“that version of me is gone.”

“this changes nothing.”

“i was counting on it.”

“watch me.”

“it wasn’t like this before.”

“i can’t pretend anymore.”

“it’s a promise.”

“say it again.”

“don’t do this.”

“you’re late.”

“this is your last chance.”

“i made my choice long ago.”

“it was over the moment you left.”

“i had to see it for myself.”

“i’ve made worse mistakes than this.”

“you changed.”

“tell me the truth.”

“you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“you owe me.”

“you followed the wrong path.”

“this isn’t over.”

“i warned you.”

“you’re hiding something.”

“you’ll regret this.”

“they recognized the weapon before they recognized the person holding it.”

“is this a threat?”

“some things can’t be fixed.”

“help me understand.”

“it ends however you decide.”

“you don’t understand.”

“you can’t stop this.”

“you came back.”

“it doesn’t have to end like this.”

“you’re making a mistake.”

“we never make it out clean.”

“maybe it was the only one.”

“you remember me, don’t you?”

“you lied to me.”

“you’re shaking.”

“silence would have been kinder.”

“you shouldn’t have followed me.”

“i trusted you.”

“say my name.”

“i’m not afraid.”

“you knew, didn’t you?”

“is this goodbye?”

“things change.”

“you don’t have to be alone.”

“i mean it this time.”

“that was your first mistake.”

“you’re not who i remember.”

“we don’t have much time.”

“was any of it real?”

“that’s not what you said before.”

“listen to me.”

“and yet, here we are.”

“put it down before this gets worse.”

“look at me.”

“i regret a lot of things.”

“you’re bleeding.”

“i didn’t think you’d survive.”

“don’t say my name like that.”

“you knew i’d come.”

“maybe you never knew me.”

“why are you here?”

“you wouldn’t like it.”

“people like us don’t get happy endings.”

“you followed me into ruin.”

“before everything fell apart.”

“there’s always a choice.”

“we could still fix this.”

“you’ve said that before.”

“i never meant for this to happen.”

“you promised.”

“what did you do?”

“before you chose a side.”

“don’t turn your back on me.”

“before you betrayed me.”

“you shouldn’t have.”

“i’m trying to help you.”

“you’ve always known the truth.”

“say something worth hearing.”

“i’m not backing down.”

“help me, or get out of my way.”

“don’t be foolish.”

“you should have run when you had the chance.”

“i owe you nothing.”

“i had no choice.”

“i walked away when it mattered most.”

“i crossed a line i can’t uncross.”

“i remember you too clearly.”

“you still care?”

it   feels   so   good   to   have   her   life   all   figured   out.   she   likes   having   a   plan   and   seeing   it   through.   ricky   has   always,   always   been   the   most   important   part   of   that   plan.   ❝   you're   so   good   to   me.   ❞   she   says,   sighing   softly.   he's   never   been   anything   but   good   to   her.   he's   her   absolute   favorite   person   on   the   planet   and   she's   just...   so   lucky   to   be   with   him   again.   it   feels   like   she's   finally   able   to   settle   into   the   life   she's   always   wanted;   the   life   she's   dreamt   of   since   she   was   just   a   little   girl.   ❝   i   really   want   to   be   in   something   with   you   again.   we   had   so   much   fun.   ❞   sometimes   she   still   couldn't   believe   that   he'd   actually   auditioned   for   the   musical   just   to   win   her   back.   even   more   than   that,   she   was   so   happy   that   he   found   something   that   he   loved.   she'd   always   known   he   was   so   talented,   but   seeing   him   embrace   it...   god,   she   was   so   happy   for   him,   so   happy   to   see   him   find   something   that   makes   him   happy,   and   that   it's   something   they   can   do   together.   ❝   i   hope   you   know   how   amazing   you   are.   i'm   so   proud   of   you,   ricky.   ❞

    ❝    no... and i'm really sorry you went through that. men eat girls alive, don't they?    ❞    she sighs, a sad shake of her head as she looks at nini. she's glad to see her smiling again.    ❝    i mean- i think we both know it was never a competition.    ❞    heather laughs.    ❝    he's been in love with you for years. that doesn't just go away.    ❞    and heather knew from the beginning of their entanglement he was still hung up on his ex. she had no illusions of anything else. nor did she have any intentions at the time of getting into a relationship, not when planning on leaving for europe for her next project.    ❝    i'm more than happy to be friends with you. it's never going to be bad blood. i promise.    ❞    she smiles, taking nini's hand in hers across the table.    ❝    now can we get a glass of something other than water and some appetizers or something? they do good frozen drinks here-    ❞    

