[After...party?] I would give anything, but for the grace of God I'm here and still aware

[madgiganticfeelings]

[So that... certainly happened. Christine ran along with everyone else to escape the suffocating smoke, slamming the doors behind them in the hope it would slow the flames down. She tries not to see sticky beer-stained carpet as she runs, tries to hear the voices of her newfound friends, rather than the screams of teenagers, but it's certainly difficult.

She only stops to hastily throw open the door to Steven's room and let out Lion with them, but otherwise retreats into the gardens before... letting herself watch the opera house in silence.

Thankfully, it doesn't end with as much damage as the last fire Christine experienced. In time, she can stop shaking and unfold the note still clenched in her hand. And then she looks back at the opera house with... a different kind of fear on her face.

A fear so deep that when Mephisto and Anne finally start suggesting the possibility of returning inside, she's up on her feet in an instant.]

Meeting in the woman's first floor washroom. Give me ten minutes and I'll be there.

[Before anyone can argue with her, she runs off, hoping she sounded firm enough for them to follow her request.

She and Lion move to Stephen's room first to acquire whatever notes might still be there, but she's returns to the bathroom soon enough, all the papers now collected in her binder.]

Okay. We're probably freaked out. God knows I still am. And I want to encourage you to leave when you need to, take a break if this all gets to be too much. But I think... I think I speak for everyone- [Finally, finally she can speak for everyone. Her voice is strong enough now.] - when I say this.

[Her knuckles go white around her binder and her eyes spark back to life.]

We are not letting that fucking Wizard win anymore. So let's talk time loops.

Comments

[madgiganticfeelings]

It's... you can make it up to me some other day.

[She leaves that bit of hope for him, something to cling to, and smiles when he returns the favour. Tomorrow, she'll fix his bandages. Tomorrow, he'll pull himself together and help her, rather than just placing all his dreams of the future on her.

Tomorrow, they'll be alive. So she does slide off the bed, though not before wrapping her arms tight around Mephisto's shoulders.]

I will. But only if you promise you'll come find me if you need anything at all. You... don't have to be alone.

[heathencall]

[It's hard for Mephisto to summon the strength to return the gesture, but he tries his best. He wraps his arms secure around her waist and even musters up a moment of strength to give her a squeeze.

He's content to leave it at that, nodding even as he plans to not need anything, just so he doesn't have to bother her. Something stops him, though, and before he can let her drift too far away.]

I love you. [The thing he couldn't say. The thing he regretted feeling for Stephen. If nothing else, he knows he can trust Christine with this truth.]

[madgiganticfeelings]

[He can plan to not need anything, but she can plan to also just be passing by, or just be sleeping outside his door that night.

Which... she feels even more strongly that she has to, when he says those words. Words she'd told Stephen just a few hours ago at the trial, words she'd tried a hundred times to make Jeremy accept. She clings to him a little tighter, in relief to realize, just once, the feelings she's had for everyone trapped in this hell with her are returned.]

I... I love you too. I'm sure it doesn't mean much from the Love Interest, but... at least you know I'm not lying about it.

[She slowly pulls away from his embrace before the door opens, and she's sent off to the meeting again.

But if he does check in the morning, Christine will be there, at his side, as she'd promised to. Her oaths are ones she refuses to break.]