Week 1, Thursday - Newt

[withsadness]

[It's getting fairly late; curfew will be hitting soon. So, in light of that, it's an exceptionally dangerous time of the week to be by yourself. And yet, that's just how Mary can be found: all alone, sitting on one of the strange-looking spring rides in the park. Her hands are poised against the handles but she doesn't move her body to cause it to jump and wiggle around. Instead, she's sort of just spacing out, a slightly intense look on her face. Well, intense for someone as small as her. It's obvious that something's on her mind.]

Comments

[completelycrazy]

[The fast-approaching curfew has sure made Newt antsy! He's been doing laps around their current stomping grounds, trying to burn off some nervous energy, but he's on his way back to Ikea when he spots Mary in the park. She's alone too, which is concerning.]

Hey, Mary. You okay? It's almost curfew. [i.e. You shouldn't be alone right now.]

[withsadness]

Okay, okay, ooookay...

[Mary repeats the word under her breath, her hands clenching into fists, when abruptly she stops like she actually heard what he said for the first time. Shakily, she tries to shake off the expression she was making and offer Newt a smile as she turns to him.]

Yeah! I was just thinking, that's all! It's really quiet right now since a lot of people are going inside.

[completelycrazy]

Yeah, it's safer inside. [Probably?] I'm heading to Ikea. You wanna come?

[He holds out a hand for her.]

[withsadness]

Are a lot of people there right now?

[She hesitates before taking his hand--not seeming reluctant to hold it as much as just reluctant to leave the park. Ultimately, though, she does, and slides off of the spring ride.]

[completelycrazy]

Not sure. I've been walking around for a while.

[He does note the hesitance. Way to go, Newt! You noticed something!]

Hey, what were you thinking about?

[withsadness]

It's hard to explain.

[But she'll start walking with him toward the Ikea. They can just take their time, it's fine!]

Or I guess not so hard, just that I don't really know where...where to start. [She pauses thoughtfully, her voice smaller when she speaks up again.] Did you figure out what your entry fee was?

[completelycrazy]

Uh. Yeah, I think so. [He hopes, anyway, and nothing else seems to be missing...]

Are you missing memories or something? I've heard that's been happening with a few people.

[withsadness]

[She shakes her head.]

I felt really normal, actually. I didn't feel like anything was missing at first. I couldn't figure it out.

[completelycrazy]

...But now you've figured it out?

[withsadness]

I don't know.

[Her hand holds onto his more tightly than before.]

Can I ask you another question?

[completelycrazy]

[Mm. Newt isn't sure he likes where this is going. He tries not to show it, though. For Mary's sake.]

Sure. What's up?

[withsadness]

Do you like me? No lying just to make me feel nice.

[completelycrazy]

[Well, that stops him short. He looks down at her, his face all scrunched up in confusion.]

Yeah, man. Of course I like you. And I'm a crappy liar, so you'd know if I was feeding you lines. [...] Don't tell anyone that I'm a crappy liar.

[withsadness]

[She laughs, but it's a little hollow, and doesn't reach her eyes.]

So if you really, really mean it, then it must be true. I lost something really terrible, I think.

[completelycrazy]

[...?]

It is true. I, uh, I'm not really sure where you're going with this.

[withsadness]

Sorry...

[Mary goes quiet, but only because her eyes start watering, and she lets out a small hiccup as she wipes her eyes with her free hand.]

It's just that I can't tell. I feel like everybody hates me.

[completelycrazy]

[Oh. Jesus.]

Hey, don't apologize. [He stops them, tugging her arm so that they're facing each other. Oh no, she's crying. What does he do about this? Aaaaah...]

Um. Look, I don't think that's true. I think you've got plenty of friends here, and if you really feel like everybody hates you, then yeah, that's probably your entry fee.

[Which is a horrifically shitty entry fee for a kid, holy jeez.]

But if you win the game, you get it back, y'know. So looks to me like you just need to win.

[withsadness]

[She sniffs, trying to hold her tears back in as Newt stops, nodding weakly at first, but then harder.]

I thought that I was just misunderstanding things, but then...but then Maya gave me a present at the trial and I still felt like...like she didn't mean it. But of course she meant it. She had to have, or she never would've done something like that. That was when I first started thinking something was wrong.

[completelycrazy]

Hey, come on, of course she meant it. [This is killing him... He squeezes her shoulder.]

And I promise that we really are friends, okay? I'm sorry this stupid game isn't letting you see that. Maybe, uh, maybe you could talk to Max about it...?

[To what end, he's not sure, but maybe Max can answer some questions at least.]

[withsadness]

[Mary just shakes her head as she reaches up to take his hand in her small ones.]

No...I don't want to bother him. He's working so hard all the time, I bet he's really tired. And we all had to lose something, didn't we? I'm not special.

[She blinks rapidly to try and contain herself, doing her best to put on a determined expression.]

It just means...it just means I really want to win! So I can, so I can know how it feels to really have friends instead of just pretending. I think having friends who love you and think about you must be the most amazing feeling in the whole world.

[completelycrazy]

[He shrugs. If Mary doesn't want to, that's her call. She's right, anyway. It's not like Max could do anything about it. Or would do anything about it.]

That's a good plan. I bet you can win this thing, like, no problem. I'll help you, okay?

[withsadness]

Okay. Thank you, Newt.

[Mary takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky.]

We'll both be okay. Thank you for listening to me.

[completelycrazy]

Yeah... Of course. Come on, let's go get some rest.

[Newt is far from tired, but he'll be passing out soon regardless. It's curfew time.]