[ the hand on her neck makes the heat behind her eyes even worse. she manages to keep it back, but only just barely. instead, her hand comes up to hold onto his shirt. the glow on her arm is a small, winding tattoo: CYCLES. ]
Yeah. [ she says, finally, rough as hell. ] We'll make it. East - East told me that we don't have to stay in our lounges tonight. So we can stick together.
[ we'll make it. his heart twists like a dishrag, because - well, that's what they said before, too. i won't let you die. fat lot of good that did, didn't it?
another deep breath, and he shakes his head a little. ]
Good. [ said with a modicum of ferocity, protective. it relieves some - a tiny, tiny bit of that anxiety - not that it did much last time, says the nasty little voice, but he keeps his hand there, watches that cycle, rubs his thumb gently into the pressure point at the back of her neck to try and soothe a little, too. ] Tell you what. Let's go to simulations. Me, you, Hulkenberg. Can spend the night on the runner.
[ it relaxes her a bit. it takes her back a few weeks ago - when she told him that she didn't ever really let anybody see her back. nobody else really sees her like this. there's a measure of safety with him that she doesn't know how to handle, that makes her feel like she's fifteen years old banging on the door from the basement. ]
Probably not. We'll wake up arse over teakettle in a heap on the floor.
[ strohl says - he's trying to keep his tone light, easy, trying not to let his anxious nerves betray him. maybe if he says it enough it'll soothe him, too, that it'll be fine, that they'll both wake up the next day.
the more she clings, the more he lets it, scooting that little bit closer, arm wrapping a little firmer, a little more steady. ] Going to have to get Hulkenberg to patch you up again in the morning.
[ a little laugh, something slightly wet and gaspy.
for the first time in what feels like a long time, she just lets him hug her. she lets someone comfort her. lets someone be the person in charge. for as much as there's that instinct, still, the desire to pull herself together and look like she's got her shit together, strohl is safe, and he's got her. it's... unusual. she's never really had people she felt like she could do this with.
just one, but that was the one that filled her back with bullets. so.
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Yeah. [ she says, finally, rough as hell. ] We'll make it. East - East told me that we don't have to stay in our lounges tonight. So we can stick together.
no subject
another deep breath, and he shakes his head a little. ]
Good. [ said with a modicum of ferocity, protective. it relieves some - a tiny, tiny bit of that anxiety - not that it did much last time, says the nasty little voice, but he keeps his hand there, watches that cycle, rubs his thumb gently into the pressure point at the back of her neck to try and soothe a little, too. ] Tell you what. Let's go to simulations. Me, you, Hulkenberg. Can spend the night on the runner.
How's that sound?
no subject
Sounds good.
[ she manages, choking on it. she clings. ]
Think it'll stay that way all night?
no subject
[ strohl says - he's trying to keep his tone light, easy, trying not to let his anxious nerves betray him. maybe if he says it enough it'll soothe him, too, that it'll be fine, that they'll both wake up the next day.
the more she clings, the more he lets it, scooting that little bit closer, arm wrapping a little firmer, a little more steady. ] Going to have to get Hulkenberg to patch you up again in the morning.
no subject
for the first time in what feels like a long time, she just lets him hug her. she lets someone comfort her. lets someone be the person in charge. for as much as there's that instinct, still, the desire to pull herself together and look like she's got her shit together, strohl is safe, and he's got her. it's... unusual. she's never really had people she felt like she could do this with.
just one, but that was the one that filled her back with bullets. so.
vi sniffs, still hiding her face. ]
She did a good job already.