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[ yeah - yeah, this is what he expected.
vax threads his fingers in the back of ruby's hair, and pulls her in close to his chest, and just holds her. it's not the first time this week ruby has cried on him. some tiny part of him hopes it will be the last - even if in this place, it seems unlikely.
he just holds her, ducking his head and closing his eyes. death is for the living, after all. ]
vax threads his fingers in the back of ruby's hair, and pulls her in close to his chest, and just holds her. it's not the first time this week ruby has cried on him. some tiny part of him hopes it will be the last - even if in this place, it seems unlikely.
he just holds her, ducking his head and closing his eyes. death is for the living, after all. ]
[ she is just so. sad. there's an anger there, somewhere, but it's being drowned out by the tears and heartache.
vax holds her and she clings back, like he might disappear too...if she let's go.
a small, choked out: ]
...why....
[ there is no good answer this. people have been dying every week...but it hasn't been this close, til now. ]
vax holds her and she clings back, like he might disappear too...if she let's go.
a small, choked out: ]
...why....
[ there is no good answer this. people have been dying every week...but it hasn't been this close, til now. ]
[ it's never easy to see someone grieving, especially not someone as young as ruby. vax holds her a little tighter when she chokes up like that, the sob making his throat tighten a little. he rocks ruby, gently, just a bit, a silent, steady, i'm not going anywhere.
(not yet. not until this is all over.)
... ]
... Death is a part of life. [ vax says this quietly, here, like it's something recited. ] We can dread it, and mourn it, and be fucking angry about it, but we can't stop it.
'm sorry, Rubes. [ it's genuine, and soft, and he hugs her a little tighter. ]
(not yet. not until this is all over.)
... ]
... Death is a part of life. [ vax says this quietly, here, like it's something recited. ] We can dread it, and mourn it, and be fucking angry about it, but we can't stop it.
'm sorry, Rubes. [ it's genuine, and soft, and he hugs her a little tighter. ]
[ she lets out a shaky breath, nodding in response...she knows this, after all that she has lost, she knows this. but it still cuts so deep.
she is so thankful to vax, regardless, because he's here. she's not suffering this alone. ]
It...it never gets easier...[ she squeezes back. ]...it hurts.
[ turns her head to the side, still rested against him and closes her eyes. ]
Thank you, Vax...
she is so thankful to vax, regardless, because he's here. she's not suffering this alone. ]
It...it never gets easier...[ she squeezes back. ]...it hurts.
[ turns her head to the side, still rested against him and closes her eyes. ]
Thank you, Vax...
[ she gives it some time. a few hours after everyone has moved on for the night.
and then she goes to the rooftop.
she doesn't say anything. she just quietly walks up next to him, on the railing, and stands there. looking out at the nighttime landscape of the prism.]
and then she goes to the rooftop.
she doesn't say anything. she just quietly walks up next to him, on the railing, and stands there. looking out at the nighttime landscape of the prism.]
[ oh that hurts to hear...she frowns and lightly presses against him. ]
Just wanted to check on you...
[ she doesn't quite know what to say, really just wants to exist in the same space as him. that much is enough, to calm her worry. ]
Just wanted to check on you...
[ she doesn't quite know what to say, really just wants to exist in the same space as him. that much is enough, to calm her worry. ]
[ she's given it some time, after everything that happened, so here she is.
where ever vax is, she's finding him and walking over. seeing him here definitely puts her at ease, at least she knows he'll be taken care of. ]
Vax?
where ever vax is, she's finding him and walking over. seeing him here definitely puts her at ease, at least she knows he'll be taken care of. ]
Vax?
[ vax is in the medbay! he's behaving himself. he hasn't spent a ton of time in the pod yet, but he's at least stable, if not just fucking exhausted.
exhausted or not, though, hes got a smile for ruby. ]
Hey, Rubes. p so, so much better than yesterday. ] You alright?
exhausted or not, though, hes got a smile for ruby. ]
Hey, Rubes. p so, so much better than yesterday. ] You alright?
[ seeing him smile makes her smile right back, heaving a sigh of relief. ]
I should be asking you that. [ she reaches out to boop him gently on the nose, before pulling a chair up to sit next to him. ]
I'm...okay. Still shaken from everything, but okay.
