[Cara is on her way to the Hatchery... she's gradually been spending less time there as time has gone on longer, but she still holds onto hope that he'll be reborn.
But she hasn't gotten out of Section 2 when she spots a familiar figure and someone--a man or woman? Man, by the way the clothes hang--that she hasn't seen before.
And breaks into a run, a giant smile on her face.]
Gundam! You're back! Are you okay? And--hi! Who are you? I'm Cara!
[She almost flings her arms around Gundam but remembers just in time, no touchy.]
[Shortly after leaving the Hatchery he and Gundam are approached by this girl, one he doesn't recognize. He immediately puts up his guard, wary of her despite her young age and congenial attitude.]
Cara. I see. Would you be a former acquaintance of Gundam?
[The girl seemed... Familiar. Distantly. Not her specifically, but something about her attitude. He stopped and blinked down at her, frowning, but not at her, exactly.]
I am physically fit, Cara. [He said carefully, though Aurora had beaten him to it.] I am sorry, but I do not remember you. [Blunt seemed best.]
[It wasn't exactly Gundam's area of expertise either, the girl's distress was unnerving. He couldn't answer Aurora's question, and he couldn't comfort the girl, Cara. He frowned, and stepped forward, not sure what to do.]
[After Honor hired her. And Honor is gone now, and he doesn't remember. Neither will Honor if she returns.
She turns away and wipes her eyes as surreptitiously as she can, which admittedly isn't very because she's pushing back the crying that her body is forcing on her, which she DOESN'T WANT. Then she starts off and makes herself speak.]
So you'll--want to know where your house is, right? Follow me.
[Which is a good a way as any to face away from them and not let them see.]
[He glances towards Gundam, wondering silently when he'll make this girl stop choking up. It was uncomfortable to watch and bothered him, and he expected Gundam, for some reason, to be quicker at fixing this.]
That offer is unnecessary, as we are going to my home. From there we can contact Honor, who will assist Gundam. I am not leaving him with a stranger.
[Gundam watched Cara turn away, troubled by her distress. He did not know what words would make her happy, or any such words existed.]
Come with us. [He offered. Whoever Honor was, Cara could join them in waiting.] Tell me what I've forgotten. [His voice was certain, but gentle, it was the best he could do, in the confusing situation. The next words he spoke on impulse, letting them escape him without thinking about them. They felt right.]
[Cara freezes at the mention of Honor. What's going through her mind right now isn't exactly logical so she isn't thinking that Aurora must have been here before--just about Honor. Gone... free, the writer in the journal said, but that doesn't stop Cara from missing her.
But Gundam's words are more gentle and reassuring... yes, he may not remember... and he looks a bit different... but he's still the same person. He'll still be her friend.]
All right.
[She turns to follow them since she doesn't know where the other man lives.]
You should know... Honor, she was your sister before. She isn't in Edensphere anymore.
[She holds eye contact when she says that but has to duck her head again. Stupid, stupid, stupid tears.]
[He clearly doesn't look too pleased with the idea of Cara tagging along, but he'll put up with the decision at the moment. For now, he is too busy being shocked over the news about Gundam's 'brother.']
That is- When did Honor disappear and under what circumstances?
[A sister. Gone now. It was... He wasn't sure what to think of it at all. It was troubling. Someone he'd known, someone he could not remember who had been so important to him, family. Aurora asked the question he would have, and so he stayed silent, troubled.]
[He did not reach out to Cara when she looked down, but he watched her quietly. Her pain hurt him, he wanted to understand her, and help her.]
[Cara can see the man isn't happy with her being there... well he can just deal with it. She is not a stranger and she has as much right as him to be here... whoever he is.
But she still feels a pang of sympathy at the look on his--and Gundam's--face when she tells them about Honor.]
In July. She was just... gone. I'm sorry.
[She swallows hard and wipes her face with the cuff of her jacket. There doesn't seem to be any stopping the tears, so she's trying to cry as quietly and with as much dignity as she can. She feels like she's collapsing inside, but that isn't an option right now. She has to help Gundam... who is very much alive. And that isn't something to be sad about, whatever the details.]
[He more he learns the less sense it makes. His rebirth shouldn't have taken long; a week seemed to be about average, though a little bit shorter or longer was still acceptable. But Cara's words indicated that it was past July, meaning he'd been gone for months. She had to be lying.]
That's impossible. It can't be that late into April, let alone July. What sort of trick are you attempting to pull?
But she hasn't gotten out of Section 2 when she spots a familiar figure and someone--a man or woman? Man, by the way the clothes hang--that she hasn't seen before.
And breaks into a run, a giant smile on her face.]
Gundam! You're back! Are you okay? And--hi! Who are you? I'm Cara!
[She almost flings her arms around Gundam but remembers just in time, no touchy.]
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Cara. I see. Would you be a former acquaintance of Gundam?
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I am physically fit, Cara. [He said carefully, though Aurora had beaten him to it.] I am sorry, but I do not remember you. [Blunt seemed best.]
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The smile drains away completely.]
I... yes. I know Gundam.
So you don't remember anything?
[She sounds a little choked... no, dammit, no she is not going to cry. She won't.
She wants to ask some kind of power why, but that would be pointless. It's a fact now.]
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No, he doesn't. He was reborn this way. How did you two meet? I don't recall him ever mentioning you.
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No I do not. I am sorry.
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[After Honor hired her. And Honor is gone now, and he doesn't remember. Neither will Honor if she returns.
She turns away and wipes her eyes as surreptitiously as she can, which admittedly isn't very because she's pushing back the crying that her body is forcing on her, which she DOESN'T WANT. Then she starts off and makes herself speak.]
So you'll--want to know where your house is, right? Follow me.
[Which is a good a way as any to face away from them and not let them see.]
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That offer is unnecessary, as we are going to my home. From there we can contact Honor, who will assist Gundam. I am not leaving him with a stranger.
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Come with us. [He offered. Whoever Honor was, Cara could join them in waiting.] Tell me what I've forgotten. [His voice was certain, but gentle, it was the best he could do, in the confusing situation. The next words he spoke on impulse, letting them escape him without thinking about them. They felt right.]
I may not remember, but I am still Gundam.
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But Gundam's words are more gentle and reassuring... yes, he may not remember... and he looks a bit different... but he's still the same person. He'll still be her friend.]
All right.
[She turns to follow them since she doesn't know where the other man lives.]
You should know... Honor, she was your sister before. She isn't in Edensphere anymore.
[She holds eye contact when she says that but has to duck her head again. Stupid, stupid, stupid tears.]
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That is- When did Honor disappear and under what circumstances?
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[He did not reach out to Cara when she looked down, but he watched her quietly. Her pain hurt him, he wanted to understand her, and help her.]
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But she still feels a pang of sympathy at the look on his--and Gundam's--face when she tells them about Honor.]
In July. She was just... gone. I'm sorry.
[She swallows hard and wipes her face with the cuff of her jacket. There doesn't seem to be any stopping the tears, so she's trying to cry as quietly and with as much dignity as she can. She feels like she's collapsing inside, but that isn't an option right now. She has to help Gundam... who is very much alive. And that isn't something to be sad about, whatever the details.]
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That's impossible. It can't be that late into April, let alone July. What sort of trick are you attempting to pull?
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What month is it now?
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It's not a trick! Why would I do something like that?!
[Calm, she has to stay calm. Getting into an argument won't help anything, and he's confused too. A jerk, but confused.]
I don't know what happened to you but it's September twenty-second. Gundam, you--you died about a week ago.
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