Second Trigger Warning

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

I'm not entirely certain what kind of illusion this is, but it is a very convincing one. A...very. Convincing one. I have no idea how it was accomplished, but whoever did it should be commended for their creativity, as well as for their talent.

[Filtered to Sal]
Sal, something's happened.
[/Filtered]



I'm n9t entirely certain what kind 9f illusi9n this is, 6ut it is a very c9nvincing 9ne. A...very. C9nvincing 9ne. I have n9 idea h9w it was acc9mplished, 6ut wh9ever did it sh9uld 6e c9mmended f9r their creativity, as well as f9r their talent.

[Filtered to Sal]
Sal, s9mething's happened.
[/Filtered]

Comments

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

If this is a trick, it is a well-executed and cruel 9ne.

6ut n9, I d9n't 6elieve that is the case.

[glaringprotego]

What's the problem then?

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

I'm n9t sure if I can explain it. I have n9 idea what happened, myself.

[glaringprotego]

Should I come s33 you?

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

I...

Yes, pr96a6ly.

[glaringprotego]

Then I'll be right there

[And she's on her way]

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[He's up in the Divination Tower, which is where he pretty much spends most of his time. The difference, however, is that now, rather than floating in front of the window staring reflectively out at the night sky, he's sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, his journal on the floor in front of him. The bright red of his sweater, returned to its obnoxious shade of red, stands out like a light in the darkness of the room.]

[glaringprotego]

[Her journal and quill fall to the ground, almost soundless. At least her ink bottle is tucked in her robes. Safe from the sudden wordless loss of grip that Dierdre experienced when she walked in the door.

He's right, if it's an illusion, it's a very good one. Even the cat that she had wandering behind Kankri on occasion seemed not to recognize him.]

...I forgot how red that sweater was. [That was a stupid first line]

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[When he hears the door open, he stands, all 4'11" of him from his fluffy auburn hair to his plain sneakers. He smiles at her sadly, and then takes a deep breath, before chuckling.]

I did too, really.

[glaringprotego]

[If she was a muggle, there might be some comment about how he's all in technicolor now or something, but she's not. Instead, she's wordless again, taking it in. She has to reach out and--and stop just short. He can't be real, solid, flesh, he's been dead for so long. Touching him will just shatter the illusion.]

How did someone do this? You look--you look just like you were alive again.

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[When she stops just short of touching him, he glances at her hand and then up at her, and then steps forward tentatively, so that her hand finds his shoulder, warm and solid and there. He doesn't say anything for a long moment, and then his voice wavers when he speaks.]

I...I think I am.

[glaringprotego]

[Her hand trembles, just slightly, before pressing down softly. The feel of wool under her fingers and a solid warm alive person beneath--she feels tears slide down her cheeks as she tries to pull herself together enough that her voice won't crack. It fails miserably of course, as she can't help but ask]

H-How? I watched you--I...

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[He wants to reach up and wipe the tears from her cheeks, and he's not entirely sure what stops him, now that he knows that he can. Tears well in his own eyes, and he wipes them away with a wet laugh.]

I know, I was there. I don't... I have no idea how either, but...

[He puts his hand over hers. Her hand is warm and delicate and small. He looks up at her, still smiling.]

You're taller than I remember you being, Deidre.

[glaringprotego]

[She laughs, though it comes out choked with tears and--touch. Touching his hand, feeling--How often had she even touched him when they were little. The hugs he didn't seem to enjoy but she gave anyways. Now--it's different.]

I'm still shorter than everyone else. Karkat is going to be taller than me soon enough. I'm probably the closest in height. I barely grew.

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

Still...

[He lapses into silence, and lets his hand fall from over hers.]

A lot of things changed while I was gone. Perhaps... This will be a good thing. No matter how long it ends up lasting.

[glaringprotego]

[And in that moment that he lets his hand fall, she swoops down into a hug, squeezing him tightly and laughing. However long it lasts is more than they could hope for.]

You aren't going to get all huffy about this, right?

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[He stiffens when she pulls him into a tight embrace, his eyes going wide.

Finally, he lets out a short huff (more out of playfulness than anything) before his arms come up to hug her back.]

This may well be the last chance to say goodbye that I didn't know I would ever get. I don't intend to waste it being petty.

[glaringprotego]

Goodbye? [She automatically pulls back a bit to look at him properly] Are you--going to not be a ghost? Or--well I suppawse you don't really know.

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[When she pulls back, he takes the opportunity to pull away a little himself, looking up at her and then glancing away.]

No, I don't, but if I have to go back to normal...

[He's spent more of his conscious existence as a ghost than he has living. Being dead is normal, to him.]