(no subject)

[vance_prime]

One year ago today, Gordon Freeman came home from the Combine Overworld, maimed and bloody but alive.

One year ago today, the Combine Overmind was destroyed, collapsing the reality it inhabited and crippling the "Universal Union"'s ability to travel between universes.

One year ago today, humanity won the Combine War.

It's a day for both celebration and solemn remembrance. Unfortunately, the abundance of the former kind of makes the latter difficult to achieve. Thus, Alyx has retreated to Milliways for a little while so she can hear herself think.

She's currently out by the lakeside doing just that.

Comments

[52_dropoff]

She might spot Charlie, meditating.

[vance_prime]

She just might. She gives him a nod of acknowledgement before looking out over the water again.

[52_dropoff]

He stays in a lotus position for a while, then does a few handstands, maintaining the last for a moment. And then gets to his feet.

And walks over slowly.

[vance_prime]

"Hey," Alyx murmurs softly.

[52_dropoff]

"Hey. No zucchini today?" He gives a small smile. And can tell a pensive face when he sees one.

[vance_prime]

Alyx shakes her head. "We used up most of that back at Thanksgiving."

[52_dropoff]

"Good. I think the Bar had its fair share. And its unfair share too." Good thing he likes it.

"How are you doing?"

[vance_prime]

"Not bad," she says. "Just...thinking."

[52_dropoff]

"Thinking is always good. Not enough people do it." Not even Charlie, sometimes.

[crabbycustomer]

It got cold while Karkat was dreaming, and his long sleeves aren't enough; he reluctantly pulls on the black corduroy jacket with the red signs Kanaya embroidered.

Normally, hearing yourself think around Karkat is a losing bet, but he is almighty sick of chatter, so all Alyx has to deal with is a nod.

But it's probably a loud nod.

[vance_prime]

You don't survive on a Xen- or Combine-occupied Earth for very long without being aware of your surroundings. Alyx nods back.

[crabbycustomer]

"VANCE."

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?"

[vance_prime]

"Not a lot."

A beat.

"It's the anniversary of our defeat of the Combine."

[crabbycustomer]

"OH."

It doesn't seem like that long ago, but his sense of time is hopelessly fractured by now. "KIND OF A BIG DEAL, THEN."

[vance_prime]

It doesn't seem that long for Alyx either, but that's more because she's been busy rebooting civilization on top of raising twins.

"Mm-hm." She nods. "Everybody's celebrating, back home... but I wasn't really feeling it."

[crabbycustomer]

"YEAH, I THINK I WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY," he says, shrugging. "WADING NOOKDEEP THROUGH THE PAST IS A HIGHLY OVERRATED ACTIVITY."

[vance_prime]

"No, it's not that. It's just..." She sighs and drags her hands over her face. "It's gonna sound stupid."

[hecu_marine]

She's not the only one from her world here. Gordon's at home taking care of the babies- it seemed appropriate- but...

Well, running with his thoughts isn't really working too well near the Greenbrier, so Shephard opted to try at Milliways instead. He'll be coming up on Alyx's position in a bit.

[vance_prime]

When he gets close, he'll get a nod of acknowledgement. "Shephard."

[hecu_marine]

"Ma'am," says Shephard as he comes to a stop. "Didn't expect to find you here."

Seemed like somebody back home would've wanted her for something.

[vance_prime]

"I could say the same for you," says Alyx. "Not joining in the festivities?"

[hecu_marine]

"Did my part already, ma'am," says Shephard. "I don't begrudge nobody their party but I did enough celebratin' last year to last me a while."

[vance_prime]

"Mm. Yeah. I've had my fill of celebration too." She stares off across the lake, which is already frozen over even this early in the winter. "I'm not the only one feeling like people are missing the point a little bit, am I?"

[hecu_marine]

"No ma'am," says Shephard. "No, you are not."

"Mind if I make a suggestion for next year, though?"

[vance_prime]

"Hm?" Alyx quirks an eyebrow at him.