[Open!]

[eatsyourscience]

Who: Souji [eatsyourscience], Tohru [breakthecurse], and EVERYONE!
Where: The Diner
When: December 26
Rating: PG at most, likely
Summary: Christmas chicken and cake has to be a little late this year, but Souji and Tohru aren't balked by that.
The Story:
This year is the second annual KFC Christmas in Wonderland. At least, it was planned to be. The Jabberwocky, Mirror switching, and Souji's amnesia caused a slight delay, but when everything went back to normal last night, he remembered his and Tohru's plans.

They convened in the diner this morning to get things ready before setting a signboard and the Colonel (plus twinkling fairy lights) outside the door to advertise the post-Christmas special.

Fried chicken (with Souji's best approximation of the 11 herbs and spices), a few appropriate sides, and plenty of Christmas cake complete the menu today. Cocoa, coffee, tea, and various other drinks are available.

Come on in! Feel free to use this log to mingle.

Comments

[imperfect_science]

Carlos’s eyes widen as he stares at Souji over the rim of his coffee cup. He’s mostly recovered his composure before setting the mug down. Mostly.

“That’s the longest I’ve heard yet… and you haven’t aged in all that time? You’re just the same as when you arrived?” He’s heard that from others before, but it hadn’t really sunk in before now.

[eatsyourscience]

"Physically." After dying three times, he's sure it's impossible that he's psychologically the same. "I'm not sure I even have any scars from anything..."

To be honest, that's mostly because he has healing powers and not because injuries just don't leave scars here.

"How long have you been here?"

[imperfect_science]

“I’ve been here less than a year. When I first got here, I think it was…” He sits back in his chair, frowning up at the ceiling as he does the mental math. Remembering specific dates isn’t usually his forte.

“Last spring? Late last spring. Though I just got back from a visit back home, so this all sort of feels new again.”

[eatsyourscience]

Remembering specific dates is difficult in Wonderland in general, so Souji certainly doesn't blame Carlos for the generalities.

"Was it nice to visit home?" Or maybe it would have been easier to just stay here rather than go back and forth.

[imperfect_science]

“Well, at the time I didn’t remember being here at all. But now that I’m back…” he considers the question silently before answering, finger tapping on the side of his mug.

“Yes and no. I was making a lot of progress with my research back where I was, but… I was also separated from someone very important to me, who happens to be here in Wonderland. I guess for that reason, I’m almost happy to be back.”

[eatsyourscience]

Souji nods. He totally gets that. He leans forward on the counter, arms crossed.

"I used to have some friends from home here with me. When they left, it was weird--I was sad that they were gone and wanted to go home to see them, but I knew everything that happened between us here would be gone, so I was sad for that, too."

[imperfect_science]

“I’m sorry. That must have been hard for you.” Had this conversation happened a couple of years earlier in Carlos’s life, that would have been an awkwardly delivered condolence backed with little understanding of the loneliness Souji must be experiencing. The "bonds" between people weren't his expertise. He wouldn’t have been a good Velvet Room guest.

Present-Carlos, however, is a slightly different story, and his words are charged with sympathy.

“That seems to weigh on a lot of people’s minds- the way we lose our memories when we go home. But I think that they must stay in there somewhere. Maybe our brains forget how to access them, but they’re there, and taking them away doesn't invalidate anything that happens to us.”

[eatsyourscience]

Souji wouldn't be able to blame Carlos for any social awkwardness; though he can be quite sociable and even charismatic, he had to learn to care much about others.

"I want to think that you're right about that. I have a promise I have to keep when I get home."

If he can't remember Minato when he gets home, then he can't do anything for him.

[imperfect_science]

“Then I’ll keep you on my list of people to notify when I or someone else has made a breakthrough on that front. At the very least we could at least try to find a way to send our other-universe selves a message containing important information. Like promises to keep, for instance.”

Meal finished and coffee long since gone, Carlos finally stands from the counter. Just talking about work like this makes him feel eager to get back to it.

“Thank you for the food. That was definitely one of the better Christmas meals I’ve had.”

[eatsyourscience]

Souji smiles at that, just a bit. He likes having his cooking complimented possibly more than anything else he might be complimented on.

"Come by anytime. I can always use someone to talk with while I'm working." And he will repay you with delicious foods.