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It’s been years since Charlie’s seen Todd, the last time being when they all graduated, but even then, they were all too busy mourning Neil. Yet, here he is, at Todd’s funeral, 48 years since he’s last seen him. Nobody really expected Todd to die so young, but the news did show pictures of him looking not so well.. Meeks and Pitts, who are now world class engineers, are comforting each other; it makes sense, considering they’ve done everything together since graduation. Knox, who’s become a lawyer against his own wishes, seems less emotional compared to the rest, but he’s basically been broken down and rebuilt so he wouldn’t get emotional.
Charlie walks up to Knox, one hand on his shoulder as he flashes a grim smile. “Don’t worry, Knox. He’s in a better place now.” Charlie can feel the tears welling up, but Knox breaks immediately, muttering nonsense as he wipes his tears with a travel-sized tissue packet. “I just wish we were more in touch, there was so much we missed out on!” Meeks and Pitts see the commotion that Knox is causing, as they approach the two. Before they know it, they’ve smothered each other into a hug that doesn’t feel quite right, as they mourn the death of their late friend. If only they knew how happy Todd really was now..
:DECEMBER 25 - 1959:
Christmas was supposed to be with the rest, in the cave at midnight, like they’d been planning in November, but Todd didn't have the heart to go, not without Neil. He was still denying that Neil would’ve taken his own life, not when life finally seemed to be going well for him. His room is scattered with papers everywhere, scrapped poems, and at 1AM, here he is, still writing. A crumple interrupts the silence of his pencil, as another paper is tossed on the floor. “I just want to write one poem! Just one!” Grabbing his pillow and shoving it in his face, he muffles his tears, the so-called ‘jolly spirit’ doing nothing for Todd.
A tap at the window distracts Todd out of his tear-filled state, as he wipes his tears and looks out the window. It seems like a faceless figure in the distance, waving at the window. It seems unrecognisable, besides the stick crown with the glowing red berries on top of it, lighting the space it’s in like Rudolph’s nose. Todd rubs his eyes, wondering if he’s starting to hallucinate, before opening the window, as a blast of cold knocks him back. He scans his surroundings, the place where the faceless figure with the flaming festoon in a foothold now just a bleak empty space, covered in snow. Maybe he really needs to get some proper sleep. In a rush, before his room is as cold as the outside, Todd slams his window shut.
:APRIL 29 - 1962:
SLAM! Surviving off of black tea, since the taste of coffee wasn’t really something he could get over, Todd closes his library book, barely awake. It’s hard to juggle two career opportunities when you’re hiding one of them behind your family’s back. Yet, he’s barely getting by, with reason in his heart, temporarily replacing what was once there. The visions of Neil have been getting a bit more frequent, but the figure of him is still faceless, so who knows if it’s really him? Todd picks up his character study of A Midsummer Night's Dream, before walking up to the librarian. No words are shared, as the librarian looks at the books and gives an approving nod, scanning his library card and passing the book back to him. “Don’t forget to return it on the 13th of April, Mr. Anderson.” A quick nod is given from Todd, before he scurries away to his unit.
As he’s walking back home, he sees a flyer to a play, one that he’s never heard of before. As he looks up, he can see that faceless figure in the distance, only with an oddly familiar grin on his face. “Come on, Todd!” He rubs his eyes, as he stands in shock at the fact that the figure isn’t gone yet. Suddenly, with its red plastic berries leading the way, the figure runs off, as Todd escapes from his idle stance and runs after it. Melodic laughter seems to echo from the figure, an old sound that he hasn’t heard in years. The figure suddenly turns into a blindspot, only when Todd reaches it, all he sees is a couple of barely known colleagues in his class, who are also trying to be successful in the literacy industry. “Todd..?” One of them utters, confusion etched on their face. He stands, feeling anxiety ridden, until another one of them speaks up. “We’re acting like he’s the cops, chill out.” He turns to Todd, offering a cigarette. “Wanna join us?”
:JULY 27 - 1968:
With a smile on his face and his friends from university supporting him in the distance, Todd stares at the large company with butterflies building up in his stomach. This is the first time he’s tried to submit one of his plays to a big company, nonetheless the Lincoln Center Theater. As he steps in, he can feel his anxiety slowly bubbling up, as he tries to stay confident. By the time he stands in front of the talent acquisition specialists, his mind has gone into full spiral, as he tries to organise his thoughts. “This is.. Todd Anderson, I presume?” He gives a soft nod, as he attempts to persuade them to give his play a chance.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Anderson, but you’re just not what we’re looking for. You do have potential, I can say that. Maybe come again once you get some more experience?” With a stutter in his tone, all he can manage to say is “T-thanks..” Before walking out. His friends immediately rush up to him, bombarding him with questions. “Did you get in?” Odell questioned, her voice having a wary tone. “N-no..” Todd looks like he’s about to burst into tears, his hands shaking, before Antony pulls him into a hug; the rest joining in. “There’s always a next time, don’t sweat it, Todd.” As they back away, giving him space, Todd can feel someone gripping his hand, as he looks up. The festooned figure. Except.. It looks exactly like Neil, as the rest can see Todd’s eyes widen. “Don’t cry, Todd, I hate it when you’re sad.” As if the ghostly figure of Neil is trying to pull Todd with him, the grip on Todd’s hand tightens. Suddenly, the figure lets go, and breaks out into a run.
