Keller. (ex_liminalit158) wrote in thereincarnates, @ 2010-11-14 11:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | !characters only, april gates |
Who: April Gates
Where: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Gates family home.
When: Sunday night, November 14, 2010
What: April breaks one of her long-standing rules and goes home.
Rating: G/PGish.
April had been gone for four years, and she knew for a fact that no one had missed her. You couldn’t miss what you couldn’t remember. She was, at best, a hazy recollection at the back of her parents’ minds. Going home would be an exercise in masochism, and April was a practical young woman; she didn’t waste time on activities that would yield no reward. She had a rule: no looking back. It would only make her sad, and she had no time or energy to spend on regret.
The morning of November 14th dawned like many others. She was squatting in an unsold hotel room, having taken advantage of her reincarnate’s abilities in order to find heat, a real bed, and running water. She cleaned up, crept out into the hall, and went down to the lobby to steal wireless access. In retrospect, she’d realize that Door had been particularly quiet, but it wasn’t until she’d been politely questioned by a bellhop (‘excuse me, Miss, may I help you?’) that she realized something was really, really wrong.
If there was one thing April recognized, it was opportunity. She’d been exploiting opportunities in order to survive since she’d run away from home. She realized quickly that one had been presented to her: if Door were gone, it was possible that she could go back. It was possible that her family would recognize her. For a time - possibly a short time, possibly longer - she might have a home again.
It was dangerous. No one on the boards seemed to know what had happened. Door might come back. Her family might forget her again. Did she care? Could she cope if she were wrong, if she reached her front porch and saw uncomprehending stares on her family’s faces? Would she be able to deal with the loss, if Door’s departure were temporary?
April decided not to revisit her past. Then she promptly packed up her bookbag, threw it onto her shoulder, and went to the Agency to hop the MTN back to Wisconsin. So much for sensible resolutions.
She was making a mistake, but if she could see her family again? She had to try.