021-[action] Merry Christmas....?

[friendly_ghosts]

[Residents and neighbors of 502 Ricardo street can feel free to notice that a little girl has been waiting out on the lawn since yesterday. She's clutching a teddy bear and watching the snow fall sadly. What's she waiting for? Maybe you should ask her. But you might want to tell her to get inside before she freezes to death. Sometimes she talks to

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[godisachild]

[He's been watching you. All morning. He guesses you came to his house sometime after you resurrected, and he's been thinking about how to handle this. And he thinks he knows how he has to do it.

He has to push you away. You're one of the few nice people he knows, and you don't deserve to get hurt because of him. So he has to get rid of you.

After ignoring you for awhile doesn't work, he'll finally just walk outside, standing a little ways away from the front door when he finally speaks. He tries to make his voice seem as cold and hostile as he can.]

What are you doing here?

[friendly_ghosts]

[She gives him a relieved smile when he actually speaks to her. She's so happy that he can see her, that she misses the tone.]

Pokey! I came because we promised to spend Christmas together. I know real Christmas got ruined, so I thought we could just have a pretend Christmas instead.

[godisachild]

Pretend Christmas? Please. That's stupid.

I don't wanna do it.

[friendly_ghosts]

O-oh.... Umm...

[Her smile falters, but she tries again hopefully.]

Then maybe we could just have a normal day? We can still have cookies and hot chocolate and play in the snow.

[godisachild]

Naw.

[He kicks a little bit of snow at her, smirking meanly.]

I don't have time for stupid kid crap. Why don't you go home.

[friendly_ghosts]

But.... but....

[She doesn't understand. She really doesn't. Why would he suddenly...?]

Why? Are you mad at me? What did I do wrong?

[godisachild]

[Oh God. Please. Just go. If you stay near him you'e going to get hurt again. And pushing you away is so much harder then it has been for anyone else before.]

No. You're just a stupid twerp, and I don't have time for you.

[Okay. Finish this quickly. He just smirks as meanly as he can.]

Don't you get it? I was messing with you. I was never going to actually have Christmas with you.

[friendly_ghosts]

[The shock is plainly visible on her face for several seconds before the tears start to gather in her eyes. FIrst Daddy then Mommy and Bunbun and Tad.... and now Pokey too. No one wanted anything to do with her. Maybe Santa hadn't been lying about Mr. Pemberton. Maybe no one wanted her.... She tries one last time, in a small, desperate voice.]

But.... we're friends.

[godisachild]

No, we're-

You're the closest thing I have to a real, human friend. You make me feel human again, even though you're so small. Thanks for that I guess. I thought that was long dead.

We're-

You're like a little sister. And I don't want you to get hurt. Not because of me. You don't deserve that.

It's-

Love you kid. Hope you take care and stay safe. I'm sorry.

[He covers his mouth, but he doesn't think to turn his head away, though he blinks his eyes a few times to try and obscure the fact he's crying.]

Just go!

[friendly_ghosts]

[She might have left if she hadn't seen those tears. She doesn't know why he's doing this, but if he's sad too then must be a way they can still be friends again.]

Please, Pokey! Whatever you're mad about, I'm really sorry. But you're my best friend and I love you and everyone else keeps leaving me and if you do too I'll..... I'll...

[She doesn't really know what she'll do in that case, but she does know that something will different. She might never be the same again.]

Please..... just don't send me away...

[godisachild]

It's not....just....please! I don't....

[Stop it. Don't you dare. You already cried once this week, when you shouldn't be doing it at all. Come on. This isn't any different from the dozens of other people you've pushed away. Finish it.]

You have to go! I'm going...you...

[Dammit, don't buckle.]

I....

I...

I'm sorry...I'm sorry...

[And he collapses to his knees. It's the cold that's doing it, he can't feel them. It's not because he's sad or overwhelmed or anything.]

Mindy...I'm so sorry...I'll try to be a better person but...I'm so sorry...I'm sorry they hurt you I'm so sorry...I won't...

[Well, whatever he was going to say there gets cut off as he leans into a pretty harsh sounding coughing fit. It's a nasty sound, wet and painful and rasping and mixing with the sound of his hiccing as he tries to get out from it. But the cold is taking its toll on him.]

[friendly_ghosts]

[Well, great, now she's really scared. She rushes over and clutches at his arm.]

Pokey? What's the matter? Are you sick? Should I call a doctor?

[She glances toward the house, wondering how long it would take a doctor to arrive after she called for one. Surely someone in this town would help....]

Pokey..... please don't cry...

[Which is really kind of an unfair thing to ask, with tears still in her eyes.]

[godisachild]

[He just shakes his head, trying to get his breathing under control. If he can just calm down, even a little, he can do it. He's calmed it under worse conditions. And it does after a moment, though he's still shivering.

And he wipes his eyes. Goddamn. He was being such a wuss. Okay. Get your shit together Minch. You can do this. She's just a little girl, for Christ's sake. Be a bigger man.]

...I'm fine. ...I'm sorry. That they hurt you.

[friendly_ghosts]

[She's on the verge of running into the house to call for help, when he finally starts breathing normally again. Not really sure what to do, she puts her arms around him in a gentle hug.]

Don't be sad, Pokey, please. I'm fine, okay? I'm not hurt and everything's okay so just... don't be sad, alright?

[godisachild]

[Kid, you are one of the few people allowed to get away with doing that. And....he'll just wrap one of his arms around you. Don't tell anyone, okay? He's hugging back because you were crying, not because he was sad.]

...I'm not sad. ...I'm not leaving, alright? We'll have Christmas, alright? We will.

[Well this was a colossal failure. But he's not thinking about that right now.]

[friendly_ghosts]

Really? You mean it?

[Hugs tighter.]

We'll have a great time, you'll see. We can bake cookies and play games and sing Christmas carols. And I got you a present too.