I tried to get through to you

[archboxer]

[You know what that was? A fiasco. That was an utter fiasco. Three more people gone on a chance that may not happen! This is horrible. Even if some people dislike her, Rhea... is up to the challenge once more. This time she does it nearly herself: writing out the invitations, ordering the food and telling everyone to meet at the bar. In Ema's honor, of course.

She hands out the invitations herself and if she can't find you, she'll slide yours under your door.]

Comments

[philoxenia]

It's okay.

[ Hmm. She nods, though, after considering that. ]

Then... if-- when we get out of his place... I can't wait to meet him. Especially if he's related to you, I believe he can do anything he puts his mind to. And besides... I don't think there's much that can change my mind, now that I'm really determined to go back with you.

[nothingcanstop]

[ A moment passes, and Della...pulls back a little. So she can reach into her jacket pocket and pull out something. A picture. ]

This is...a little old. Eleven years, by now. But, that's him, in the center. And...that's my brother Donald, right there. And...well, obviously, in the front...

[ Three eggs. ]

[philoxenia]

[ Oh... oh, this is something special. Mira studies it. ]

Your sons? [ Her voice is soft. ] You know... I swear I can feel the love through the picture.

[nothingcanstop]

[ A moment...where she closes her eyes, and sucks in a breath. ]

Yeah. They're the most important part of my life. They are my life. [ And yet, she says that somewhat sadly.

Incidentally, is...Mira going to turn the picture over, at all? She can take it. But it's quite old, and a little folded. ]

[philoxenia]

I'd love to meet them.

[ She takes it, gently, and if she spots something on the back--a corner of the eye thing--she might just get curious enough to turn it over... ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ Well, when she turns it over, she'll find...this. Some doodles. Della doesn't try and stop her. ]

...That's...how I imagined they'd look. I told you, I'm a terrible artist.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh. Oh my goodness. For the first time today, she actually manages more than the barest hint of a smile. ]

Della... I think they're wonderful.

[nothingcanstop]

[ Oh... Oh, the smile. She clearly...didn't really expect that? Della stares at her for a moment. With a slightly shaking finger, she taps on the one on the top left. ]

Huey... [ Top right. ] Dewey... [ Bottom. ] And Louie. Or... Jet, Turbo, and Rebel. That's how I pictured them. They're...even better, in real life.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh-- before she can ask, Della draws her attention back to the drawings. ]

That's usually how it goes, isn't it? [ Her voice is soft, quiet. ] If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to hear about them... What they're like.

[nothingcanstop]

They're perfect. [ That's too broad. Far too broad. And yet, it covers everything she's thinking, doesn't it? ] My perfect little boys. They...color-coded themselves, you know, red, blue, and green.

Huey's a little researcher. He loves the Junior Woodchuck Scouts, he's a Senior Junior Woodchuck right now. And Dewey, he wants to...do everything, see everything, an adventurer in every sense. Even...without me around, he seems to have taken after me, perfectly. And Louie... Oh!

[ She reaches into another pocket and withdraws a different photo, of a laidback duck boy. ]

I...actually have a different picture, of him. He's a cunning boy. Wants to follow in Scrooge's footsteps, start his own business, but...also wants to always be taking a nap.

[philoxenia]

A researcher, an adventurer, and an entrepreneur... They've got big dreams, don't they? I'd love to help Huey with his research... it's one of the things I know I'm good at.

[ Oh gosh, look at him. ]

Oh, he's so cute... [ And relatable. ] They're triplets, aren't they? No wonder they color-coded themselves.

[nothingcanstop]

Yeah. I guess they didn't want to be mistaken for each other. They're all...little troublemakers. They drove poor Donald crazy. He was always the more cautious one, so...he tried his best to keep them safe.

[ Something catches in her throat. But she pushes on. ]

I think...they'd all like you, you know.

[philoxenia]

[ She's about to say something like how lucky they are to have such great brothers, but... what Della says next makes her pause. She looks at her, blinking. ]

... You think so? [ There it is, that quiet bewilderment at the idea of being liked. ] I hope you're right.

[nothingcanstop]

[ Della keeps her gaze. ]

Of course. Heck...Webby would be crazy about you. She-- the...housekeeper's granddaughter, she lives with all of us. She's always so enthusiastic about documenting things, learning... She keeps saying she wants to be...just like me, but she's solved things I never could. She and Dewey get along great. I... I'll introduce you. When all of this is over, I'll introduce you.

[ It's a quiet, fervent promise. They'll get out of this. Together. ]

[philoxenia]

[ Della's so firm about it, so earnest... Mira can't help but believe her. Somehow, she thinks that promise of Della's might just help keep her afloat. ]

... We will. [ She squeezes her hands again. ] If we can travel freely... there's something I need to do back in my world. But, if it all works out... There's room for two more, right?

[nothingcanstop]

Of course! It's a huge mansion, and... Two? [ She has a curious look about her. ] Your... Your other friend?

[philoxenia]

Well...

[ She looks like she's really struggling with something, and in the end, she shakes her head. ]

... It's something I talked about with-- [ Her breath catches. ] With Ema. I want to tell you, but tonight has been...

[ Very, very long. ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ She shakes her head and places a gentle hand on Mira's arm. ]

It's okay, Mira. You don't have to go into it right now. I mean... There are things for everyone that would be hard to talk about, after...after all this.