To The Moon

Children's Books

They appear in a small room with two round tables on either side. John is sitting with Nicolas and Isabelle. 

Isabelle- "Everyone with it is different, John. Just because she and I share the syndrome, doesn't mean we share the same head."

John- "But you must be able to help somehow... Everything was ok at first, but now, she's even more aloof than before. Even when we're in the same room, she's never really... there. It's starting to take a toll on me. I just don't know how to take it anymore."

Isabelle- "Well, I can't speak for her, but many of us do long for connections... Though, being able to articulate it is a different story. Just because she struggles to express it, it doesn't mean she doesn't feel anything. She's still there, right? Sometimes you just have to have faith that she cares."

John- "That's pretty difficult to do, day in and day out."

Isabelle- "I know."

Nicolas- "Wait, but why do you seem so normal, Izzy? I mean, don't you have the same condition?"

Isabelle- "For one, I was diagnosed when I was still young. With effort, it's not impossible to acquire a guise of social norms systematically. But you know what? I both envy and pity River. Me... I'm an actress, because I've been doing it all my life. Not only on-stage, but off-stage... and at practically every moment. I've gotten good at it, because acting is the only option I have. It's the only way for me to be 'normal'. But River... She never did that. She remained an outcast and refused to learn to step against it. I don't know if it was by choice or by limit, whether bravery or cowardice... There are days when I just can't stand faking it anymore. And then, I realize that it's too late. The Isabelle that people know of is all an act, and the real me has long become a stranger. I think in the end... I just envy her."

The table goes quiet, giving our eavesdropping scientists a chance to put in their two-sense.

Dr. Watts- "Huh, I've never met a woman with it before."

Dr. Rosalene- "Then technically, you still haven't met one. This isn't part of our business. Let's move."

The conversation held already accounted for the first memory. They head to other parts of the building to find more. The right side of the building opens up to reveal a small library. River is on the right side of the first row of shelves, looking at countless books. When Neil attempts to get closer, he's stopped by Eve as she points backwards for him to look. Sure enough, John left the small room to check on River.

John- "Anything new today?"

River- "No."

John- "What're you reading there?"

River- "The Emperor's New Clothes'. I loved this when I was young."

John- "Still do, huh?"

River- "Of course... Just for different reasons."

John- "When I was a kid, I loved the Animorphs series."

River- "I know. Your mother gave you a book from it as a wedding present."

John- "Heh, yeah, that was one odd wedding present. I guess I was pretty obsessed with it when I was a kid."

River- "...Why haven't you read them since?"

John- "Hm?"

River- "I saw them. They're collecting dust in the garage."

John- "Well... I just grew out of them, I guess. I mean, they're children's books."

River- "What's wrong with reading children's books? They're comforting."

John- "...I suppose so."

River looks back toward the book shelf and picks up a book.

River- "I think I'm going to get this one."

She then walks away to the counter to check out the book. Eva notices this second conversation counted for their second memory. With three more to go, she wanders the library. Working her way down the rows of books, she comes across one with a bookmark still in it. She picks it up and reads to herself...

Dr. Rosalene- "...The world would be a lot more beautiful if people just remembered faces more."

Thinking to herself that the quote sounded like something River would say, she then realized that the quote counted as their third memory. Without questioning it, she and Neil walk back up to John, who is still standing at the spot where River left him. Out of curiosity, Eva reaches out to touch John, and the two scientists suddenly undergo a skip in the timeframe. Almost like the system was bugging out, there were two different Johns in the Library. One talking to a random woman checking out books, and another checking out books himself. Like always, Eva takes the lead and decides to listen in on the one conversing.

Random Girl- "...But what about David's? He's my favorite character!"

John- "Uh... I don't know."

Neil and Eva turn their presence back on so that they can be involved in the conversation, and hopefully trigger another memory.

Dr. Watts- "What're you talking about?"

John- "Animorphs. Have you read it?"

Dr. Rosalene- "No."

Dr. Watts- "Yes."

Eva turns to look at Neil.

Dr. Rosalene- "Really?"

Dr. Watts- "...Sort of."

Random Girl- "Oh, oh! Do ya know what animal is David's main cover morph?"

Dr. Watts- "Um..."

Random Girl- "Oh yeah!! A cobra!!"

The girl's confirmation counted as the fourth memory.

Random Girl- "I really wish they kept the old covers instead of these plain sheets. Those were cool."

Done with this conversation they wander to the second John to see what kind of books he's looking at.

John- "'I'm not yours, you're not mine.Be my Anti-Valentine...' Hey River, this one's not that corny! ...River?"

Somehow counting as their final memory, the two walk around trying to find the trigger item for the next jump when they re-visit the John who was talking to the girl about Animorphs.

John- "Perhaps I should reread them after all... I can barely recall a thing from that series."

Serving no purpose, they wander up to the front desk where River and John are standing, when all of a sudden neil props his hand on the desk and an aura forms over the Animorphs book John was planning on checking out. He smirks as if he's a genius for accidentally discovering it, and breaks the memory feild so they can prep for the next jump.