“Todd! Where are you going?!” Thomas shouts at the top of his lungs, before muttering under his breath, “Not again..” With the group distantly following him, Todd dashes after what looks like Neil, desperately trying to reach him. “Neil!” Todd exclaims, an unfamiliar name to everyone nearby but him. “Just trust me, Todd! You’ll love this!” Todd’s lungs feel on fire, feeling doubtful about being able to keep up with him. Neil slips into The Public Theater, as Todd follows close behind, until he’s stopped by one of the workers.
“Do you have an appointment for anything?”
“U-uhm, no..?”
“Well you’re lucky today, the specialists have an empty schedule. Want to pitch your play to them, unless those sheets are something else?” Todd can see Neil in the distance, with two thumbs up and a wide grin on his face. “S-sure..?” In a flash, Todd is in front of a singular casting specialist, his glare seeming to pierce through his soul. His anxiety bursts through the roof, and he feels frozen in place, until Neil grabs his hands, phasing through the specialist. “I believe in you, Todd.” His anxiety starts to become temporary tranquility, as Todd takes a deep breath in, pitching his play. “You seem like a mighty fine lad, and your idea seems profitable.” The specialist stretches his hand out; a warm smile on his face. “Welcome to the acting business, Mr. Anderson.” Neil gives Todd a smile, before disappearing into the air.
:OCTOBER 19 - 1984:
With a cup of black tea in his hand, he watches the teens immersed into the play from the backstage, a silent tribute to Neil’s first and last play. He can’t help but chuckle as Odell cheers from the crowd for her daughter, who chose to be one of the backstage characters. Although, most of his attention is directed to the kid with the Scottish accent, Niall, who Neil is right next to, perfectly mimicking his actions; both of them seeming just like each other as they play the part of Puck. Todd doesn’t even know if he’s going insane or not anymore, but he finds the view comforting nowadays. “If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumber’d here while these visions did appear.” He sounds so similar to Neil, and looks just as in-character as he did on that night, but Todd can see the slight worry in his posture, as he tries to figure out what the problem is. “So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, and I, Puck, shall make amends.” The curtains close, as the crowd erupts into cheers, as a few teens who seem to know Niall stand up to give him a standing ovation, one of them seemingly encouraged to stand.
As Niall leaves the stage, Todd can see in the distance a harsh-looking man, seemingly being Niall’s dad. It feels just like that same night where he saw Neil for the last time, shock stopping him from moving forward. He can see Neil’s ghost following Niall, turning to Todd with tears in his eyes. “Please, Todd, he can’t- he won’t- will he?” As if he was shot by a flashback, he ran to Niall, grabbing his arm, his own hand heavily trembling. “I-i’m sorry sir, but for safety reasons, the actor has to confirm t-that he knows you.” Niall turns to Todd, shock in his eyes. “Know him? I’m his father! Now come on, Niall.” His father harshly tugs his arm, but Todd’s grip is firm. “Niall, do you know this man?” He shakes his head, as Todd responds to the tug with an equally sharp tug, pulling Niall away from his father’s grasp. “I’ll have to call security if you don’t leave, sir.” With an angry mutter, Niall’s father walks away, before shouting “You’re a disappointment to this family, Niall! Don’t come crying to me once you realise how stupid this is!”
Niall stands there in shock, as one of his friends pulls him into a tight hug. As if his friend realised what he was doing, he sharply pulls back, stuttering on his words. “That wasn’t too sudden was it? I just thought he was going to- you know- take-” His words are abruptly stopped, Todd directly viewing Niall pulling his friend into a kiss. “I’m okay, Lewis.” Todd turns his head to see Niall’s other friends staring in shock and awe. Niall eventually realises what he just did, as he turns to Todd. “Shit, Mr. Anderson, it's not what you-”
“I’m fine with it Niall. Just enjoy the moment, we’ll figure out the rest later.” With tears in his eyes, Niall pulls Todd into a hug, Neil’s ghostly figure joining in. Who knows what could’ve happened if he let that father figure drag Niall away..
:DECEMBER 15 - 2008:
Todd’s setting up his alarm, making sure he’ll be able to wake up in time for his newest performance, which will be broadcast around the world; how times have changed since the sixties. He was never the best with the new phones, but he manages.. Barely. He lets his arms drift away from the clock and to his sides, as he tucks himself into his bed, drifting off.
“Todd… Todd!” Todd’s eyes jolt open, seeing a much alive Neil on top of him, and he can see himself in the same uniform he wore in 1959. What’s going on? “Come on, just follow me, I have a surprise!” He pulls Todd out of bed, as he mutters “Does it have to be now? It looks like it’s midnight, and it’s snowing!” Neil turns to Todd with a pout on his face, as he grips his hand tighter. “Come on, don’t you trust me?
“Fine, fine.” A smile peeks out of Todd’s tired face, as Neil leads Todd to the cave. “Alright, close your eyes.”
“My eyes? You sure?”
“Yes! You said you trusted me, Todd!” Todd can’t help but chuckle, as he closes his eyes. When he opens them, he can feel an object on his head. “It’s a leaf crown! It’s not much, but it’s-” Todd pulls Neil into a hug, muttering ‘thank you’ under his breath. Out of nowhere, his memories of everything since Neil died flooded in, as he starts to cry, remembering it’s just a dream. “I don’t want this to end, Neil! I can’t go through another day knowing you’re dead!” Todd’s tears pour down his cheeks, as Neil cups his face. “Then why don’t you join me? We can do things like this forever, as long as you’re by my side.” Before Todd can say anything, Neil pulls him into a kiss, seemingly knowing the answer. Todd feels lighter, more free. Before they know it, they’re frolicking in the midnight, laughing and smiling, a load lifted off both of their chests. They’re finally free, with each other at last.