WE CAN BE NEW

[empathetics]

Who: Jasper and Alice
When: Backdated to January 8th
Where: Alice's loft
Summary: Jasper died. Alice couldn't take being invunerable and had herself voided. Now it's time for a human reunion.
Warnings: Nothing major. Will update if needed.

[With the abruptness and lack of details in Alice's response to his network post, Jasper is left assuming the worst. And with his track of mind, that isn't always the best thing.

So he rushes to her (well isn't it technocally their) loft, taking the steps up to it two at a time. It's only then that he realizes he doesn't have keys on him and is left knocking at the door.

That alone worries him. Shouldn't she have seen him coming? Wouldn't her senses have picked up on his labored breathing and thudding heart?

He remembers their conversation back when he was first turned human. That if it wasn't righted she would have the same done to her. Jasper hopes she hadn't chosen it as an escape.]

Comments

[manicpixiedreamgirl]

[Ever since everyone returned to 2013, Alice has been living what she assumes might be unhealthy for a human. She barely eats or goes out, electing to stay in bed and submitting herself to the only relief she has, sleep.

Sleep, she's found, is a wonderful thing. It's like her visions almost, a time when she's absent from the world outside and in an entirely different place. Unfortunately, what she sees in her sleep- Jasper, mostly, live and well and loving her- isn't the future. Dreams are just dreams after all.

When Jasper makes his post, of course she assumes she's dreaming again. However, when it becomes clear it's no dream, she still can't believe it. People come back from the dead here, she knows all too well, but this seems to fantastic. She isn't completely convinced until she hears the knock, sees him on the other side of the door.

For the first time in a very, very long time, she'd speechless.

Alice looks horrible, though she really doesn't care. The pale skin and dark circles under her eyes are present now, as they always have been, but here they make her look sickly and weak. Her hair is a mess, and for the first time in her entire life, she's wearing sweatpants. That alone should be the biggest red flag.]

[empathetics]

[Alice's appearance initially shocks Jasper into silence. He's never seen her in such a physical state of frailty, and it spears him in place and leaves him unable to move. She looks so lost, so weak.

So human.

Jasper lifts his hand a fraction, then drops it at his side. A sad, if not somewhat wary frown forms on his face.]

Alice... I'm back.

[Well whatelse can be said?]

[manicpixiedreamgirl]

[She stares at him for a long moment, dumbfounded. He's beautiful and solid and living now. The tears start streaming before she even knows what hits her.

Alice flings herself at him with everything she'd got, which unfortunately isn't much now. Her strength and fragility finally match her tiny body, and for once in her life she finds herself completely halted by her husband.]

Jasper!

[empathetics]

[His arms rap around Alice and Jasper holds her close. It's almost strange that they're the same tempurature again; made of the same soft, breakable materials instead of their ice cold counterparts.

The tears in her eyes, they're new as well. His grip on her tightens, and Jasper lets out a breath.]

It's alright. It's fine.

[manicpixiedreamgirl]

[Alice buries her head into his neck, breathing him in and desperately clinging to the last shreds of calm she has.]

You were dead, Jazzy. I thought-

[Whatever she was going to say next is cut off by more sobbing.

Crying is another part of humanity she's found she likes. It's a wonderful relief to release all the pain and sadness that gets bottled up. It lets her push it all out, rather than stewing in it in the absence of Jasper's gift.

[empathetics]

I know. I'm sorry.

[It's strange and unfitting, apologizing for one's death. Definitely something Jasper never thought he'd have to do.

He steers Alice gently back inside, closing the door with his foot before moving them towards the couch. They sit, and Jasper runs a hand through her hair, not caring about the state it's in.]

Alice, you went to him didn't you? [His tone isn't accusing, just stating a fact.] You went to Jesse.

[manicpixiedreamgirl]

[Alice lets him herd her over to the couch, making sure she keeps contact with him the entire time.

She was hoping he wouldn't question her about the obvious change, just take it as the inevitable outcome of his death, but no such luck. She's quiet for a long time, picking her words carefully. She doesn't have her gift now, she can't know what's the right thing off the bat.]

Yes. [She clings to him a little tighter.] I had to.