❝   some   men   are   just...   horrible.   ❞   she   says,   shaking   her   head.   ❝   i   mean...   i   don't   want   to   confirm,   it   feels   rude   to   agree,   even   if   it   is   correct.   it's   not   like   he   didn't   care   about   you.   it's   just...   different.   ❞   she   and   ricky   were   written   in   the   stars.   they'd   always   been   destined   to   be   together;   they   were   always   going   to   find   their   way   back.   at   least   nini   can   feel   her   jealousy   slowly   receeding.   it   feels   good.   it   feels   like   healing.   ❝   i'm   working   out   my   issues,   so   i'm   really   thankful   you   won't   hold   them   against   me.   ❞   she   says,   giving   heather   a   soft   smile.   ❝   yes!   oh,   that   sounds   fantastic.   i   should   probably   text   ricky   and   let   him   know   i   may   be   coming   home   tipsy.   he   likes   to   be   warned   before   he   gets   a   one-woman   performance   of   six.   ❞

    ❝    nah-    ❞    he shakes his head, brushes it off.    ❝    i'm not taking anything from you, baby-    ❞    it's a thing- she's the love of his life. she's done so well for herself and he's so proud and so lucky to be here right now.    ❝    i love you more-    ❞    more than the guitar, more than anything.    ❝    i'm ready to be here though- to make this world ours now.    ❞    leaving utah behind for la was the right choice, that audition changed his life, and now he gets his girlfriend back in it.

❝   it's   not   like   the   guitar   doesn't   live   in   the   same   apartment   you   do.   ❞   she   says   with   a   soft   giggle.   they   may   as   well   be   living   together   now,   the   way   they're   never   alone   at   their   places.   they   just   kinda   bounce   between   apartments.   once   nini's   lease   is   up,   they   won't   have   to   worry   with   all   of   that   anymore,   and   she's   so   excited   for   that.   ❝   we're   finally   back   where   we   belong;   with   each   other.   ❞   she   rests   her   head   on   his   shoulder,   sighing   softly   as   she   settles   against   him.   it   never   felt   right,   them   not   being   together.   ❝   i'm   really   happy.   that   you're   here,   that   we're   together,   that   life   finally   feels   safe   again.   ❞   she   hadn't   realized   that   she'd   been   in   survival   mode   for   so   long   until   she   was   finally   out   of   it   and   now   that   she   could   breathe   again,   she   could   never   go   back   to   how   things   were   when   she   first   moved   to   la.   ❝   did   you   get   that   email   about   legally   blonde,   too?   that   could   be   fun   to   audition   for   together...   ❞

    ❝    you took my taylor guitar and the city of stars and you made it your own    ❞    

❝   want   it   back?   ❞   she   asks,   lifting   an   eyebrow   as   a   smile   tugs   at   her   lips.   ❝   i   do   love   this   guitar...   not   as   much   as   the   boy   i   took   it   from,   though.   ❞

I know, you've come a long way.

Your business is urgent.

I will stay here until I am heard!

I have been witness to something. Something of consequence to you.

Looks forbidding enough, don't you think?

[Character name] wore this before they died.

You know, I actually saw [him/her/them] change it into gold.

Magister, please don't talk like that.

All this magic, what has it accomplished?

You still wish to be a sorcerer?

Get yourself a handful of that sulphurous ash over there.

I know why you are here.

How did you come by these?

I found them at the mouth of the lair.

That's no claw, It's a tooth.

You want me to do battle with that?

I-I heard tell [he/she/they] killed a dragon once.

They're all dead. You're the only one left.

Your king's made a pact with a monster.

Are you afraid of dragons?

If it weren't for sorcerers, there wouldn't be any dragons.

When a dragon gets this old, it knows nothing but pain, constant pain.

I'll conquer the highest mountain.

I'm not worried about the road.

Good morrow. What do you want?

I am not afraid of you. Give me the road.

It's a long journey, isn't it?

When you're in search of a sorcerer, I suppose no distance is too great.

I've no more love for that creature than you.

Go to the iron box. Bring me the dagger within.

You can't hurt me.

All you think about is your tricks and your knavery.

You'll have to walk a long way before you conquer it.

I have as much respect for the master as anyone. But then again, I'm master now.

All that you asked of [character name], you may now expect of me. The dangers [he/she/they] would face, I will now conquer.

I'm [character name], inheritor of [name]'s craft and knowledge…I am the sorcerer you seek.

What have you got there, [name]?

Save your jokes for someone else.

Look, nobody forced you to come along.

Look, Sire, isn't that…?

Bring me my bow. Now!

I knew the moment I saw you. I've known the whole time.

There's something that needs to be done.

[Name], what are you doing with this?

Listen to me, you're not going to die.

Is the whole kingdom like this?

We're in no danger, if we just pass through quickly.

Don't be a fool! You'll provoke it!

How do you know it's in there?

Go on then. Get yourself burned alive.

Put that away. What if you were seen?

Come on, [name], don't begrudge a life spared.

I wonder at what we have seen and how it was done.

Isn't it strange? At the very moment that the beast was put down, there should be a holy man in the village.

What sort of gratitude? A knife in the belly? Arrow in the chest?

How many of you have ever seen a table fly?

Did you ever hear of King [character name]?

When he ascended the throne, the dragon was unbridled.

The attack provoked the most terrible reprisals...whole villages incinerated, entire crops burnt… death and famine.

