Work Text:
Are you still here? I haven't heard you in a while.
I am. I'm sitting, right where you left me.
I didn't move this time, I promise - I didn't ever mean to scare you like that.
... No. Please, don't cry. You're not alone in this.
We're still your friends. Do you remember that?
... Well, it doesn't really matter now, does it?
I do remember that. That's why I'm not letting you go - not until I can fix this. It's the least I can do.
Once again: it was 1987, and...
No, it couldn't be 1987, right? Sorry, dates have never been my strong suit. It was in the '80s, though, I'm sure of...
NO.
Thank you, but I don't need help to figure it out.
You shouldn't push yourself, after all. Stay put until I go in your room - your soul becomes restless, during the night, and I need it to fight the nightmares.
I'm sorry, I don't know when they will go away. But they are not your friends. Don't listen to them.
I appreciate your fighting spirit, I truly do. It'll buy me more time to discover what went wrong.
But let's not think about that, for now. The important thing, I think, is to remember who was behind that mask. He's the key - and we should make him pay.
Do you remember the name, by chance?
... No?
Well, this is not an easy place to remember names. Or any other detail, for that matter.
No, don't fret. Yours will come back in due time. I'm sure of it.
After all, we can't just turn back to how thing were. Not now.
Yes, it's taking a bit longer than I thought, and I know you want to rest, but please, I need you to stay awake. I can't go in your room, or remember the party, ever again otherwise. It's necessary.
... I know you're scared, but trust me: this will be the last time.
For real, I swear. There won't be another tomorrow, from now on.
I will... no, we, will put you back together. I'll make sure of it.
Now. One more time, from the beginning.