[Veronica, Stacy & Webster - Opposite Plot]

[plantfood]

There is something different.

Mathias isn't quite aware of it, although he feels it on some level, he feels brighter and better and just different. He can't name it, can't place it and, most importantly, he doesn't want to. Whatever is different, it isn't bad.

He's headed down the boardwalk with a bounce in his step and a grin on his face, feeling lighter than he has in some time. Nothing can bother him these days, nothing can so much as touch him and he thinks, if he has time, he'll go visit Webster. Maybe they can talk about Veronica, like Webster always wants to. There are stories to tell now, certainly, and Mathias feels like he's in the mood to do some real talking.

Walking along, heading nowhere in particular, he breathes in deeply, enjoying the scent of the jungle around him. Every time someone passes him, he smiles brightly and waves, calling a loud, cheerful, "Hello!" Some people look startled, although he can't begin to understand why, and others greet him in return, looking just as happy as he feels.

Just ahead, he spots a familiar face and he hurries, almost running. "Hey!" he shouts happily. "Hey, hi! It's so good to see you!"

Comments

[plantfood]

"Hello," Mathias says when he catches up with Webster, offering him a grin. There aren't many people on the island he considers his friends, but Webster is certainly one of them and he's pleased to see him, especially today.

"How are you?" he asks, then launches into the next bit of his speech without waiting for an answer. "I'm very well. I saw Veronica earlier, she's the best. I think she is definitely my girlfriend now, which should make you happy, right? You wanted her to be my friend, didn't you? I suspect you did."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

My eyes widen in sheer horror. "Oh, no," I complain with a drawn out groan. "Not you too. What, did you get bit by some rabid talking virus? Are you going to start petting my hair or telling me how much you love me next?" This is all too frightening and I really could use some sanity. Just one sane person, is that too much to ask?

[plantfood]

"No," Mathias answers, looking confused. "I like you and would consider you my friend, but I feel no urge to pet your hair or tell you that I love you. Why would you think I would want to pet your hair?" That seems like a strange thing for anyone to want to do unless they're Webster's boyfriend.

"I just wanted to talk with you," he continues. "You always tell me that you would like me to tell you more things about Veronica and other things and I thought today might be a good day to share with you. Is it not? Is it a bad day? Who has been petting your hair?"

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"It just seems to be a theme of today," I deadpan with that distinctive uncomfortable feeling creeping and crawling up my spine as I eye him warily. "You're talking a lot is all. Like, a scary amount. It's like you're possessed with a chatterbug."

[plantfood]

"I thought you wanted me to talk to you more," Mathias protests, frowning faintly. If Webster doesn't want him to talk, then he won't. He'll try really very hard not to say another word until Webster says something first.

And he lasts about three seconds.

"Veronica and I are going to have dinner with her father," he says, rushing on. "I'm a little nervous, I must admit, but I think he will like me. He was the IPD member who found me on the beach with Henrich's body, which I suspect may make the situation a little awkward, but it also may make him like me more, as he's seen me very upset. That makes me more sympathetic, ja? And I'm good to his daughter."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I just blink at Mathias as he keeps letting everything loose and momentarily I debate sprinting back home and locking myself in the bedroom, subjected to Joe's new 'everything is wonderful' persona. "You realize you just keep saying things?" I ask in German, Joe's dialect leeching into my words. Maybe this is a language thing.

"Deep breath, Mathias. Remember how I had to pull teeth to get things out of you? What changed?"

[plantfood]

"I don't know," Mathias answers, not giving it very much thought. As far as he's concerned, it doesn't even matter. This is how he feels right now and he doesn't want to think about it. "I just feel like talking today. Is that so bad?" It's what Webster has been bugging him to do for some time already.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"No, it's just possibly the first time in my life anyone's ever actually listened to me, though," I do admit and it's strange enough without really focusing on it. "So, you and Veronica, you two are a thing now?" I ask with a broad smile, deciding to just roll with this. I mean, fuck, Joe would probably give me anything in the world now.

He'd kill me in the morning, but I'd have a good night.

