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[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine is looking restless, sitting at a table and watching the room. She has a cup of tea long gone cold before her, as well as a blank pad of paper and a pen, but isn't doing much more than fidgeting with the pen at the moment.

However much the possibilities of what waits for her in her world scare her, now that she has made the decision to go back, she is anxious to do so. But there are friends in Milliways Rae refuses to leave without saying goodbye to. Just in case.

She'll leave notes if she absolutely has to; she's just resisting the idea that it's her best option.

Comments

[herr_bookman]

Here's a face that hasn't been seen in the main bar in a while. Autor spots her as he comes down the stairs, and makes a beeline for her table. He looks much the same as when he saw her last: tired, with a grey sweater and roiling shadows. But he does appear glad to see her.

"Hello, Rae," Autor says, his eyes warm, even if his smile is missing. "May I sit?"

[sunbaked_baker]

His smile may be missing, but hers is in full effect when she sees Autor approaching. They can share in the tiredness, though her restlessness might hide some of it.

"Of course you may!" she says, getting to her feet. "As though that were ever a question. But only after I hug you, if that's all right."

She is so very glad to see him.

[herr_bookman]

"Absolutely," Autor says, easing into her arms. "I could use a good hug, and you always give good ones. How are you? Restless, I see."

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae hugs him close, resting her chin on his shoulder and closing her eyes. Hugs are always good.

"Doing better for having seen you," rather than I'm fine, "but yeah, restless. A bit."

Instead of elaborating, she asks, "What about you? How have you been?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor appreciates that she doesn't say she's fine. He appreciates that very much.

"I've been all right," he says, not disengaging just yet. "I've been engaging in meditative practices in my room, in an effort to keep calm. It's working. And Guppy gave me some medication, which also seems to help."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh Autor," she says, squeezing him tighter for a moment, "I'm so glad!"

"I'm so glad they're helping." It warms her spirit to hear that not only is Autor actively seeking out help but that he can tell a difference from having done so.

[herr_bookman]

"Thanks," Autor says, and while he doesn't smile still, it's a near thing. "Now, why are you restless?"

[sunbaked_baker]

Her smile, when she releases him enough that he could see it, is a wry thing. Not happy, but... there.

"I'm going home. Making myself go home," Rae replies. "I've put it off too long - nearly a year and a half - but I'm getting to the point where I can't... stand it."

She has always hated herself for her cowardice. She is sick of letting it bind her life.

[herr_bookman]

Autor's gaze on her sharpens. "Good," he says, taking her hands and squeezing them. "I'm proud or you, Rae. It's been a long time coming--one might even say too long."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I say too long," she says, squeezing his hands in return, her smile grateful that he understands. "I'm... afraid, but I'm sick of... letting this place be my world, when my actual world is waiting on me to grow a spine. The risk I have to take is a big one - all or nothing - but it's one I have to take."

[herr_bookman]

"I'm behind you all the way," Autor says, fiercely protective. "Is there anything I can do for you while I'm here other than wish you well?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"No, I don't think so," Rae smiles slightly. "You're already doing it."

His support means a lot to her.

She grins at him. "Maybe throw me out the door if I look like I'm going to chicken out when I go to leave?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor huffs a breath, the closest he gets to laughing nowadays. "I can do that," he says, nodding thoughtfully. "I'm glad to see you, Rae. It's been too long. Are you prepared to go back? Well, as prepared as you'll ever be?"

[onceaviking]

Here's someone who likely wouldn't get a thank you card.

Looking a little rumpled and very visibly aware of the fact that Sunshine is not a fan.

He forgets.

[sunbaked_baker]

When she is thankful for something, Rae prefers to say thanks in person, generally accompanied with a gift of food.

... but this approach is not useful when it comes to vampires.


Of course she knows Eric is nearby. There is no mistaking the goosebump-raising sensation of vampire-in-the-room. So her gaze soon finds him.

From his posture and appearance - even if he wears the rumpled look better than most - she can tell Eric is still... not himself.

"No luck yet with the memories?" she asks, neutrally.

[onceaviking]

He shakes his head and stiffs his hands in his pockets.

"No," he says. "What are you doing?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Seeing if I can find some of my friends I've not seen in a while," she replies, "before I head home. I'm not sure when I'll be back."

When, not if. When, not if.

The thought of returning to her world and going through with what waits for her... that scares her. But she has made the decision to go, and she will. She just doesn't want to disappear (when, not if) without letting her friends know where and why she's gone.

[onceaviking]

"Does your door go away too?" he asks.
Still Bound.

[sunbaked_baker]

"No," she says, with a faintly wry smile. "My door doesn't go away. Just the bravery it takes to walk through it."

She doesn't have anything like as good an excuse as being Bound. Just cowardice.

[onceaviking]

"I don't see what's wrong with being afraid if you know you're going back into something bad. Like - I talked with someone here and she can't go back because there is someone there waiting to kill her."

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae nods slightly.

"If it is who I think it is," because who knows, there are plenty of people in Milliways with trouble waiting for them in their worlds, "then I've promised I'd go back with her, to keep her safe, but... she's said she'll wait for me to get my shit sorted out first."

And Rae isn't the best at sorting out her own shit. She much prefers helping others do so.

"So I've got to go, and... see how things turn out."

[onceaviking]

"Is someone waiting for you too?" he asks, innocently.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Sort of," she admits, after a moment of hesitation.

"A risk is waiting for me. A big one. All or nothing. I have the chance to rid myself of an enemy, but to take that chance I also have to risk everything I've been working towards, everything that makes me me."

[onceaviking]

"Isn't there someone you can bring along?" he asks and he sounds genuinely worried.

[sunbaked_baker]

"I'll have... allies," she says, in the tone of voice indicating that they're not wholly allies but that semi-protectors/semi-exploiters are the best she's going to get, "they'll be with me."

"But no one from here, no."