TO CORALINE

[girl_at_the_window]

I DON'T KEN WHAT YE SAID TO HER BUT IT'S YE AND JULIE TOGETHER GOT HER IN THIS STATE. WHAT DID YE DO?

~ SUSAN DELGADO

Comments

[girl_at_the_window]

[Hm...]

[It's a moment before Susan's response, as she thinks it over. Not knowing what's going to be communicated makes the thinking a lot more fraught.]

I GUESS I WAS, AT THAT. I WANTED TO KNOW.

AND IT AIN'T HER FAULT SHE'S THAT WAY. IT'S JUST HOW SHE IS.

FUCK, DO YE THINK THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE? THIS THINKING-LETTERS? HOW WOULD I EVEN KNOW? SHIT.

[not_caroline]

its not her fault, sure, but she should try and be better. its still her problem

i doubt its happened before anyway, otherwise someone else wouldve replied to you first, right? this is so weird that they have to have replied back

[girl_at_the_window]

I GUESS THAT'S SO, AND ALL.

I HOPE SO, ANYROAD. IT AIN'T NICE THINKING YOUR THOUGHTS MIGHT NOT BE YOUR OWN.

[not_caroline]

if it helps, this doesnt really feel anything like words being put INTO my brain. been there done that got the t-shirt, do not recommend. felt like my head was full of cold gravy.

[girl_at_the_window]

WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME IT FELT WAY WORSE. LIKE MY OWN THOUGHTS BUT WRONG.

THIS IS BETTER.

[not_caroline]

[Her way sounds worse. At least Coraline was always aware of where her own thoughts were. Largely they just weren't there.

She picks herself up and climbs out the window, to test something, and is delighted when the letters reappear on the beaten roof tiles. She traces the curled letters as they appear this time.]

it looks like handwriting. yours is nice, it looks all adult and elegant.

[girl_at_the_window]

OH. THANKEE. I USED TO WORK REAL HARD ON IT AT SCHOOL.

YOURS IS

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HOW WE'D WRITE BACK HOME BUT I GUESS THAT'S ONLY WHAT I'D EXPECT. IT'S NICE. I WONDER IF EVERYONE'S LOOKS DIFFERENT.

SAVE MONEY ON PAPER THIS WAY!

[not_caroline]

:D

[Text emojis, winning.]

too bad the messages disappear so fast, yours are vanishing pretty much as soon as i reply to them. its fast, though, this is way easier than telling people stuff by going into horizon

[girl_at_the_window]

AYE, AND YE DON'T HAVE TO FIND THEM EITHER.

WHERE ARE YE, ANYROAD? DOES IT FOLLOW IF YE MOVE? YOURS DOES. I JUST CHECKED.

[not_caroline]

im in libertas, its one of the big free cities, in the apartment i share with my guys. but i went on the roof and its still here. it was sparkling again so i found it really quickly, its like it WANTS to be seen.

[girl_at_the_window]

AYE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE WATER AT FIRST - I WAS LOOKING AT THE LAKE - BUT NOW IT'S ON THE COBBLES AND YE'RE RIGHT, IT STILL SHINES.

KIND OF PRETTY.