[plantfood]

"I think so, yes," Mathias says, nodding and smiling. He can't help but smile whenever he speaks about Veronica, he likes her quite a lot and he knows now that she definitely likes him. "We have been on several dates and we spend quite some time together. As I said, we're going to have some dinner with her father, which will be nice. I'd like to meet him on a more... normal level."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"You're dating," I accuse with a broad and delighted smirk on my face. It's actually a bit hilarious to have got this information out of him. "Well, at least now it's not just my love life that'll get investigated every time we meet. Now it's fair play. So, you serious about her?"

[plantfood]

"I like her very much," Mathias answers, knowing that it's more than that. He's only known her for a few months, but he feels that it's long enough to know that he can see himself being with her for a long time coming. It's unexpected and wonderful all at once. "She's an amazing person. I like being with her, I like having her around. I am very lucky."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"Are you in love with her?" I wonder, because I can't help myself. I've been born with an innate sense of curiosity. Besides, it'll make me feel better about being in love with Joe. And it'll give me some distraction from whatever's happening, from that obit.

[plantfood]

"I don't know yet," Mathias says honestly, considering this. "I think I might, I think that it's possible that I will eventually, but maybe not quite yet. I do like her very, very much, which is more than I've felt about anyone in quite some time."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I can't help smiling at that with a soft laugh, shaking my head. "Maybe it's just this place. Nothing else to do but pursue hobbies and fall in love." I hesitate, scrubbing a hand through my hair, wondering if I should confide when it's clear that people aren't themselves. "I told Joe I love him."

[plantfood]

"Ja?" Mathias asks, smiling. "Does he love you, too?" He thinks that Joe must. Webster seems like a great person. "I would like to meet him, I think."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"No," I say with a pained smile, shrugging as if that's to be expected. "No, he doesn't." I press my lips together, press my tongue to the roof of my mouth and try not to let it affect me, not when I'm already teetering precariously and I jam the heel of my hand against my eye to try and calm myself. "I ah...I ah, don't think it matters, anyway," I say shakily. "What with my life expectancy."

[plantfood]

"What?" Mathias asks, stunned to the point of actually stopping on the boardwalk. He stares at Webster, mouth agape, finally finding himself without a single thing to say. "You didn't tell me that. And wait... what do you mean? Life expectancy? What's wrong?"

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I shake my head, considering it's no disease and hardly anything I can prevent. "Nothing's wrong except I know my future. And I die. We all do. You admitted you did, so why the fuck should I dwell?" I'm over it now. I am.

[plantfood]

Mathias is sort of confused with how this conversation has turned and he frowns, not knowing quite what to say. It's a strange sort of feeling, considering the rest of the day. "Everyone dies eventually, I'm not sure how that translates to a short life expectancy," he says finally.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"I found out when."

That's all I want to say on the subject and I clear my throat and force a smile. "Let's go back to talking about you and Veronica. That's much better. Have you two...you know?"

[plantfood]

"Had sex?" Mathias asks bluntly. "No, we haven't. It's okay, though, I don't mind waiting for her." Sex is great, he enjoys it, but he really doesn't think he's missing out on anything that he can't wait for.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"That's ... sweet," I manage, considering that Joe and I couldn't even wait very long to get in bed together. "I'm sure her father is going to appreciate that." And thank god my parents aren't here, doubly thank god that Joe's aren't either. "Now he might not shoot you on sight!"

[plantfood]

"Exactly," Mathias says, nodding his head. "Which is something I certainly do not want, as he's on the IPD, I suspect he does actually have a gun with which to shoot me."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"Don't run in a straight line," I deadpan, offering sage words of advice as if I know something about angry parents with guns. I don't, considering I've never had anything serious enough to have to worry about that. But I offer it anyway.

[plantfood]

"Thank you," Mathias says sincerely, misunderstanding the tone of Webster's voice. "I hope to avoid being shot at altogether, but if it does end up happening somehow, it's good to know that." He thinks maybe he already knows that, but he doesn't want to make Webster feel bad by saying such a thing.