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Maybe, or... I mean, everything skipped me altogether, so maybe it would've been the same for you. [ She hunches her shoulders up for a moment, something like a prolonged shrug, before she shifts and hops, lifting herself to sit on the countertop. She sits in thought for second or two, swinging her legs lightly and looking down at her shoes. ] I guess June was busy, but July... I dunno'. I felt really stuck.

Here's hoping for August, right?

Summer's nearly over, too.

[ She sighs. From the sounds of it she wouldn't have wanted to gotten entangled in whatever trouble imPorts found themselves in this time, but she's still disappointed that July's over and there's only a few weeks left before school re-opens. ]

What have you been doing this whole time? I noticed all my stuff was where it was in my room... thank you.

[ A beat. ]

Is Tobias still here?

Don't worry about it. I... I didn't even think about moving anything yet. I think I'd have held out for as long as possible. [ She doesn't answer with what she's been doing with any more than a little shrug and and an expression that includes a wrinkles nose and a little frown. She hasn't been doing anything. She's wrapped up school, she goes to work, she goes superheroing even if she's not great at it... Nothing good. Nothing useful. ]

Yeah. Toby's here, and still... You know, quiet during the day, usually gone at night. I found out he and Dorian Gray are from the same world. And then we met Peter Pan.

That's about it.

[ That only earns Laurie a curious tilt of the head. The name "Peter Pan" isn't familiar at all. ]

Peter Pan? Who is that?

Oh, um... He's a famous character, in my world. And lot of other worlds, I guess. He's in plays and books and movies and stuff. He's a boy who never grows up, and he flies and fights pirates and stuff.

[ How much of this is actually true of this real Peter Pan, she has no idea. That's the myth stuff, though! ]

He's staying out in the woods, here. He had a party after he arrived, and me and Tobias went by accident. [ More or less. ]

Never?

[ Asked in an almost incredulous tone of voice. She's trying to wrap her head around the idea of someone who doesn't age despite the fact she's met immortals. Still, immortal doesn't necessarily mean they stay the exact same age forever, does it? ]

And he's here? What's this Pan like?

Yep. [ Never grows up. Is totally here. And what's he like..? ] I'm more used to, like, Disney Peter Pan, but I don't think he's much like that, so... I don't know. He's closer to teenager-y than I would've figured, and he's very direct and kind of wild-seeming.

[ The whole thing's a little odd, maybe, but so's a lot of stuff here. ] You know, just your run-of-the-mill children's character suddenly existing in real life. No big deal, right?

[ If she knew more about Disney she might have freaked out a bit to know Peter Pan now existed, but since she didn't have the books they have in this world growing up or many stories to pass around Sasha isn't quite sure how she would react at all. ]

That is weird... but a lot of things about other worlds are weird to me. Just that none of them have titans is kind of strange! Even if it's a good thing.

[ Yeah, titans are a bad thing. Thinking on this point leads her to consider something that she hadn't before, though. Her world's weird compared to some others. Superheroes are a known aspect, mutants are a thing, cosmic and alternate-universe shenanigans aren't unheard of... It's still nothing like Sasha's world, though. Sasha's world is very different and apart from most world's she's ever heard of. ]

I think you must come from a kinda unique place, now that you say that. Unfortunately unique, I guess, but... Still.

Have I mentioned that I'm glad you're back? [ Because yeah. That world. ] Not that I want to keep you from anything, but... I like the idea of you being here a whole lot better.

[ She pauses, letting those words sink further in before she offers a small, warm smile. ]

I'm glad to be back, too. And that you're here.

[ As much as she misses home, she misses the more peaceful times. The downtime in between training or missions where she and the rest of the 104th goofed off or watched as Eren and Jean got into petty arguments, or when she and Connie would start fooling around where their superiors couldn't see them.

She can't say she would rather be home right now. Not when there's a titan bigger than the Colossal Titan headed toward the city and they've got to find some way to kill. Not when she can't seem to get a proper night's rest for fear of something lurking in the shadows threatening her friends' lives and hers. ]

Why did you say you had to apologize earlier?

[ Oh. Right. The little smile and the warmth that's built up in her expression crumbles under that question. She looks instantly embarrassed, hunching her shoulders and ducking her head. ]

Oh, yeah. That. Um... [ Alright. Sasha didn't seem angry before or anything, and she's obviously not worried about it now, so she could do this! She looks up again in an attempt to be direct and totally not a wimp about it, reaching up with both hands to tuck her hair behind her ears. ] Just-- You know, the whole Reggie thing. I'm sorry I made out with your, um... Your guy that you're seeing. That. First and foremost.

Oh... ah!

[ Both hands rise as if to tell Laurie to relax. Her own eyes widen with surprise and there's a tint of red in her cheeks that wasn't there about five seconds ago. ]

Reggie isn't— he isn't my boyfriend! We're not seeing each other really so...

[ It had been an awkward scenario to stumble upon, but she's nowhere near angry about it. ]

I thought you liked him.

