The Character Break Room

Cricket
I pulled a knee up to my chest. "We're fine, Mars. It's over," I said, half to myself. I didn't feel cold anymore . . . depressed, more or less. But it would pass . . . aye?

Peter

"Yeah," I said. "Don't worry about us anymore. It's over."

But I still didn't have my eyes.

Marley
"I know, I know" I said, running a hand through my hair "But it doesn't change the fact that I should've been there. I'm not going to keep whining about it, I can't change anything now... but it's true"

Cricket
"If you'd been there . . ." I trailed off. I couldn't have made it through that. T.Mor and Peter were some of the best friends I'd ever had, but Marley was like a little sister. Big sister. Both, depending on the situation. I looked at her from the corner of my eye. "No, you shouldn't 'ave been there. Ever. Promise me you won't think things like that."

T.Mor:

"Really...You...Didn't want to be there..." I confirmed...somewhat nauseous just thinking about it.

Peter

"You really didn't," I agreed. "We're really glad that you weren't there... I don't know how I can stress that enough."

Evan

"Died? But...you're still..here." I asked, confused.

Ezra
I walked in, hearing Cricket's last statement. "He means in another chat, Evan. Gh hasn't killed you off in any of her chats yet. Are you okay, Cricket?"

(I'm gonna test my newer one out here, be aware of personality change and history change. Just...pretend this came when Cricket said he thought he had died....yeah...)

Peter

I turned my head towards the sound of Ezra's voice, trying to keep "looking" at him even when he changed his position. I was getting better at paying attention to the minute details, like the shifting of fabric when someone moved.

"Hey, Ezra," I said.

Marley
I rubbed my arm, avoiding meeting any of their gazes. I supposed they were right, that I would have just been a screw up like always and probably somehow /worsened/ their situation, and to top it all off, gotten killed myself. That's how all my plans seemed to go, nowadays.

Ezra

"Hey Peter, how's...how's...is DDS almost done.. for you guys? I mean..." I stammered, shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

"DDS?" Evan asked, giving me a confused look.

"Dramatic Death Scenes," I muttered.

Cricket

I couldn't see much of Marley with my hair in my face, but what I could see was that she certainly wasn't herself. Of all moments, I missed her the most right then. I needed to see a friendly face, anyone, to remind me why I even . . . wanted to be alive. The thing about characters . . . it's impossible for them to truly end theirselves. As long as someone remembers them, they can't die. But if this was what I was living on for . . . I didn't want any more. Even though it was over, I knew authors. There was more to come. And I missed Marley.

I hesitantly reached to tap gently under her chin. "Smile for me?" I murmered, forcing a hint of a smile on myself.

Marley
I tried to force a smile, but I felt it come out more as a tiny grimice. "Good enough?" I asked, my smile/grimice sliding off my face

Peter

"Doesn't sound it," I said somewhat gently. I could sorta tell when someone was smiling when they talked; the words took on a slightly different tone. ...But her voice certainly didn't sound happy, regardless.

Ezra

"I'm sorry that you guys went through that," I whispered quietly, letting my raven bangs fall in front of my eyes.

Cricket
Not quite. I blew a peice of hair out of my face so I could actually see her. "It was a good try," I replied.

Marley
I ran a hand through my hair, tilting my head up to study the ceiling "I'll smile when you do, Crick"

T.Mor:

I just sat and listened. It was nice hearing everyone talking...even if it was about...bad things...and smiles. I rested my head on my knees, and just watched.

Cricket
I followed her gaze to the ceiling, wondering what she was seeing up there. All I saw was ceiling. "You 'ad t' play that card, aye?" I tried to be optimistic. "What if we just smiled at th' same time?"

Marley
My gaze lingered on the ceiling for a few more moments before I looked over at Cricket "Count of five, and then just count on honor among thieves?"

Cricket
"That's a risk, relying on honor...but if you're willing, so am I." I swivelled myself so I was sitting indian-style facing her. "A'right. Five...four...three...two..."

Marley:
"One" The corner of my mouth twitchd into a slight, tired smile

Cricket
My mouth twitched into a slight smirk. "Well...now that was pitiful," I muttered, and sighed. I just watched her a moment, and then cocked an eyebrow. "Anything you can do I can do better~" I lifted my smile a little higher than hers.

Marley
"I can do anything better than you..." I said, widening my smile just enough so that it was bigger than his.

Cricket
"No you can't." I matched her.

Marley
"Yes I can" I widened it again, and it was almost like a fully fledged smile