[ The way he's not built for comfort, but concern is clear on his face. That's not the sort of memory anyone just bounces back from, and Aventurine reaches toward Vi before catching himself at the last second to pull his hand back. ]
Let me give you a moment. I'll get you something to drink.
[ He'll hop into the nearest establishment and come back a few minutes later with a bottle of water that he holds out to her. ]
[ the action of him reaching to touch before pulling his hand makes her heart hurt, in a weird way. she doesn't think about it too hard, but. something about how easy it was to sit and draw with him, last week.
when he comes back, she's a little more composed. she takes the bottle of water and drinks, and - roughly: ]
... Thanks. Sorry you had to see that. [ it's not the greatest look for her, she thinks. ]
[ They're both very different people than from when they were younger, and it feels all too stark now. She takes the bottle from him, and after she's had a drink, he'll lead them to a quieter part of the casino to sit. ]
[ she follows easily enough, running her hand through her hair. once they're in a quieter part, she flops down and sinks into her chair like a slug, almost sullen.
It doesn't matter. You've seen it. And it's not like it's a secret. [ she's not going to defend herself, though. she really will just let him think she's an awful person who left her sister behind. ]
The fuck. That's way better. [ ... ] We just got thrown unceremoniously into a machine, broke some shit, woke up, and got shuffled back to our own worlds after getting slaughtered for two weeks.
[ This one's always one of the hardest hitting memories, and Aventurine has to take a second to collect himself. ]
It's been a long time and I've... mostly come to terms with it. I guess I'm expecting a reunion at the end of things, once the final chapter of my story has come to a close.
Kinda more optimistic than I was expecting, but that's not a bad thing.
[ she shifts, reaching to put a hand on his arm, if he'll allow it. ]
That kind of thing never goes away. [ softer. ] You can make all the rationalizations and excuses and say all the right things, but at the end of the day you had to survive when the others didn't, and I know how hard that is.
[ and then: ]
Was it really your birthday? [ to the tone of like, jesus, man. what kinda luck... ]
[ Oh. He looks down at the hand on his arm in surprise, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he reaches over with his other hand to cover Vi's with an appreciative squeeze.
He couldn't do this for her earlier. He regrets that now. Condolences, sympathy, commiseration... He'd never received such things in his youth. He doesn't know how to respond to it or give it back in kind. ]
It was. You can probably guess for yourself how my birthday celebrations have been after that fateful day.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Let me give you a moment. I'll get you something to drink.
[ He'll hop into the nearest establishment and come back a few minutes later with a bottle of water that he holds out to her. ]
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when he comes back, she's a little more composed. she takes the bottle of water and drinks, and - roughly: ]
... Thanks. Sorry you had to see that. [ it's not the greatest look for her, she thinks. ]
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No, please. I'm sorry you were made to share.
[ He hates this week, actually. ]
... So, that was Powder.
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after a moment: ]
... Yeah. My sister. [ ... ] That was years ago.
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We don't have to talk about this if you'd rather not.
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It doesn't matter. You've seen it. And it's not like it's a secret. [ she's not going to defend herself, though. she really will just let him think she's an awful person who left her sister behind. ]
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... Have you seen her since then?
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Yeah. [ ... ] Last time I saw her we tried to kill each other.
[ she will say this much, though: ]
I didn't. I couldn't.
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[ At least he understands that much. ]
... Do you still blame her for what happened?
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No. I didn't even really blame her when we were kids. I just... needed a second.
[ when you lose your entire family in one go because of a mistake, it's rough on the old fifteen year old mental health. ]
You're right, she's my sister - I was supposed to look after her, but I got arrested.
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[ Life sure is cruel like that. ]
I hope it isn't too late for you and her to make amends.
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I don't know. Maybe. I don't know that I'm even going back. [ but there's a lot of wavering, there. ]
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[ Has to ask because why are so many people telling him that they might just be dead back at home don't let that be you, Vi. ]
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Sort of. Strohl offered to let me go back with him and Hulkenberg. If that's even possible.
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[ yippee long distance relationship............ ]
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-- You do? That's a thing? [ looks up at him like ? ] I thought it was one way. I was - I snuck onto their train back, but ended up here.
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Huh... Maybe it works differently for every round, but with mine, we essentially constructed a machine that allows us to travel between universes.
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The fuck. That's way better. [ ... ] We just got thrown unceremoniously into a machine, broke some shit, woke up, and got shuffled back to our own worlds after getting slaughtered for two weeks.
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[ HELP ]
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it - makes her laugh though, and flip him off ]
Wow, okay.
[ also give me memshare back ]
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Since we're on the topic of family and grief and loss, here's this one (stop at 4:59:40) to keep the train going. ]
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it makes vi sad too, especially because she's... seen him as a kid. god.
she opens her mouth when it's done - and then closes it. tries again. ]
... You don't have to talk about it. But I'm sorry she left you behind.
[ from one older sister to another, in a sense. ]
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[ This one's always one of the hardest hitting memories, and Aventurine has to take a second to collect himself. ]
It's been a long time and I've... mostly come to terms with it. I guess I'm expecting a reunion at the end of things, once the final chapter of my story has come to a close.
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[ she shifts, reaching to put a hand on his arm, if he'll allow it. ]
That kind of thing never goes away. [ softer. ] You can make all the rationalizations and excuses and say all the right things, but at the end of the day you had to survive when the others didn't, and I know how hard that is.
[ and then: ]
Was it really your birthday? [ to the tone of like, jesus, man. what kinda luck... ]
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He couldn't do this for her earlier. He regrets that now. Condolences, sympathy, commiseration... He'd never received such things in his youth. He doesn't know how to respond to it or give it back in kind. ]
It was. You can probably guess for yourself how my birthday celebrations have been after that fateful day.
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