forhawkeye | [Homeplot 2009] Decompression

See, what it all boils down to is simple: it’s been a very long twenty-four hours. Between the invasion and my own personal drama, it’s something of a relief to just relax, even if it’s only for a little while. There are still too many unanswered questions -- Why am I back? Why did they come with me? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? -- but there’ll be time to answer them later.

There are about twenty different kinds of pizza lying around -- ranging from pepperoni and cheese to some ridiculously organic vegan thing -- and the amount of junk food piled on the kitchen counters could feed an entire college dorm for at least a semester. Despite all that, Felix insisted on making enough of his 'famous chicken cardarelli' for everyone. Admittedly, it’s sort of nice having some real food to balance out everything else.

And as for Alice, well, I sent Tommy to go get her some bunnies.

It’s not a party by any means, but that’s just about the last thing we need right now, anyway, especially for the people who got a crash course in war yesterday. Copious amounts of alcohol, maybe, but a party? Yeah, not so much.

"I'm federal agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life," voice overs Kiefer Sutherland from the episode of 24 playing in the background.

"Yours and mine both, Kief," I mutter under my breath. "Yours and mine both."

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"It's just... not something I'd expect," she settles on, shrugging a little awkwardly. There hadn't really been time to dwell on it before, but she's pretty sure there isn't anyone she trusts as much a Alice and Kate, the latter of whom she wants to give the time with her friends. "Not - not missing him, I mean, but how much. I never thought I'd want to go back there, if I got to really be alive again."

"You are alive again. Back there. Back on the island. You just didn't think that you'd end up back in the real world alive and without him. It's a strange thing."

Just like Alice didn't think she'd ever end up alive and single, but sometimes life is like that.

"I did, though," Mikal admits, ducking her head. "He told me. I - back there, I got sent back, and all I've been thinking for the past week is that I'd never get that chance. Now, I do, and... I don't know if I want it." Sighing, she takes a long swig of the beer in her hand, hoping for it to make her feel just a little better. It doesn't.

"Really?"

She does her best to act suprised, but in this world, back to how she started, Alice already knew that catch. She knows that Mikal would pick life when given the choice between death and everything else. It's the Zia option that's all headachey. "I'm sorry dearheart."

Mikal shrugs, trying to downplay it even though she knows that really isn't possible. She's got a lifetime full of possibilities ahead of her now -- that is, assuming there aren't any more of those fucking Skrulls on their way -- and she should be able to enjoy that. It'd help if she didn't feel so utterly lost.

"I'll live," she says wryly, letting out a huff of a laugh, the appropriateness of the statement not at all lost on her. "Don't really know what I'm going to do yet, this isn't even the world I'm from, but hey, that's just how it goes, I guess."

Possibilities are never the problem. Decisions are.

But Alice decides not to say anything. That is a future made all by itself. "It's not the world I'm from either. It's not like I can call up my husband and be like sweetie, I'll be home for tea tomorrrow. Let's make like Rosie and Emmett in Fort Worth."

Mikal lets out a laugh, though it's uncharacteristically sad for her, an edge of something sympathetic in the sound of it. So she isn't the only one who's alone here. That doesn't make it any easier to think about, especially considering that Kate is here and so happy, with the friends she missed.

"Any ideas what you're going to do yet?" she asks, honestly curious, drawing one knee in to her chest. It's crossed her mind that maybe she should see if at least her parents exist in this world, but it doesn't seem worth the disappointment.

"Like what?"

Alice has ideas all right, but her ideas have always been limited by what is best for others. Other peoples limited futures are things she has to be considerate of.

Taking a moment, she tilts her head, really thinking and really looking. "I do. I think."

"Well, you've got a long time ahead of you," Mikal points out with a wry smile, trying not to think too hard about the fact that one of her closest friends is now immortal. That's just fucking weird, a whole lot moreso than the rest of this, even. She can't imagine what that would feel like. "So, what, then?"

"Yeah. Strangely enough."

Alice isn't certain how she feels about that. Or if she feels about that. She does have plenty of time to sort that out.

Shrugging she absently strokes the bunny. "Dunno. Wait?"

[Homeplot 2009] Decompression

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