[thread] Flaws In Your Reality

[soulinflight]

Aligoté sat down on the edge of the empty fountain in the main plaza, having spent the last hour walking around the walled-in city. He had finally come to the conclusion that Sacy was not among the smattering of people present here. This perplexed him, because he'd been positive that

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[quarkonium]

Khrista stood not far away, likewise in deep thought. She didn't like what was going on at all. Merlot was so upset, and even she was losing her cool. For their mother to think she's married to another, and even worse, for their father to not know who they were... it was painful. In more ways than one could ever imagine

[soulinflight]

Aligoté started a little, having not heard Khrista's approach. Immediately recognizing her as one of the people he'd just been thinking about only a moment ago, his expression was traced with hesitance and caution.

He squashed the urge to address her as 'you again' and instead went for, "Hi."

[quarkonium]

Khrista took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy, but the last thing she wanted was to scare Aligoté off. "I just want to apologize for the way my sister acted earlier, sir." She was trying very hard to keep a straight face; in other situations it wouldn't have been a problem for her. "Please understand that she's very close to our father, and for him to..."

She stopped for a second. How was she going to finish that sentence? "... disappear in an instant... she's not taking it well. And you - you remind us of him." She bowed apologetically - for having to lie a little, but hey, this was for their own good. Sort of. "I'm sorry."

[soulinflight]

Aligoté nodded a little. "S'alright," he replied. "I didn't handle it the best either. I was lookin' for my friend an' I still can't find her, an' you kinda... touched on a sore subject for me. Still, I shouldn't have been short with you. I hope everything gets sorted out for you two, you an' your sister seem really close."

An awkward pause, and then he added, "I'm Aligoté, you're...?"

[quarkonium]

Khrista, with Merlot right behind her, walked into the living room. She wondered for a moment where their parents were, but heard their voices coming from the living room. She sighed, unable to keep herself from wondering if this was going to work at all. But it had to. Or something else, anything else. She didn't want to see her sister in distress again, at least not in the way she'd been earlier. She could stand it happening to herself, but not to Merlot.

Now I'm overprotective, too.

She sat down on the couch. "Uh, Merlot? You know Father best, maybe you should... I don't know, drop him some hints every now and then. To remind him of his past. And maybe... maybe he'll snap out of it."

[forhermemory]

Merlot nodded, biting her lower lip for a moment before attempting a smile. "Yes, I can do that. Perhaps if I mention something about Aquavitae, or if I--!" She broke off, her eyes widening.

"Of course! Khrista, how could I forget? Father's pocketwatch!"

[quarkonium]

Khrista couldn't stop herself from smiling. "That's it. That might just be it. He couldn't possibly not recognize-"

She stopped in midsentence as Maria started to enter the living room, carefully balancing four cups of hot chocolate on a tray. For a moment Khrista just sat there in surprise; it was very rare for her mother to act like... well, the lady in the house. She then glanced at Merlot knowingly; this was the chance they were waiting for. Sort of.

"Oh, Merlot." Maria smiled. "This is Khrista's friend, Aligoté. Aligoté, this is my youngest daughter, Merlot."

[soulinflight]

Aligoté nodded, giving Merlot a slightly more hesitant smile. Merlot, for her part, gave him a sweet smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Aligoté."

"You too," he replied, taking a seat. "Sorry to barge in on all of you like this..."

Merlot shook her head, exchanging a glance with Khrista. "It's no trouble at all."