"Ruby, do you think it is a good idea having everyone help out?"
"Why yes."
"No…I….ughh. I meant separately."
"No one's separate. All the traps are set, people can see each other clearly. Now hold onto the hose while I climb up here."
"Ruby, where is your trust?"
"I TRUST YOU."
"What was that?"
"I said, ' I TRUST YOU.'"
"But do they?"
"They have to. After the Split, no one could be trusted with the full truth. Rumours were everywhere. Pressure to stay true, or deviate was everywhere. So, I quickly learned if I just told people to trust me, without telling them why; they would never be able to question who I was ever again. Then, the rumours would stop...….and they did.
Pays to be royal."
"But it also pays to be friendly."
"I had my friends, just like you have yours. I told you. The less people…"
*Puuriiiiiessssshhhh*
"I DIDN'T HEAR YOU."
"I said, 'The less people know'…..
*Puuriiiiiessssshhhh*
The….
*Puuriiiiiessssshhhh*
The….
*Puuriiiiiessssshhhh*. Puuriiiiiessssshhhh...Puuriiiiiessssshhhh*
Better."
"Ruby."
"Yes, Darius."
"As your friend, may I say one thing?"
"You can say anything you like, Darius."
*Puuriiiiiessssshhhh*
".......I miss the old you."
"What do you mean? I am still me?"
"No you're not, and that's what scares me. I missed talking to Ruby the ghost; before I learned she had powers. Before I learned, she was Nature. Before I dived her past. Before you became queen."
"Darius, I cannot not be who I am. I would have to have been born...before I was even born."
"You know what I mean."
"I know, and I'm sorry. Thank you for bringing me back, but we both knew this wouldn't last. Once my memories came back, I would be off."
"Yes, but it has happened all too fast. I wish time could slow down so that I could hang out with you longer. I wish….I wish….I….I wish we had one last night together. Like a real one. No you leaving out halfway through to who knows where, and then me staying up all night worrying for your safety.
Ruby, you were my Dory. A gift to me. But now you are a John."
"Darius, I'm not dead. Nor am I a Doe. You know me. My name is Ruby. Your best friend."
"No, Ruby. That is, if I can even call you that. You are dead to me…..And one last thing.
"Darius, please don't say it."
"I have no FRIENDS!!!!!!!"