The Deck, Wednesday Morning

[living_endless]

It was a nice morning, with the first hint of fall in the still-warm air. Didi carried a mug of tea onto the deck to enjoy it, feeling philosophical. If she counted the time in New York with Sexton, her first anniversary as a human would be Friday. She wondered if she should throw herself a party to mark the milestone -- if she was still around at all. The feeling she wouldn't be kept tugging at her. Mortal life felt like a dress she had almost outgrown, a sentimental favorite she'd need to give up on soon enough.

She tried to shake it off as she sipped her drink. Going or staying -- whichever was going to happen, would happen without her worrying about it. For now, there was slightly spicy tea to drink and a blue sky to watch.

[OOC: Last public post as Didi.]

Comments

[living_endless]

"I do and I don't," Didi answered. "I want you and Jono and senior year and prom, like anybody. But ... there are bigger things. It'd be selfish of me to ask for more than I've already taken."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

"It's not selfish," he whispered, leaning his head back against the chair and he wasn't quite looking at her.

[living_endless]

"I'm only supposed to take a day," Didi said. She didn't expect Jacob to understand. "Hey. Laugh at me if I'm wrong?"

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

"How long have you been doing the whole Death thing?" he wondered.

No, he probably couldn't quite understand, because while he knew who she was, she was still Didi to him.

[living_endless]

Didi gave him a tiny smile. "Since too long ago to talk about," she answered. "Since the first living thing."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

"Definitely not selfish," he decided, not that he could bring himself to laughing at her like she'd asked. "So how does this go?"

[living_endless]

Didi considered it, then held out her hand. "Like this," she said. "I'm glad I get to be your sister, Jacob Black. And that's true no matter when you next see me."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

He blinked, staring for a moment at the hand she was offering. Her words sounded final and he didn't like it one bit.

"Nah," he said roughly. "That's not how it goes. It goes like this."

He was finally reaching for her hand and he didn't give her much warning or much choice. He tugged, pulling her down and in an instant his arms were around her, giving her one of those hugs where he tended to forget his own strength and held on a bit too tight.

[living_endless]

Didi's return hug was just as fierce -- well, almost. She was a foot shorter than he was, after all.

"That's," she said, voice muffled by his chest, "a much better way for it to go."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

He nodded in agreement, making no sign of letting go. "Who's gonna scold me now?" he asked.

[living_endless]

"Jake, I hope you find a really smart, really pretty girl who kicks your ass regularly," Didi said shamelessly. "You deserve it."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

He laughed and pressed a kiss to her cheek before he drew back. "Yeah, but she won't be you."

[living_endless]

"She won't be," Didi agreed. "You'll have to suffer through anyhow."

Her eyes were moist.

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

"Always do," he said with a crooked smile that was mostly bravado. "So do you get to call or write letters or anything like that?"

[living_endless]

Didi shook her head. "I think that'd just make it harder," she said honestly. "Goodbye is goodbye."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

"Right," he said quietly, shoulders drawn up a little. "So... I'll see you one more time?"

[living_endless]

Didi hesitated. She'd never entirely nailed down what universe Jake was from, and she didn't want to make a promise she might not be able to keep.

What the hell. She figured he wouldn't hold it against her if she couldn't make it work.

"One more time," she agreed. "Not for a very, very long time, but one more time."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

He nodded slowly, knowing that this would take... well a long damn time.

"Then I might need another hug," he decided. "One for the road."

[living_endless]

"Definitely," Didi said, squeezing him again. "I might hold on a long time."

[need-no-moon.livejournal.com]

"I don't mind," he mumbled. The fact that it was the second hug, didn't mean he wasn't clinging any less. He hated this, hated people walking out of his life and going where he couldn't follow.

It sucked.