020; In Which There Is An Attempt to Recover

[eldest_hatter]

I hope everyone has recovered well enough after what happened over the holiday. I'm sure it was hard on quite a few people, judging from what I've heard already. I just want everyone to know, that if you need any kind of help, please let me know. I'm more than willing to help, even if you just need someone to talk to about it

Comments

[likepaleglass]

Hm?

[eldest_hatter]

Hm? Is that all you have to say?

[likepaleglass]

Depending on what your reply is, at the moment, yes.

[eldest_hatter]

I...well, what happened, I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen. We'll both get home, and everything will work out right.

[likepaleglass]

[Silence.]

[eldest_hatter]

[More silence.]

...Howl?

[likepaleglass]

[Quiet from the end, broken only at last by a release of breath.]

I suppose I should have realized that you knew, if we were married as you claimed. I don't believe I even considered it.

[eldest_hatter]

Well...yes. We weren't married until after I returned your heart to you.

[likepaleglass]

And you understand, then, that my heart isn't here.

[eldest_hatter]

Yes. When I first saw you.

[likepaleglass]

Then you also understand that ultimately it may end exactly as the future happened.

[eldest_hatter]

May.

But absolutely refuse to let it just happen like that. I will find a way home.

[likepaleglass]

[Howl would like to believe that . . . but he's far too accustomed to handling things for himself -- and there's something else on his mind.]

You also understand that in the process, I may continue to hurt you.

[eldest_hatter]

I'm quite aware of that. However I won't allow that to stop me.