😢 voice; @b.potts

[tutee]

[ It happened overnight. The amnesia wore off and she woke up Sunday morning suddenly possessing months of knowledge of a man who'd shown her worlds and times Bill could never have imagined, prior to meeting him. She hadn't believed Cisco when he'd told her about this man called the Doctor who could travel through time, who was her friend. But now she remembers him, and more importantly, she remembers how she hasn't seen or heard from him in weeks.

When she goes to start recording, the camera comes on and she gets a view of how shattered she looks from crying, and quickly switches to audio only. ]

How... How do you know when someone's left? Gone home, I mean, or just... gone somewhere that's not here. Is there a list of names somewhere to check?

[ She pauses, hesitant, before adding, ] Do the ones who've left ever come back?

Comments

[tutee]

[ Bill is reluctant to turn on video, but for Lup, she will. Her eyes are red, but she's doing her best to hide the fact she's been crying. ]

I'm-- [ Is she okay? Not really. Not even close.

She sighs, deflating. ]

I forgot him. Probably the one person who had a hope of getting me back home, and I forgot him. And now that I can remember him again, he's gone.

[umbrastaff]

Oh, Bill...

[She can relate, weirdly enough, thanks to all the stupid memory shit in her own world.

...the thought of forgetting Taako and then him not being here any more makes her heart ache like someone stabbed it.]

I can't say everything's gonna be fine because I don't like lying about shit like this, but it seems like sometimes people can't choose when they go home.

...and if it was that memory shit that went on, I'm sure he doesn't blame you.

[tutee]

No, I know. [ She rubs at her face, trying to keep from crying again. ]

I know exactly what he'd say if he were here. He'd say I have to stop wallowing and move forward, do what he would do.

[ That does cheer her up a bit, imagining the Doctor's reaction to her sadness. ]

[umbrastaff]

Sounds like sound, if a little abrupt advice. Feelings aren't that easy though, are they?

[She gives Bill what she hopes is a comforting smile.]

You need some ice cream and wine?

[Taaco Twins™ coping methods.]

[tutee]

No. Feelings aren't that easy. [ Which is something the Doctor would have forgotten. ]

Ice cream and wine sounds pretty much perfect.

[umbrastaff]

I gotchu covered, my gal. What's your favorite flavor and where should I deliver my tribute?

[tutee]

Anything with chocolate's good.

I'm in the communal housing, floor two. Unless you've got a better place for it.

[umbrastaff]

Nah, it's all good with me if you are. I'll be over in a little while.

[tutee]

Cheers.

[ She'll be there, though she won't bother to get out of her pyjamas. ]

[umbrastaff]

[When Lup does come over, she's in pretty relaxing duds as well - a t-shirt and cut-off jeans. She's carrying an armful of chocolate ice cream pints, a pie and two bottles of wine.]

Honk honk it's the feel better police! Please open up before I drop all this shit?

[tutee]

[ Bill drags herself up to let Lup in. ] Hey. Thanks for... Thanks.

[ She helps Lup by taking one of the pints and a bottle of wine off her hands, and leads her over to the kitchen. ]

[umbrastaff]

[She shakes her head at that and lets Bill grab some of the stuff.]

Don't mention it. I mean, we don't know each other that well but I'm not gonna leave a girl alone after something like that.

[Lup walks into the kitchen like she owns it and starts looking for spoons.]

[tutee]

[ Bill, knowing her way around the kitchen, pulls two spoons out of the silverware drawer, and two glasses out of a cupboard for the wine. ]

Corkscrew's in that drawer, there.

[umbrastaff]

[She snorts at that and casts a small blue mage hand in the bottle, using it to push the cork out.]

Need no stinking cork screws here, sweetie. Magic~!

[Lup places things on a table and then smiles.]

Love the style, by the way. Seems perfect for relaxing.

[And crying.]

[tutee]

Handy, that.

[ It manages to get Bill to smile, at least. She carries the glasses and spoons over to the table, then pulls out a chair and flops into it. ]

Oh, this is just... I didn't exactly feel like getting dressed today.

[umbrastaff]

That's understandable, my gal. Wouldn't want to, either.

[She walks over and pours them some wine before sitting down as well.]

So he was really important to you, huh?

[No mockery or joking, just understanding. Lup was far too used to losing her friends, even if it was only temporary.]

[tutee]

[ Bill gives a small smile of thanks for the wine, before reaching to take her glass and sip from it. ]

He was my tutor first. But more than that, he was my friend.

[umbrastaff]

That's harsh.

[She opens one of the ice cream containers and heats a spoon enough for it to slide through the frozen treat easily.]

You're not gonna stay here forever, though? I mean, it hurts, but you'll see him again?

[tutee]

[ Bill smiles at the trick with the spoon. Magic is so handy, it seems. She's almost jealous. ]

Yeah. As soon as I get sent back. It's just weird, being back to having no one.

[ Which feels selfish to say, when there's someone right there with wine and ice cream to comfort her. ]

No one from home, I mean.

[umbrastaff]

Nah, I get you. If I was the only one from home, here... shit, I'd be pretty lost.

[She shrugs a little and then looks at Bill.]

...but that's what friends here are for, right? There's people here that care about you, I just know it.

[Lup gestures dramtically with her spoon.]

I mean, I don't go getting wine and ice cream for any basic bitch? We've got you.

[tutee]

[ That does make Bill smile. She takes her own spoon and tries scooping a bit of ice cream, but can't quite manage it as easily as Lup, due to the whole not magically heating it up first thing. ]

I appreciate that. I do. Really.

[ She takes what little ice cream she could manage to scoop and eats it, letting the cold sting her mouth before she swallows. She sighs. ]

I just need to... move on.