02 | Video; Morning of the 21st

[takeitslow]

I ended up getting a lot of stuff this time around.

[The video is trained on a box, Peter's using his other hand to pull out what looks like a bulletin board.]

And when I saw this, I thought it wasn't meant for me. Bad delivery, you know? Particularly when I saw all these old pictures of my friend on it.

[The video pans over a few of the photographs, all of the resident cafe barista, Allison. It stops on the one of Allison in her Sailor Moon costume.]

But then I saw this and knew someone out there was giving me the perfect thing to share with the rest of you. Really help your day get started before that first cup of coffee; give you something other than that girl behind the counter to smile at. God bless that stupid machine, right?

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[takeitslow]

How does that make you a loser?

[If she was in a better mood, he's tease her that she already was one and she couldn't escape her fate. But he's not going to rub salt in the wound, at least not intentionally.

As she sits, he sinks down with her. He's still clutching the napkins and ignoring the child trying to set him on fire with her stare. He tries to speak to Allison gently, adopting the same tone he did with his little sister when she'd had a bad dream.]

Allison, is it really that bad they've seen you in that uniform? You know, a lot of the people here are, like, legitimate superheros. Spandex and all. And there's people with full on battle armor. And some of us still dress like it's 1972. One outfit isn't going to make you a loser.

[devilofohara]

[It's at this point that Robin takes the opportunity to speak up.]

...I don't think you're a loser, Allison. I saw the picture of you in the cap and gown and I was impressed. I didn't know you were a scholar or anything before.

[ Admittedly, the cap and gown have different connotations for her than they do for Allison or Peter, so Robin might be getting the scholarly conversations she's hoping to have.

Still, the point remains that she definitely doesn't think poorly of the girl. ]

And you looked like you were having fun in the other pictures, why would anyone think badly of you for that?

[allyisun]

[It takes a lot of sobbing and several false starts before Allison manages to speak again, her voice still hitching as she cries it all out.

Look at these two, saying nice things and trying to calm her down. She appreciates it, she really does, what good kids, even if Peter is a brat and Clover is far too serious for her age. But-]

God, look at me. I'm supposed to be an adult and I'm breaking down in front of kids. I really am the biggest loser! It's not the outfit, it's...

[She presses her cheek against her knees, the fabric there wet from tears. She lets out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob.]

The happy-looking girl in the costume, I used to think she was a loser, but I'm so much worse. I'm still the same fat weeaboo inside, but now I'm pretending to be someone else, and it's so much worse.

At least she knew who she was.

[Smushing her face into her knees, she mumbles.] I shouldn't be bothering you guys with this...

[takeitslow]

I've got to agree with the kid here. Who's really going to think you're a loser? So I give you shit over stuff? I'm a dick! A dumb dick who says dumb stuff and you know that.

[He's trying to hand over the napkins again, keep her from snotting up her clothes. He's not sure he has the capacity to be of any help in this breakdown, if he knows how to help someone who's in the midst of some identity crisis. But he does know that this doesn't sound like the kind of thing to be held in.]

Maybe you should. We might just be kids to you, but obviously we- [He jerks a thumb towards Robin.]-kind of like you. We're your friends. Who else are you supposed to bother with this kind of thing?

[devilofohara]

[ Robin doesn't really know how to deal with any of this. She hasn't ever seen a friend in such a state of vulnerability before, and she's too young to have had a real crisis of identity like the one Allison is having.

She also doesn't understand how Peter can call himself Allison's friend. Not after he upset her like this, and how he admits he's a dick to her without a word of remorse in his words.]

...that isn't an apology, Peter.

[ She says it under her breath, giving the boy another glare before returning her attention to the crying woman before her. Even before she became a fugitive, Robin's life hadn't been particularly easy - and a big part of that had been because of harassment from kids like Peter. She's having a tough time reconciling that with the fact that he's supposedly friends with the person sobbing because of him.]

I don't really get what you mean, Allison, but I don't think you're a loser. And if you want someone to talk with about it, I'll listen.

[allyisun]

[Her crying has petered off into mostly sniffles and a few stray tears as she stares at the kids. She accepts a bunch of napkins and noisily blows her nose, waiting for her throat to unclench again.

At least kids think I'm cool, a snide bit of her mind says, and it startles a choked laugh out of her, but... She is honestly touched. Enough so to have her eyes misting up enough to dab them with a clean napkin.]

Thanks, you guys, I just... I'm sorry for the ugly crying, it's just... Been a lot. For awhile.

And... [She takes in a deep breath, then reaches out to slap Peter lightly on the side of his head.] You don't post pictures of people without their permission you jerk!

[Scolding Peter is easier than talking about how much she hates herself.]

[takeitslow]

[He shoots the kid a stink eye. It's his kind of apology, the kind that he thinks, hopes Allison would understand and accept. His attempt at comfort.]

Nobody cries pretty. I've got two sisters, I'm kind of used to seeing it.

[He'd seen worse through breakups and playground bullies. From his mother when she indulged a little too much. This was par the course.]

And I'm sure the little one's seen worse.

[He glances to Robin just in time take the hit to the head. It doesn't hurt, not really. If anything, it takes his willpower not to laugh about it.]

Cross my heart. I won't do that to you again.