Masa con Papas: Proxy's Memory

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

The Break
[A Cooldown Session]
CW: None
Perspective: Charon

You and your group made it back home without a hitch.

Esperanto doesn’t seem to have returned yet themself.

The others seem to either be off in their rooms or running errands of their own.

You can’t help but find yourself exhausted after everything.

Despite your efforts toward finding a little time for yourself, Opera manages to slide in and sit next to you.

She wants you to talk but….

You probably should, I imagine her and Geezer are worried about you after this

Charon: Mm….

Opera: Sorry to pop in but… wanted to check on you quickly. I’ll leave you alone in a sec.

Charon: Not really much to say after that, tired.

Opera: Yeah, can’t blame you.

Opera: You’re not going to really do training with them, are you?

Charon: Need to be ready for the job, if that’s what it takes..

Opera: Yeah but, it wouldn’t be something that’d make you happy.

Charon: Honestly? Don’t think anything will until I see it through.

Charon: Feels like a lot of weight on our shoulders to not commit.

Opera: What if you get hurt?

Charon: Occupational hazard.

Opera: And that occupation is?

Charon: Knighthood. I signed up for days like these when I took the job but I figure if my family can keep up with it, so can I.

Charon: Still just…

Opera: You can talk.

Charon: Hard to keep a passion for it when you weren’t even considered of all people involved.

Opera: I mean your aunt was the one who probably made the list-

Charon: She hates Geezer, there’s no reason she should’ve picked him if it came down to just personal preference.

Charon: I don’t think she sees me as legitimate.

Opera: I mean… why did she hire us to begin with though?

Opera: She wasn’t around for the incident, right?

Charon: Her sister was. And she’s not involved at all…

Opera: You don’t know that either. This whole thing reeks.

Charon: Mm..

Charon: All bothers me in a lot of ways and I feel like nothing I do can really fix that.

Charon: I’m crumbling in the first 24 hours.

Opera:  Me too honestly.

Charon: You? Can’t see it.

Opera: I am! Tired, confused, kinda pissed if I’m honest….

Opera: Only difference is you’re not much of a smiler, you make it pretty clear.

Opera: I grin through it because that’s what works for me.

Opera: I love seeing everyone again but… under these circumstances it sucks.

You offer your arms out, she gives a quick hug in return.

Opera: Honestly as much as it gives me grief though, nice having someone who gets it around.

Charon: I mean… we’re two versions of the same person in the end, right?

Opera: Yeah but like, you’re still you. We’re not THE same person even if we play the same role in our own worlds.

Charon: You have it together a lot more than I do.

Opera: I wish I could say that but.. I’m not sure myself.

Charon: You don’t have a ghost in your head.

Opera: But I got one on my shoulder.

Charon: Paige is different…

Opera: Still a ghost!  They’re happy to see you too by the way.

You reach out to pet the proxy, it lowers its head to make it easier to reach.

Charon: Must be nice having company wherever you go…

Opera: I mean, you got one too right?

Opera:  Just gotta make better friends with it.

Charon: I suppose..

Opera: Just give it a hug next time you two are alone, watch it react.

Charon: Could give it a shot…

Opera: Hehe…

Opera: You also got Styx but.. I dunno…

Charon: Oh?

Opera: Feels like his time here is nebulous and I still don’t think he should be entirely trusted.

Opera: But he does seem to genuinely be on our side this time. What do you think?

Charon: Think so too…

Charon: We’re both just fragments of our original selves so we can’t afford to be at each other’s throats…

Opera: I think you’re still you. Maybe a bit sadder than before but…

Opera: Talking to you feels right, just like back then.

A tiny smile creeps onto your face.

Charon: And if I’m not the original Charon?

Opera: Then you’re still my friend. I’m not moving on that.

Charon: And if Styx isn’t the original Styx either..

Opera: Then you got a new chance to make things right between you.

Opera: Truth be told, you tend to be a pretty different person as a kid and as a adult.

Opera: No matter what, you’d be a different person…

Opera: But I’m glad that who we are now, we still got each other.

Charon: ….You’re right.

Opera: Have to be sometimes.

Charon: Mm..

Charon: I want to take a nap in a sec but… could you stay with me until then?

Opera: Yeah, I’ll be out here when you’re done too.

Charon: Thank you. You’ve given me a lot of much needed clarity today.

Opera: It’s what friends do, you’re fine.

Charon: One day I’ll do the same for you. Sound fair?

Opera: I’ll keep you to it.