Scene: Falk POV December Reunion

That was her. That red hair - Alea. I should go to her, but my feet feel heavy - rooted in place. She is turning. I send her a smile, calmly - non-threatening. Great - one glance at me, and she disappeared instantly. A fair reaction, everything considered. I know I should let her go, but simply I can't - not without trying at least. I will hate myself if I don't.

I turn around the aisle to the absence of her, and continue moving. Wondering if I can catch her at the queue then, which is where I find her in the end. Just hoping for a chance to say something. As she notices me again, she leaves her cart in the queue and flees out of the store. Dammit. If that is the choice you have taken, I'm forced to accept it. I stop by her cart. Maybe if I leave them at the fey grove with my number. Yes. It'll be my last shot. My last chance for redemption.

Determined I leave the store, prepared to go to Evergreen. The one place I should have looked a long time ago. As I turn, a loud croak and the bashing of black wings surprise me, as a raven sets off just past me and flies towards the streets, passing a red head of hair on a bench. Her red hair. Why is she still here? She could have left. She could have hidden, but here she is. I close in on her, silently, calmly. I gently put down her groceries besides her to no reaction. She sits completely still. Eerily so.

"Hi..." Where do I even start? "If you don't want to talk... or see me again, just nod and I will go away forever. I will shop elsewhere, and that will be it. But I really hope that you'll let me say something first."

No reaction. Not a single movement not caused by the chill winter breeze. I continue around her to catch a glimpse of her heavenly face.

"Alea?" Nothing. She is stuck in a bland expression staring into the empty space before her. "Are you awake? Are you alright?!"

No answer. Not a blink. I squad down and get closer to her. Fey mood. We've been briefed about it, but I have never seen it up close. Changelings 'lock up' in a weird comatose state for months. This must be it. But is this the start or the end of one?

"Okay, I'll just sit with you for a bit then," I sigh as I take the seat beside her. Out of all the scenarios, I had imagined, this isn't one of them. Would she know it, if I talked to her? Maybe this is the only chance I'll ever get.

"I don't know if you can hear me - or if you're even there. If you're someplace serene, or if my voice is enough for you to panic inside that charming head of yours." Is this really where I want to start? "When... When I saw you for the first time, I was... intrigued by you. Your way, your attitude, your everything. I knew I wanted to see you again. I started looking forward to Markus' parties in hope that you'd come by again, and when you finally did, I was overjoyed. That night... took a turn I hadn't envisioned, and when my head cleared up enough to realize that, I left the room. Couldn't be in it anymore - had to figure out myself. I came back when I heard yelling, just to see you leave. That night fucked up everything - the unit is in shambles and I dunno if we can come back from that. I had hoped to get to know you - not... scare you away. I- I'm sorry for my part in that... In case you don't remember any of this I'll just... leave my number with you, and you can do with it as you want. But I hope you'll use it."

With that said, I get up and throw her a final glance. Still silent - still completely paralyzed. Maybe I should stay somewhere close - make sure she's safe when she wakes up. Make sure she does wake up. I take watch over her by the corner of the street, so I can make myself unseen, should she start looking. Starting to wonder if I should inform someone, if she doesn't come to her senses, when after about half an hour she starts moving and gets up, I turn around relieved and head home.