Dark Elixir and All My Gems

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Edgar wakes up feeling like a blank slate.

On the way to Starr Park, he leans against the cold car window. He sticks his hand to it, watching faint outlines of condensation form. He takes it back and closes his eyes until they arrive.

"Edgar. Edgar! Get out, sleepyhead! We're already here," his grandfather informs him after they've parked.

"Thanks Gramps." He doesn't crack his eyes or move an inch. Byron sighs.

"Did you stay up all night again, hmm?"

"No, Gramps," Edgar says, getting out the car. He stretches and groans.

"I surmise it's that horrid Monster drink you're always gulping down."

"No..." It's not like he drinks it that much.

They walk. Byron greets a few people good morning. Edgar keeps his eyes on the stone tiled ground.

"Well," Byron says before they part. "Have a good day. Try not to doze off on the customers!"

"I won't. Bye," Edgar waves, before going to the gift shop.

He opens the door. Colette's arranging some of the plushies on a shelf.

"Oh, hey Edgar."

"Hi."

They restock the morning's worth of merchandise. The air is quiet. Edgar returns the boxes to the storage room.

He takes his seat beside Colette at the counter.

"How's it going?" He asks.

"I'm okay." She rests her head on her arms. "How's your bruise?"

"It's alright."

"I'm glad."

He rests his head in his arms too.

"'M tired."

"Again?" She says humorously. He's confused until he remembers what he said yesterday.

"Ah. Yeah." Edgar still doesn't plan on napping, though. Colette slowly blinks a few times, then yawns.

"Maybe you should cut down on the Monster." He rolls his eyes.

"I swear, I don't drink it that much. Promise." He yawns too.

They sit in silence.

"Actually, I don't really feel good today," Colette says.

"What's wrong? Do you need to go home?" Edgar frowns the slightest bit. Colette rarely seems to know the meaning of rest. She looks ahead.

"Ah, no, I'm fine."

He stares at her.

"Actually," she says again, more softly, "Um. I kinda talked to my parents last night. About Starr Park and everything, and..."

He waits.

"...I mean, I know that I'm not supposed to stay here forever. I mean, I think I'm not? I just don't like to think about it." She lightly scratches the countertop with her fingernails. "They said I should start thinking about the future."

"Oh."

She giggles a little.

"Like. I am thinking about the future, don't worry. I don't exactly plan on being a mindless airhead."

The words flow smoothly on her scratchy voice. Edgar wants to punch anyone who'd call her that.

"It's harder than they think it is. I don't know what I wanna be." She sits up, pushing against the counter. "I don't even know where to start. It's not that I just want to be all fun and games all my life, but, I don't know." Colette looks away. "Sorry."

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