We Meet Again (Derrick)

There wasn't much left to do in the school. Having met new people was usually a nice experience. It had been a rather busy day for her and soon she will be even busier once night sets in. Maria felt her sense of nervousness emptying a pit in her stomach. It's what all her five years have been preparing her for. She couldn't tolerate failure at this stage. The news was a surprise to her and to think it would be this soon-- no. It was about time. Maria could only wait for so long before getting into this kind of work.


Maria just got back her coffin, this time attired what looked like her modest nun-like habit. Underneath was the more comfortable clothing that she was given to wear when she finally got into the job. She was getting herself ready, yet the pressure was there. Would she be able to join? That was the question. Soon enough she'll find out.

As she waited, Maria sat on a bench while flipping through a prayer book. It was a text of Christian-based prayers that was adapted for the religion centering around Isla. While she never was one that really believed in it, it was good enough to keep her mind busy than filling the rest of the day with worry.

    Despite never wanting to personally attend, Derrick had seen Seven Stars Academy plenty of times, outside and in. It was an impressive building to look at, and the efficiency of the school was to be admired. For all the good things Derrick could list about it, though, he couldn't say he enjoyed going; being here now of all times only worsened his mood further. Did Liz have to see him now? Did she have to call him out of the blue and ask that he swing by to say hello before school started? Did she really? No warning, no notice, nothing.

    People could be so inconsiderate sometimes.

    His lips were still drawn into a thin line as he made his way to the front of the school, stopping near the open gates where a handful of students sat on the lawn, on nearby benches, or just stood around and went about their own business. Glancing around, he saw no sign of the woman he was supposed to see. Tch. Typical. She probably expected him to just waltz inside and trek through the hallways just to track her down.

    Irritated further by this thought, Derrick pulled out his cell phone and called Liz, placing the phone to his ear. He leaned up against the inside of the gate, pulling his cane close. ...And voicemail. Of course.

    "Liz, it's Derrick. I'm at the school gates. Let me know when you're coming down."

    His message left, the boy ended the call and pushed the phone back into his pocket, letting out an irritated sigh. Liz was habitually late and too easy-going for her own good. Honestly, how had that woman ever managed to take care of children?

Her mind seemingly droned past each prayer. It wasn't so much that it gave her strength. But, it numbed her as the mantras filled her mind. It kept her calm, but not in the warm sense. Maria felt dull. It was what she really needed. Doubt and concern were the last things she really needed. Yet, as she was about to turn a page to the next prayer, she heard what seemed like a familiar voice. Or what she thought was familiar.

The nun-in-training looked up to see a boy near the gate and on the phone. Was that who she think he is? There was a mixture of emotions that Maria couldn't seem to feel like she could sort out now. But no matter what emotions they were, she found herself clasping the book shut and shouldering the coffin once more. Her feet quickly took her near the boy as fast as she could.

"Derrick... Is that you? It's me, Maria," she spoke with breathless hope.

To think that he was alive in these five years like Shiina. It was such a joy. The hair seemed similar, despite having a different hue. The mole above his lip and his thin frame definitely were the same. It had to be him. But, how would he react to her? Now that she changed so much after cutting off her hair and dressed in a nun-like outfit with a coffin at her side?

    This was another reason Derrick disliked coming to the school: there were weirdos on campus. If the outfit and the coffin were props in a play, a statement, some kind of art, maybe he'd be okay with this woman. As far as he could tell, however, this outfit was none of those. This girl was just plain weird. And now, now she knew his name?

    For all the strange looks they could bring him, his sunglasses were good at hiding the unimpressed look he gave the girl as he glanced her up and down, having to move his head in order to take in her full appearance. "Maria"? He'd met several in the past, and none really worth remembering. "...I'm sorry, have we met before?"

Maria felt something fall inside her. Did he really forget her? Then again, she did look a lot different. On top of that, a lot did happen in five years, they only met once before, and Maria was pretty young back then. She started to flush, feeling both awkward and embarrassed. The nun-in-training couldn't blame him, but she nodded.


"We met before five years ago. At the food court in the Research and Development building. I guess you don't remember me, huh, Derrick?" she remarked with a sigh and a smile, "I remember when I saw you in line for lunch and how you played with that dollar bill... How's Liz and Sarah?"

If Derrick was alright, then perhaps those two were doing alright as well. They had to be. It would be far saddening if they didn't survive those five years ago. But if Derrick is doing alright, as regrettable as that would be, it should be something to be thankful for.

    Five years ago...

