[ just another part of the resort does make him frown, nose scrunching briefly with the force of it, but - he squeezes her shoulder when he looses his grip, managing to match a brief, slightly helpless half smile. too many thing to think, to say, too little time.
but then she asks, if he's okay. and that's a question, it's a whole question that sets off an entire other path, and he swallows. ]
...yeah. [ yeah, he's...fine, ish. he scans her face again, mouth pulling tight. ] - How... [ ... ] Things were bad, for you - I should be asking you that question.
What do you mean? [ there's an instinctive movement, the sort of thing she used to do for mylo and claggor and powder, so long ago - she brings a hand up and tucks his hair behind his ear, out of his face. it doesn't register that she's doing it so much, watching him. ]
I just saw you like five minutes ago. Shit's the same, just repackaged.
[ huh??? is the exact mood, because that's all over his face - he looks like he's feeling about fifty emotions at once, mouth flopping open and closed briefly. ]
No, you got on the train, we got off the train, and you were gone, and - the tournament's done, everything's changed, and - it's October, Vi.
[ was
was he really stressed for nothing - well, not nothing, but still. ]
[ maybe someone else would just answer those questions - when vi laughs, though, all that stress and all that worry just compounds and then collapses, and he reaches up to put a hand on his forehead, suddenly feeling somewhere between exhausted and relieved, maybe a little hysterical at his own damn self. all of that freaking out for... nothing? well. maybe not. the fact that they've been reunited in this...whatever this can't actually be that good, but the fact of the matter is that they're reunited.
he exhales out noisily and rubs his temples. ]
... Bloody hell. [ god. GOD!!! ] Alright. Alright then. Sounds like we just have to do it correctly this time, right? Whatever got in the way, we'll have to figure it out. Second chance.
no, it's fine, she's more concerned about him than anything. he just sort of sinks down, relieved like that, and there's something in her that gets twisty and wrung out thinking that he worried that badly. that he didn't just forget, even though it's been months. we'll just figure it out. we'll just make it work this time. like it's easy. like she's not thinking maybe that was the universe telling her she doesn't deserve that.
a beat, and then - she just tugs him closer and hugs him. big, warm, tight hug. ]
it surprises him, at first - hands flexing briefly in the air, startled, but...well, in their short time together, he'd started to get used to vi's easy affection, found himself missing her presence something fierce in the bare moments he had to catch his breath before.
... his hands curl, and he returns the hug with an exhale, half of a laugh, and then returns it full force, clapping his hand against her shoulder. ]
... Bloody good to see you again. [ strohl says, eventually, voice rough - as honest and genuine as it always is. ]
[ she teases, but her voice is a little rough, too. more genuine than she really means for it to be, in her relief that he hasn't changed at all. that he's still around, and that she doesn't have to do all of this alone. she rests a hand on the back of his head and just stays there for a minute. it is. maybe clear that she's a little touchstarved, sorry buddy. ]
[ the tease has him thump his fist against her shoulder - not too hard, but also the most nonverbal shut up you've ever heard. it's another chance to fix everything, to bring vi back, to keep her safe. it wasn't all lost. sometimes - sometimes he gets lucky.
right person, right time. ]
Yeah. [ matching in tone. ] Yeah, me too. [ ... ] Let's get the hell out of here. For real, this time, if you still trust me.
[ she laughs, squeezing him tightly. the thump against her shoulder is so familiar. it feels like home, it feels like seven years ago in a cramped basement under a bar. ]
Yeah, of course I do, stupid. [ of course she still trusts him. don't go changing on her.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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but then she asks, if he's okay. and that's a question, it's a whole question that sets off an entire other path, and he swallows. ]
...yeah. [ yeah, he's...fine, ish. he scans her face again, mouth pulling tight. ] - How... [ ... ] Things were bad, for you - I should be asking you that question.
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What do you mean? [ there's an instinctive movement, the sort of thing she used to do for mylo and claggor and powder, so long ago - she brings a hand up and tucks his hair behind his ear, out of his face. it doesn't register that she's doing it so much, watching him. ]
I just saw you like five minutes ago. Shit's the same, just repackaged.
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...What? [ five minutes? ] ...Vi, it's been months.
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she stares at him. ]
Huh? [ dumbly. and then: ] No? I just got on the train with you guys and then woke up here.
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No, you got on the train, we got off the train, and you were gone, and - the tournament's done, everything's changed, and - it's October, Vi.
[ was
was he really stressed for nothing - well, not nothing, but still. ]
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so she kind of just - laughs, a bark of a sound, and: ]
It's... [ she trails off, frowning. and then: ] Okay, maybe that happened for you, but it didn't for me.
[ ... ]
Shit, the tournament is done? Did - did your Captain win?
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he exhales out noisily and rubs his temples. ]
... Bloody hell. [ god. GOD!!! ] Alright. Alright then. Sounds like we just have to do it correctly this time, right? Whatever got in the way, we'll have to figure it out. Second chance.
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no, it's fine, she's more concerned about him than anything. he just sort of sinks down, relieved like that, and there's something in her that gets twisty and wrung out thinking that he worried that badly. that he didn't just forget, even though it's been months. we'll just figure it out. we'll just make it work this time. like it's easy. like she's not thinking maybe that was the universe telling her she doesn't deserve that.
a beat, and then - she just tugs him closer and hugs him. big, warm, tight hug. ]
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it surprises him, at first - hands flexing briefly in the air, startled, but...well, in their short time together, he'd started to get used to vi's easy affection, found himself missing her presence something fierce in the bare moments he had to catch his breath before.
... his hands curl, and he returns the hug with an exhale, half of a laugh, and then returns it full force, clapping his hand against her shoulder. ]
... Bloody good to see you again. [ strohl says, eventually, voice rough - as honest and genuine as it always is. ]
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[ she teases, but her voice is a little rough, too. more genuine than she really means for it to be, in her relief that he hasn't changed at all. that he's still around, and that she doesn't have to do all of this alone. she rests a hand on the back of his head and just stays there for a minute. it is. maybe clear that she's a little touchstarved, sorry buddy. ]
Sorry you're here, but also I'm not.
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right person, right time. ]
Yeah. [ matching in tone. ] Yeah, me too. [ ... ] Let's get the hell out of here. For real, this time, if you still trust me.
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Yeah, of course I do, stupid. [ of course she still trusts him. don't go changing on her.
she pulls back finally, hands on his shoulders. ]
You got it. You got me.