you can do that.

I'll remember that.

It's a skill, I guess. We've all got to have something.

I don't... guess you'd want to go out again sometime. You and me.

Of course I would! Want to go out, I mean, with you. Sometime.

Dinner? There's that place in Xanadu. It seems pretty nice from the outside looking in. We could test the food out.

Dinner sounds great. I've never eaten there before; it'll be fun.

Good then. It's a date.

ooc: Did we wanna play it out or handwave it? I'm easy! Like Sunday morning! :)

~~There is a song in my head!~~ Handwave? If you really and truly don't mind!

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ooc