    It had to be important for Derrick to remember something that happened longer than a few months ago. There weren't many things that fit into that category, of course; his diagnosis, his lessons, his inspiration...but the Tragedy was a category all its own.

    Briefly he remembered going on a trip that day and getting back before dark. He remembered going back home, and the children were all tense and scared. Try as he might, their fear had been contagious, and he could recall worrying paper between his hands, crumpling it and smoothing it for hours in an attempt to distract himself as the caretakers tried to keep the children content.

    It made sense that he didn't remember this woman on that day.

    After a brief shake of his head at her question, Derrick listened to the rest of her statement before responding. "Liz is fine. Irritatingly late, as per usual, but fine otherwise." He wanted to look towards the school then, but he'd have to turn his head to do that and it was rude to look away from someone you were talking to. "Sarah..." he trailed off for a moment, racking his brain. Sarah...he knew a lot of those too. But 5 years ago...at the Research building... "If I'm not mistaken, she was adopted a few years ago. I see her from time to time, and she appears content. How about you? The past five years seem to have treated you well."

Maria was, for a lack of a better word, sad as her face fell at his response that he couldn't remember her. But she really can't blame him. What happened when they were together, wasn't really that much of interest to begin with. At the very least he seems to be fine with both Liz and Sarah. She cracked a glad grin at the news. They were alive and well. Though for Maria? In a way, yes, but... she lost what can't be returned. Yet the rest of the five years she spent? Maria can't complain.

"...Yes, it has treated me well. I'm... I'm doing fine. Yes," she replied slowly as her eyes couldn't meet his, but she was able to look back to return smiling, "Liz is coming? I can wait with you. Though I probably have to leave in a bit..."

She looked back in the direction of the Class Zero and then back at him, "I remember your hair being different. Did you dye it?"

    If Derrick noticed her tone change, he didn't acknowledge it. Instead he merely shrugged nonchalantly. "Feel free to wait for her. I can't guarantee she'll be quick, though, so if you have a prior engagement, please, don't be late on her account." His words were harsh, maybe even more so because of his almost deadpan, indifferent delivery in regards to Liz, but it was the truth. No sense in being late because the other party couldn't get their act together.

    "...Oh, I was blonde back then." Derrick commented almost absentmindedly. A few years ago, people had been in an uproar and made comments similar to the one Maria made. He was young, after all, and people seemed to think it was a sin to tamper with blonde hair. "Yes, I did." He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm afraid that's the only change I've made to it, however."

    Letting his arm drop, he shifted against the fence, only to jump slightly as he felt something shift behind him and fall onto the grass at his side with a dull thump. There was only one thing that could've made that sound. With a annoyed little huff, Derrick held up a finger in a pause gesture towards Maria, then looked at the ground for a second. After locating his cane he bent down and picked it up, this time holding it in his hand rather than leaning it against the fence.

    "...If you don't mind my asking..." he said suddenly, looking back towards Maria, "Why in heaven's name are you lugging that with you?" He lifted one finger off of his cane to point towards the coffin at the girl's back.

"Then I'll wait as long as I can," she declared with a nod. She was aware that Derrick wasn't exactly an unkind child. His deadpan nature was rather familiar back five years ago. So she didn't take it personally at all. It was just how he was.

Though she did miss his earlier blonde color. It was such a nice blonde too. She supposed he must have undergone some kind of "phase". Not that she fell prey to it, but she was aware of it. Though it wasn't like it was jarring compared to other dyes. "It's a rather nice color."

She watched Derrick take some time to pick up his cane. Did he actually have that five years ago? Maria couldn't quite remember. Maybe it might be something to ask Liz about if she manages to meet her again.

"Oh, this? It's a good luck charm. Something important I have to take with me tonight," she replied calmly, yet there was a tinge of nervousness that could be barely detected. Maria tried really hard to adopt a nonchalant poker face. She did get a little better about it, but there was still more left to be desired.

    For the first time since seeing her, Derrick smiled. It wasn't very large, but it was there, putting a serene spin to his features that seemed rare and almost out of place. "Thank you." He seemed quite glad with her taste in the color, and for a moment he lifted his head just a bit higher, almost as if preening.

    Eyeing the coffin at her back, Derrick didn't waste a beat. "Seems like a rather large good luck charm. I hope there isn't a reason it needs to be so big." For a moment, thoughts of corpses filled his head. Surely this girl wouldn't be doing anything illegal and immoral like that, right...? Well, he didn't know her that well, so it was possible...

