038 - Buttercup

[deadly_ned]

When I was nine, my father brought me home from my mother's funeral, took me to a boarding school, and left me there. Forever.

He left my half-brothers at a magic show when they were nine years old, too.

General consensus currently is that he was a Grade-A jackass.

But I know that I have - and had - people in my life that did more good and made more difference than he did.


So I would...like to know who those people are in your life. Who make up the difference when your relatives fail. Who pick up the pieces and put you back together again.

Comments

[routemistress]

Panda. More recently, you and Dean and ...more people 'ere than I can list without getting tedious. You know who you are.

Even the Doctor. Who's also often a jackass, but that's 'ow these things go, eh? 'E's not been one more often than 'e 'as.

[deadly_ned]

Dean and me? Really?

You always seem so...put together.

[routemistress]

It's been like 'aving brothers. I always wanted brothers. I've managed to acquire a few now, over the centuries. One I even built meself, bless 'im.

I've 'ad a lot of years to put meself together, that's all.

[deadly_ned]

Dean's had longer practice at being a brother than me. But I try to pull my own weight.

How many years does it take? Generally speaking.

[videocamera]

What if you haven't got anyone like that? [HYPOTHETICALLY.]

[deadly_ned]

Do you not have anyone like that?

[routemistress]

You try and pull everyone's weight, Ned, I've seen you.

'Ow should I know? I've been at it a millennium and counting and I'm nowhere near done.

...all right, I actually lost count a long time ago. I just tend to go with millennium 'cause it's a nice round number.

[deadly_ned]

Not everyone's. Just the people who struggle.

Speaking of, I'm almost sort of wondering what my brothers are doing.

That seems like a lot of time.

[routemistress]

There's no one alive that doesn't struggle. It's never over till it's over. That's the best thing about it.

[She grins.]

Time flies when you're 'aving fun. And I've 'ad an awful lot of fun.

[videocamera]

Not really. Not now that my mom's... gone.

[deadly_ned]

I know. But some people struggle more than others.


I'm having trouble deciding what I want my deal to be. It's between two things.

[deadly_ned]

I'm sorry. My mom is gone too.

What's your name?

[routemistress]

Oooh, what are the choices?

[deadly_ned]

Choice one: I gain more control over my powers. I can set limits over how long I keep people alive, turn my powers on or off depending on what I want, or make it so no one has to die in the other's place, although the last part I'm a little worried about upsetting nature's balance.

Choice two: I forego getting a grip of my powers, take Chuck, and go see the universe.

[videocamera]

[He does almost say sorry, or thanks, or something else, but he's still a shitty teenager.]

Andrew. What's yours?

[deadly_ned]

Ned.

It gets better with time. That's...all I can really say. It's just this one stage of your life where there's a dip, but the dip will pass.

[routemistress]

Aye, I'm not sure just bringing people back with no price'd fly. Not even 'ere. There's always a price. There needs to be. But an off switch'd come in dead 'andy.

I don't see why you shouldn't 'ave both.

[videocamera]

It... I knew it was coming. It wasn't, like, a surprise or anything, really. [Pauuuuuse.] But I thought I could-- I thought-- She deserved better.

[deadly_ned]

Exactly. It's yin and yang. I think even if I'm given that power, somewhere in some other universe some person would get the power to only kill people.


I don't know if I have time enough for both. I'm not paired yet.

[deadly_ned]

I'm sorry. I really am.

[videocamera]

Yeah, well. It's not like it was your fault or anything.

[codename_duchess]

Oh my God, I bet your dad would love my mom.

And uh... I guess Rogue does.

[deadly_ned]

I don't think my dad loves anyone except himself.

Rogue? Here?

[deadly_ned]

Call it a sympathetic twinge.

[myresponsibility]

My aunt and uncle pretty much raised me when my parents left.

[Normally he might not say anything, but. Well. People apparently can't shut up about what today is, so.]