How did you arrogate to yourself the role of savior?

I think you're nothing but a child and an apprentice.

Have you ever considered the consequences of failure?

What are you saying-- you want the dragon back?

You came in and toyed with a monster!

Who are you to risk my people?!

It is better that they should die so others might live.

A kingdom has prospered. At what price?

You can't make a shameful peace with dragons.

You must kill them as I have done.

Are you saying the beast is dead?

Please don't think ill of me.

Did you know that some families have paid bribes to stay out of the lottery?

Have you ever kept my name off the lottery list?

Who fills your head with such ideas?

Please.. don't think of such things, I beg you.

The moment of our fear is the hour of our triumph.

This is no dragon! This is Lucifer!

A devil flung from heaven will now rise from hell!

Don't touch it. Leave it with the others.

I've never taken part in your cursed lottery.

Blacksmith, have you ever forged a weapon?

The best I ever made. I never had the nerve to use it.

What you want to kill isn't flesh and blood.

I'll need the amulet.

I shall die so many may live.

What better name than your own kin?

At last we see justice done.

What treachery is this?

I have learnt that my name has been kept from jeopardy in all the drawings in the past.

Surely you'll do something. If not for me, out of loyalty to the kingdom.

My first duty is…loyalty to the kingdom.

If you want to fight, at least give me a weapon.

I'd live to see the end of it.

I beg you consider what you are doing!

That's not the kind of fire we need.

An edge like no other on this earth.

It's a shield. I made it for you. It might keep the fire off you; it might not.

You're going to die tonight. You'll be ripped limb from limb.

This is the last time I'll ever speak to you.

I've been up there. That thing isn't alone. It's got little ones.

You're in love, aren't you?

You're going to be dead, the dragon will be worse than ever.

I knew I'd find you here.

The kingdom, every one of us, needs this sacrifice.

If you intend to interfere, you'll have to kill me.

I've plenty of reasons to kill you that have nothing to do with this sacrifice.

This is no warrior.

You failed, my friend. And I thank the gods for it.

You know what we have to do!

You said you loved me. Is it true?

What kind of life could you have here?

We can slay this dragon with song and prayer!

I won't let you kill yourself!

I thought I was a sorcerer. I thought I had power.

There's something you must do.

I want you to destroy the amulet and me along with it.

You brought me from the flame. You must send me back.

    ❝    angel...    ❞    ricky frowns at her words, looking at her as he holds onto her hand, sitting looking at each other on her couch.    ❝    i hope it helps we were never together- like i said... it wasn't ever like that. like me and you...    ❞    it never could have been anything like they had though- not even if he were actually dating heather.    ❝    i really missed you too though. i've been really missing you.    ❞    on one hand, it did make sense for them to break up when she left. on the other... it hurt. but he knew they had to change their lives. he had to grow up.    ❝   i'm glad you came- i'm glad we've been texting and all that but... i'm really, really glad to be with you for real.    ❞    they needed this. to be each other's again. ricky quickly shakes off her concern.    ❝    neens don't worry about it. i'm fine. and you're not a bad host. i know tonight's just... a lot.    ❞    she can be as distracted as she likes.

❝   i   don't   think   anything   could   ever   be   like   us.   ❞   she   says,   shrugging   her   shoulders.   that   had   been   all   she'd   wanted   after   she   and   ricky   had   broken   up,   and   what   she'd   found?   it   was   nothing   like   the   love   she   and   ricky   shared.   ❝   i'm   really   glad   i   was   able   to   come   see   you   in   the   show,   but   i   think   i   like   this   more.   ❞   she   tells   him,   her   thumb   rubbing   softly   against   the   back   of   his   hand.   he'd   been   phenomenal;   truly   blown   her   away   with   his   talent.   she'd   always   known   he   was   talented,   but   seeing   him   come   into   his   own,   on   his   own,   was   beautiful.   ❝   i   missed   you,   too.   so,   so   much.   just   hanging   out   with   you,   spending   time   with   my   best   friend.   ❞   she   pouts,   expression   taking   on   that   doe-eyed   look   of   hers.   she'd   been   trying   to   be   good,   sit   next   to   him,   look   at   him,   but   she   can't   help   herself   anymore;   she   needs   to   be   closer.   she   shifts   so   she's   on   her   knees,   scooting   closer,   and   drapes   herself   over   his   lap.   head   rests   on   his   shoulder,   legs   overtop   of   his,   and   snuggles   closer,   breathing   in   the   scent   of   his   cologne.   ❝   the   texting   was   nice   for   sure,   but   i   want   you   this   close   to   me   all   the   time.   ❞   she'd   always   been   like   this   with   ricky,   though.   she   just   wanted   him   next   to   her,   close   as   he   could   get.   ❝   alright.   it   is   a   lot,   huh?   besides,   you   know   you   can   help   yourself   to   whatever.   get   anything   you   want.   ❞   they'd   been   sharing   space   since   they   were   kids;   they   were   well-versed   in   what's   mine   is   yours.