     "As well as I can be." he shrugged. Maybe the girl was thinking in terms of specifics, but he'd refrain from sharing any particulars unless outright asked. She was a stranger, after all. Can't be too friendly with people like that. Stranger danger. "And you?" He spared a glance at the Academy behind her. "...Are you here because you're now attending this school?"

She smiled back at Derrick, pleased that she was finally seeing the boy smile. It made her warm inside and made up for him forgetting about her. And besides, they can always establish new memories anyway. Then again, it's not like they were even that close in the first place.


She really hated the coffin and the Demon Weapon known as Andraste. Even the eggheads, they were to be blamed for this embarrassment. Maria had hoped the boy wouldn't have incorrect perceptions of her. But there's nothing much she can do too much about it now.

"I'm doing well. I've been going to this school for a while now," she replied back with a cheery smile, "Though I have business at the Class Zero building..."

    ...It couldn't be helped? Derrick cocked a brow, eyeing the coffin once more. Why in the world would she need to lug it around, good luck charm or not? Was it something this school forced her to do? Or some weird quirk of hers? ...Honestly, something like this kind of transcended "quirk", but he couldn't think of any other word for it.

    Class zero. He knew the name well. Most people from this area had an idea of what that meant. Derrick's gaze immediately trailed away from the girl, glancing towards the front door of the building. He supposed some people had a real calling or desire for that particular line of work, but he honestly couldn't see the appeal. It honestly felt almost wasteful to him. It was a decent job, a glorified police officer really, and he was distantly grateful for the fact someone was actually addressing the demon issue in Endymion, but still, he never really understood the draw. Was it the pay, the fame, the accolades? Who knew. "Class zero? What would you need to do there?"

    Before she could answer, the sound of shoes clicking across the pavement reached his ears, and he looked in that direction just in time to see a young woman skid up to him, her upper torso wobbling and eventually tapping into his as she struggled to maintain her balance. "Sorry I'm late, Derrick-!" she huffed, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I got caught up in the office."

    "It's fine, Liz." With his free hand he plucked one of the hands off of his shoulders. Liz, however, only tugged him closer with her remaining arm, settling herself around his shoulders as she turned to Maria and grinned.

    "I remember you from the assembly today. Are you new to this school...?"

Maria was about to answer, but the clapping sound of footsteps were abrupt and loud enough to garner her attention. Yet, it was that very sound and the arrival of a certain someone that the girl would soon find herself smiling widely at a familiar woman. She laughed softly and in amusement when it looked like Liz was about to fall over and then recovered, but it was a laughter of delight. But her smile did fall when the woman finally addressed her. At the assembly? Was it some kind of attempt to remember the nun?


She quirked her lips to the side in disappointment. As before, it had been five years since they last met. Even during those years, Maria couldn't make time to meet up with them. It was something unavoidable, but it didn't make it less hurtful.  But she immediately bounced back with a soft smile. There was no need to dwell on it. They can just begin again.

    Derrick could see Liz's quirk in a particular way that meant she was thinking deeply. Obviously Maria's "five year" comment confused her greatly. "Do you remember the catastrophe five years ago?" he cut in, drawing Liz's dulled gaze. "We went on a trip that day with Sarah?"

    "Trip...Trip..." she mused, finally pulling away from the boy and resting a hand on her chin. She hummed in thought before brighteing, immediately bouncing over to Maria and drawing the girl into a hug. "It's you! Kitty! OH, I'm so glad to see you got home alright!" Drawing back slightly, Liz pressed her hands to Maria's cheeks, squishing them slightly and frowning. "Don't scare your elders like that!"

    Something clicked in Derrick's head. "Kitty." Liz had thrown that word out on occasion when talking to Sarah. Something about that game cat's cradle or something and another person. Was this what Liz had been referring to? Maria? Shrugging to himself, the boy just watched on, waiting for Liz to finish.

    "I've been worrying over you for ages!" Liz continued. "It's not nice to scare people like that!" With a final huff Liz let go of Maria's face, shaking her head somewhat before smiling. "Anyways...I'm just fine. How've you been?"

She let the lady have her hands on the nun's face. When she did, it was a look of dissatisfaction. Kitty? Is that how Manry remembered her? The girl couldn't remember exactly what kind of feline characteristics she exhibited five years ago, unless she was referring to the Cat's Cradle. Maria awkwardly smiled again nevertheless. She kept telling herself it was five years ago, but this was just getting a little bit painful.  With a beaming smile, she replied, "I'm doing alright, Liz. I've been a bit busy in these five years. How's the orphanage? Is everyone there doing alright?"