012 - You can never have too many names.... Or can you?
As quite a few people know by now, it's been a while since I got my name back. I started introducing myself with both, but going by multiple names is pretty confusing. I know I've been known as more than a handfull of names here, but hopefully that'll only make it easier to switch again. And it's not like it's all that different, anyway
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My schedule seems to be getting filled up pretty quickly, but if you think you may have a little bit of free time maybe we could meet for lunch or something. Tomorrow maybe? Or whenever. I know how busy you are.
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No, tomorrow's fine. Do you have somewhere in mind?
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All right. I'll meet you in front of the clothing store, and we can go from there.
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[As he arrived he gave Bastet a cheery wave.]
Hey there.
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Was he a little tense as he approached? Or was she just projecting? She supposed she would find out soon enough.]
Hey, you. It's been a while.
[She wore a faint smile as she stood outside the door of the shop, but she couldn't help observing him to see what she could pick up.]
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Yeah, it has. [He let a bit of his regret seep into his response.]
So, do you have any ideas on where to go?
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Why don't we skip lunch and go for a walk instead?
[From the looks of things, she wasn't going to have much of an appetite after his news anyway.]
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Yeah. Anywhere with food at this hour is probably going to be crowded anyway.
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[With that settled, she started off for the bridge to Captain Planet. As he'd said, the Bazaar was fairly crowded in the middle of the day, so it wasn't likely that they'd find anywhere suited to a serious conversation.
It didn't take long to reach the Park, and once they were past the first few recreation areas, it was easy enough to find a lesser used path. Even in the middle of the day, it wasn't being used, so it should serve them well enough.]
So. [She'd spent the entire walk steeling herself, and the face she lifted to him was composed and watchful.] What did you need to talk about?
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I really don't know how to lead up to this in any reasonable way so I'll just say it. [Despite himself, he paused. This was just as difficult as he expected it to be.]
For a little over a month now, Target and I have been dating. We don't really see any reason for this to become public knowledge, but at the same time...I really thought you deserved to know.
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While she'd always known it was likely that he'd find someone else, it was almost surprising how much it hurt to hear that he had. That he could move on, with no burdens from this, while she still carried so many.]
I see.
[She had to look away, even though her face had gone unreadable after her initial flash of surprise. While she knew this wasn't easy for him either, it didn't stop a brief, ugly welling of bitterness deep inside her.]
Thank you for telling me. [Her voice was calm, but remote; that was the best she could do right now.
She did mean it, though; as much as this hurt, it would have hurt worse to find out any other way.]
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[He could tell she was upset, even if she didn't seem so outright. This was how she had been the first few times he came in contact with her, and he now knew why...and the fact that it wasn't normal for her. What else could he say?]
There's one other thing that I think you deserve to know.
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It was on the tip of her tongue, but she refrained, merely steeling herself once again. It was unfortunate, that someone who had once made her so happy now more often than not only served to lay old wounds bare.]
[She still kept her face averted, but there was the faintest crease of her brow at his apology. While she knew he didn't mean it that way, this whole situation was bad enough without having to be seen as an object of pity. She didn't acknowledge it though, instead deliberately choosing only to respond to his last statement.]
What is it?
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My real name. My real real name. It's Neil.
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