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[laserguy]

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[maellum]

Yeah. He adopted me. And he just so happens to be really smart. He's an engineer. Sounds like maybe you should meet him.

I guess I should ask what kind of relationship you want with Sophie.

[laserguy]

well since you're willing to vouch for him, i guess he doesn't sound too bad.

and. i don't know?? i guess i never thought about it. of all the mutants here, it kind of feels like she's the only one that actually gives a shit.

[Well, and maybe a couple of others, but they're gone now.]

[maellum]

He's the best. He'll like you. He'd be happy to try and help you out, too.

I don't know how to tell you this, but she does give a shit. She wouldn't have spoken to Gustave if she didn't.

[laserguy]

heh. if you say so.

[He normally doesn't leave great impressions on people, but he tries every so often.]

yeah. i know. guess i'm just not used to it. [He has Alex, but... his older brother wasn't around often.]

[maellum]

Are you a sad and lonely orphan, too? Before here, I mean.

[laserguy]

[oh fuck really--]

no. i have my parents and stuff. we're just not close, but. fuck okay. guess i'm bitching about nothing huh.

[maellum]

Everyone in Lumière is an orphan. So people are more open to... getting more family, I guess? I forget some people might not want a guardian.

[laserguy]

[.....what the fuck. damn.]

what the hell happened there? to you?

[maellum]

It's a long story and pretty strange compared to other people's worlds, but... there's no one over 32 left. And each year the number lowers.

[Or at least it used to. It's all over, now.]

We called it the Gommage. Gustave would have been up next, and then everyone 31 years old, and then eventually it would be my turn.

[laserguy]

okay. that's really fucked up. putting that out there now.

but wait is it done and over with? you guys stopped it??

[maellum]

Not going to argue with that.

... I thought we did? But that's what you get from operating entirely on assumptions.

[laserguy]

so. like what happened then?

[maellum]

The right thing was maybe the wrong thing. Died anyway. Everyone. Game over.

[She saw that video game screen.]

[laserguy]

wait seriously? everyone just died? because you tried to save everyone? that's it?

that can't just be it.

[maellum]

It can, apparently.

It's not the worst thing. Some of us are here.

[laserguy]

but then that means you guys aren't dead then??

or i guess echo brought you back to life? maybe the fact that you're here means that things aren't completely fucked back home. like. there's a reason to save your world still.

[maellum]

Pretty sure we're dead. Here, we're not. It's a very convenient second life.

Don't freak out more than I am, okay? I like it here.

[laserguy]

[It sucks. Knowing that Maelle is dead back home.]

you really do? like it here?

[maellum]

Yeah. Mostly because Gustave is here, too. He makes everything feel okay.

I've met some cool people, though.

[laserguy]

[The guy that basically adopted her... guess if he got to see the person he cares the most from his world in this place, maybe he'd feel the same.

There's a small pause as he figures out what he actually wants to say next.]

yeah? like me, obviously.

[maellum]

Who are you again?

[laserguy]

wow.

saying that after eating sour cream and onion chips...

[maellum]

Sour cream and onion chips are another reason I like it here.

[laserguy]

am i on the same level as sour cream and onion chips?

you know. i'll take it.