paradisa | 001 | Dictated

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carley

001 | Dictated

You know, at first I thought this place was too good to be true. There's nice beds, I took the world's longest shower, the kitchen is filled with food, and everything is nicely protected by giant stone walls.

Apparently, it also has the world's hottest coffee.

[There's an annoyed sigh now, followed by the sound of ceramic clinking against ceramic.]

After the coffee I wished for in my room burned the fuck out of my mouth, I came down to the kitchen to make my own. Guess what?

Still hot as lava. So I try iced coffee, what the hell, it's hot outside anyway.

Burned again. I could see the god damn ice cubes, but no.

So I've decided. This is hell.

[Anyone who happens to come to the kitchen now will find Carley glaring at a counter with cups of coffee lined up, all of her attempts that have quite literally burned her.

Stupid coffee.]

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[ He knows that voice. He knows that voice, and he is, for a moment, sure that the castle is just seriously fucking with him now. ]

Who is this?

[ Whoops. He hadn't meant for that to be so demanding. ]

[Similarly, she knows that voice too.]

... Lee?

[ Holy shit. ]

Carley? Jesus. When did you get here?

Earlier today. I... took some time to myself, to adjust a little.

[She's smiling already from just hearing his voice and doesn't even care that it's probably obvious from her tone.]

I'm in the kitchen if you feel like saying hello the right way.

[ She's.. oddly calm about all of this, and that gives Lee pause. Not much pause, though, because soon- ]

I'll be right down.

[ And thunk, the journal shuts. ]

I'll be here.

[It's kind of easy to be zen about things when, aside from the coffee, this place is so perfect. And she'll just wait on him, fully aware that this isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world for Lee.]

[ And Lee actually just takes his time as he heads down to the lobby. There's no reason to rush; if she's going to be there, then she'll be there.

God.

He can't figure out if he's pissed off at the castle for this or grateful beyond belief. Why them? What was going on?

But he steps in and lingers by the door. Yeah - that was definitely Carley. ]

Hey.

[She considers trying to make one more cup of coffee, to try one more time, but all those month rationing food out so carefully has her holding back, not wanting to waste anything else someone else might be able to benefit from.

And she's trying very hard not to think too hard about the what ifs that have cropped up now that she knows Lee is here. Sure, she told him how she felt, but then everything went so wrong... probably best to just leave it be, she figures.

Still, when she sees him it's hard not to give him a big, bright smile.]

Hey yourself. How are you, Lee?

I'm good.

[ Better, now, but he's not.. going to say that out loud. Instead, he's just going to linger in the doorway, staring at her as if he's not quite sure she's there. ]

So are Ben and Clementine. Have you seen them yet?

... Carley?

[She could be wrong, but this lady sounds familiar--and it's weird. Clem made her assumptions about the others, but she knew what happened to Carley for sure. There was no doubt.

It's scary.]

Good. That's... that's really good.

[Well, at least they've picked up just as awkwardly as they left off, that's... actually kind of comforting.]

I haven't. They're here too, huh? How are they doing?

[It's not hard to guess who that is, she only knows one little girl. It's kind of bittersweet, to hear her voice now. She'd seen so much, but this? Strong as she is, this can't be easy for her.]

Yeah... Yeah, Clementine, it's me.

[She remembers that night, the way Ben was so terrified of being left on the side of the road. Raised voices, all silenced by a single gunshot. Clem's seen a lot before and since then, but she'll never forget how heated things got that night.]

I...

[What's there to say?]

Where are you?

In the kitchen. Why don't you come down? I bet I can find some stuff to make hot chocolate...

It's too hot for hot chocolate. We can have chocolate milk, though.

[It's summer here, after all. Maybe not as far as Carley remembers, though... but Clem heads over to the kitchen, tentatively sticking her head in. She almost expects to see nothing, or maybe a walker. This is... weird.]

[While she's waiting, Carley just goes ahead and makes them two big glasses of chocolate milk. Apparently, taking care of Clem is an automatic thing that just isn't going to go away. Really though, she's fine with that.

The glasses are on the counter and Carley is definitely not a walker, her clothes are clean and there's no blood anywhere. She smiles when she sees Clementine, genuinely pleased.]

Hey there.

[That's a much better look on Carley than a bullet to the face. Clem just lingers by the door for a moment.]

Are you okay?

[Expression softening at that, Carley nods.]

Yeah, Clem. I'm actually kind of great, this place is turning out to have all the things I like.

[Hint: she means you, Clementine.]

[That would normally get her to smile, but Clementine just looks like she's wilting. Ben, Carley...

If they could show, maybe her parents could, too.

She runs over to Carley to bury her face into her shirt in a hug. Everyone needed hugs when coming back from the dead, right?]

[It's just instinctive, wrapping her arms around Clem and hugging her tightly.]

Hey, it's okay. It's okay now.

[Gently she pushes Clem back, but it's only so she can crouch down and hug her properly, arms around her protectively.]

You got taller, didn't you?

No, but Lee cut my hair. [Totally makes sense. She hugs Carley, relieved to see that she's not a ghost.]

He and Ben are here, too.

[Even Clem knows this is going to be hard for Ben.]

It looks good.

[Definitely not a ghost. And bringing up Ben makes Carley sigh, resting her chin on the top of Clementine's head.]

I know, Lee told me. How is Ben doing?

Okay. [She pulls back to give Carley a worried look.] I think he's scared, though. And lonely.

[Lee, too.]

Yeah, I... I can see why he would be. But hey, [She gives Clem another smile, tapping the end of her nose with her finger.] We're here, right? We can cheer them up.

[Clem finally smiles, nodding.]

Mmhmm. Lee needs more adults to talk to.

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