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 Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:12 pm
The next time Ana had met up with Evan at work, she was a bit more subdued than usual. There was a lot going on in her mind, and she had a small theory about Evan that she wanted to have proven right…not to mention the large worry over Ilse that she was still feeling, especially with how her conversation with Faustite had gone.
…She didn’t want to leave Faustite. Wanted him to come with her, but that was a hopeless desire. She knew that truly and deeply, and it hurt her every time she thought about it.
When the truck was again closed for the night, she leaned back against the counter and sighed softly. “Hey, Evan? I know I’ve been asking you for a lot of favors recently, but…I have one more, and I’m pretty sure that you can help me with it.”
Closing her eyes for a moment, Ana drew in a long, slow breath and then smiled at Evan, the action not quite meeting her eyes like it normally would. “I would really like to visit space, and I…have a gut feeling that you can help me with that, either…through your own power or finding someone who can? I want to see what it’s like…and I’m hoping that you can show me.”
There. The question was out. He could refuse to take her or…or whatever. But the question was in the open. With all of the implications that went along with it.
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 1:15 pm
Evan had noticed how off Ana had seemed, and he didn’t know the specifics and was a little afraid to ask. She hadn’t asked about Rosie, but she hadn’t quite seemed herself, either.
The question wasn’t what he expected.
“To–to space?”
He had a spatula in one hand, and a half eaten grilled cheese sandwich in the other.
He didn’t think he was the picture of space exploration.
“Um, I mean.”
Through your own power.
He couldn’t keep her eye contact and busied himself with shoving half the sandwich into his mouth at once so he could have a few seconds to think.
It didn’t really help.
He felt cold and clammy, and after a few seconds he asked, “You think I could do something like that?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 3:18 pm
Ana nodded, looking both hopeful and a little nervous. “...Yes please. I want to see it. I don’t know if you can do it yourself, but you were able to help Ilse, so I hope that you can do something like it…and I’m sure that you know someone who can do something like it…I was told that it’s beautiful and I just…”
She let her eyes close again, thinking it over, wishing that she could better articulate what she was thinking. “I just want to see for myself…and if you do have a piece of space that only you can visit…I bet it’s fantastic, Evan. Because you’re fantastic, and I’m sure it reflects you perfectly…but that’s just my hunch.”
If it was an incorrect hunch, that was fine and she would apologize but…if it wasn’t incorrect…if he knew her…knew Lysithea because he was a senshi too…it would make so much sense. And never once had he seemed surprised by Lysithea, or even Ilse…it…
“Evan, please…it would really…really mean the world to me…”
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 3:58 pm
Evan was quiet for a moment again, and he looked at the clean surface of his counter while he collected his thoughts. There were a lot of things on his mind, not the least of which was a little voice that told him Ana was more than she seemed.
He didn’t know. Or maybe he didn’t want to know.
Maybe he didn’t want to lose someone else.
“You’re in the Negaverse, aren’t you?” he asked finally, quietly. “You wanted Ilse out. Do you want out, too?”
Please say yes. Please don’t be a trap. Please, please please don’t let this be another mistake.
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 3:59 pm
Ana was quiet for a long moment, knowing that if she told him the truth…that would be it for their easy friendship but, she nodded, sighing. “Yeah. I am. I’m…still thinking hard about it, but I think I’d like to get out. There are people who want me. People who miss me…and I want…to see what I can be. Who I can be…but…” She managed a smile that almost reached her eyes this time.
“...I really am curious about what space is like, and I would love to go there with you. You’re one of my best friends, and you helped my Ilse…I…want so badly to ask about her…how…how is she? Were you able to save her? I knew you would be. I knew you were the right person to trust.”
The questions she couldn’t ask, if Ilse still knew her, still remembered her were too hard to articulate right now. So she kept them to herself and nodded to Evan, pushing off from against the counter.
“Please take me up to space?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 4:24 pm
He was quiet for another long moment. She said she was in the Negaverse. So he knew this was dangerous. He knew this could have ended poorly.
But–if he was on his world…he’d be safe there. She’d be safe there, wouldn’t she? Whoever she was.
Evan didn’t really know who to talk to, who to tell. Who to warn.
He felt a lump in his throat, and in stomach, and his head.
Ana was trustworthy. She’d told him to connect with Lysithea, she’d brought someone here to be saved.
“Yeah,” he said finally. “I can get you into space. Can I drop the food truck off at home first or do you need to go now?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 4:25 pm
Ana almost glowed with his words and nodded eagerly. “I’m fine with waiting! That’s no issue at all!” And it wasn’t. If she could get up to space…if she could see it for herself…
She knew, somehow that it would solve all of her problems if she could just visit…just go and see and…
Whatever.
“Thank you, Evan. I really appreciate this. All of it. All that you’ve done for me, from the job, to Ilse to…to just everything.”
She had a large backpack with her, holding everything she might need if she left tonight, which…had been the hope but. Now she hopped into the passenger’s seat and sat the bag on her lap. “Ready when you are!”
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