What? No! God, no. [ So, okay, even if she's come to certain conclusions about the sort of person that's going to find her worth the time of day, Reggie's still abrasive-seeming and potentially a pretty questionable guy. She doesn't want to air any of that, though. Her judgement's probably flawed for various reasons. ] I barely know him! And even if you're not seeing each other, I wouldn't normally come onto a guy who's interested in my friend.

I just... It was part of the whole Lucifer thing. It made me more pathetic and desperate than usual. That's all.

You both looked like you were enjoying it so I wasn't sure!

[ She waves her hands fretfully. ]

You're not pathetic or desperate! Don't say that about yourself, Laurie.

[ Laurie's blush darkens a little at that. Sure, the attention and the act had been pleasant enough, but the circumstances were all wrong and she still feels as if she should have had more control over herself. ]

Well, that's-- No, it's true. That's how I feel about it, anyway, I did a bunch of stupid stuff and Reggie was, like, the climax of my stupid.

But you're feeling okay now, aren't you?

[ She hopes so, but if Laurie's been stewing in these feelings for weeks while Sasha's been gone she can't help but feel bad despite it being out of her hands. It was just a kiss. What's so shameful about that? ]

What else happened?

Yeah. I'm fine. [ It comes out flatter than she'd intended, but she really is! She feels better now that she's gotten an apology out and confirmation that Sasha doesn't think she's a total jerk. She'll feel relieved soon, after she gets over feeling a little pitiful.

But okay! The rest of the stuff? ] I just... I held hands with somebody, with Ken, and I got Dorian Gray to kiss me, and I tried to kiss Jaime, but that was a bust. I mean, it obviously would be. I knew that.

I was just thinking about things that I'd wanted to feel, and how to get them, and--and not caring whether anybody's feelings were honest or not. But I'm okay now.

[ What Laurie is trying to convey doesn't go past her head. Truthfully, Sasha doesn't think about those sort of feelings often (although when survival is your priority it's hard to). It's only in this world she's given some thought to it. Going on a date was nice and kissing someone was exciting in ways that actually had her wonder if she had missed out on whatever thrilling experimenting the other trainees did in the bunkers. ]

Jaime... oh.

[ Traci's boyfriend? Now Sasha understands better. ]

But it was because of some other imPort we were all acting weird, wasn't it? You wouldn't do that to someone.

Edited (finds typo hours later...) 2015-08-03 12:44 (UTC)

Yeah. Some Horsemen of the Apocalypse themed thing. The same guy behind you and all those other people to fall asleep for three days. [ So at least she's off the hook, basically, with Jaime and Traci, and now with Sasha. At least for that. ]

Speaking of which I... You weren't awake, so you don't know, but I also wanted to apologize 'cause I tried to go all Sleeping Beauty mythos on you. I felt kinda... Well, you shouldn't do stuff like that to unconscious people, right? Not when it's obviously something stupid that's not going to help the situation. I just felt bad for not saying anything.

[ That's all. Nothing to see here. She's aware, though, that Sasha might not be familiar with the story. She's just hoping she brushes it off without delving any deeper into it, if she doesn't get the reference. ]

[ She doesn't catch it, so Laurie gets a confused look. ]

Sleeping Beauty?

[ But she says she was trying to help her... ]

I made you worry then, didn't I? I'm sorry for that.

It's a fairy tale. There's this princess that gets put into a magical sleep.

[ And now it's Laurie's turn to wave her hand in dismissal. Don't worry about it, Sasha. The worry is done with. Laurie pushes up a little smile, even. ]

No, it's fine. This part of the conversation already happened, right? I just... I wanted to try to clear the air of the rest.

[ She smiles back at her, shaking her head. ]

Don't worry, I'm not mad about anything. You were just trying to help back then.

[ Who knows what would have happened if Laurie hadn't been around? What if Sasha had been by herself when she fell asleep? ]

[ She almost feels like she's unfairly ducking out of a confession with an actual degree of meaning, but that hypothetical total truth is way scarier than letting it go at this. ]

Yeah. Good. I'd hate it if I totally wrecked everything between us in one week.

I mean, I'd hate it if I accomplished that over any period of time, but a week would basically beat my standing record for ruined relationships. [ Ha... ha. Anyhow! ] So what now? Do you need anything?

I don't think that's even possible!

[ She shakes her head adamantly. There's only a couple of ways Laurie could do that, but she's not a titan shifter, a cannibal nor has she tried to kill any of Sasha's friends so she's in the clear. ]

Hm... [ Sasha has to think about her response. ] I'm kind of still settling back in. Maybe a movie? Summer is when all the cool new movies come out, yes?

[ She isn't in the mood for a heavy meal or doing much outside of sitting around. ]

That's true. It's blockbuster season.

[ Laurie sinks back into smiling easily. It's not so difficult with Sasha around, asking about nice, normal things. This place can be deceptively simple sometimes, and she doesn't mind falling for the act. ]

Did you want to go to the theater, then? Or, like... Rent something?

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