[ her smile falters for a second and she has to reach up to rub at here eyes, as they gloss over. her voice a little shaky: ] I'm just glad you're both...you're both okay.
I should be asking you that. [ she reaches out to boop him gently on the nose, before pulling a chair up to sit next to him. ]
I'm...okay. Still shaken from everything, but okay.
[ her smile falters for a second and she has to reach up to rub at here eyes, as they gloss over. her voice a little shaky: ] I'm just glad you're both...you're both okay.
[ booped! he goes a little cross eyed when this happen, and then just looks instantly more fond. his sister just did this to him an hour ago, after all. ]
...Yeah. Me too. [ this relief is very genuine. he doesn't seem at all opposed to ruby's company, either, looking her over briefly to make sure she's actually alright, at least physically. ] Iunno what happened, and neither do the residents, but, I'm grateful.
...Did you see her, Rubes? [ warmth there, a little effusive. ] My sister.
...Yeah. Me too. [ this relief is very genuine. he doesn't seem at all opposed to ruby's company, either, looking her over briefly to make sure she's actually alright, at least physically. ] Iunno what happened, and neither do the residents, but, I'm grateful.
...Did you see her, Rubes? [ warmth there, a little effusive. ] My sister.
[ there's a little worry there, about the unknown, but she's decided to simply worry about that later and focus on them being alive. and yes, she's fine physically, maybe looks a little tired, but otherwise perfectly okay.
she nods. ] Vex, right? She's amazingly warm and strong.
[ and even though there was no face. ] And beautiful.
she nods. ] Vex, right? She's amazingly warm and strong.
[ and even though there was no face. ] And beautiful.
[ his smile grows a little. softer, fonder. ]
Yeah, she is. [ he can be this sweet about vex, right now, because she's not here - but she was. it was exactly what vax needed to see, exactly what he needed to carry on after all of the suffering of the past few days. ] Figures, she'd have to come save our asses.
Yeah, she is. [ he can be this sweet about vex, right now, because she's not here - but she was. it was exactly what vax needed to see, exactly what he needed to carry on after all of the suffering of the past few days. ] Figures, she'd have to come save our asses.
[ hearing vax talk about her with such fondness, it makes her smile. ]
She couldn't let her boys go down like that. [ she reaches out to place a hand over his. ] Her love for you, for both of you, is stronger than whatever this place throws at you. And that love is what saved you.
She couldn't let her boys go down like that. [ she reaches out to place a hand over his. ] Her love for you, for both of you, is stronger than whatever this place throws at you. And that love is what saved you.
[ she tilts her head to the side, coming up next to him. ]
Weirdly cold? [ she thinks for a second. ] I don't think so, but it looks like you do. Are you okay?
Weirdly cold? [ she thinks for a second. ] I don't think so, but it looks like you do. Are you okay?
Oh that's hateful.
[ she looks to the firepit and then back at vax, before taking off her cape and putting it around him. ]
Let's try sitting by the fire, maybe that'll help warm you up a bit?
[ she looks to the firepit and then back at vax, before taking off her cape and putting it around him. ]
Let's try sitting by the fire, maybe that'll help warm you up a bit?
[ jsklg cute.. pure... vax now has three (3) cloaks. he will take it, emotions flickering immediately into fondness.
he hops off of the railing, landing easily, and makes a little bit of a face at the pinprick feeling, then comes to join her with a little smile. ]
Sounds good. [ reaching out to ruffle her hair! ] You weren't alone last night, right?
he hops off of the railing, landing easily, and makes a little bit of a face at the pinprick feeling, then comes to join her with a little smile. ]
Sounds good. [ reaching out to ruffle her hair! ] You weren't alone last night, right?
[ helps grandpa to the couch (jk...unless?). but she does sit and pats the spot next to her, so he can sit close. the fire is very warm!
the ruffle is welcome, even if she does make a face afterwards. she is also fond. ]
Nope! I actually went to Metallic with Jiuqing and Roxana was there too. She gave me a little tour of the place, it's very nice.
[ her smile softens. ]
I'm really relieved to see you're okay.
the ruffle is welcome, even if she does make a face afterwards. she is also fond. ]
Nope! I actually went to Metallic with Jiuqing and Roxana was there too. She gave me a little tour of the place, it's very nice.
[ her smile softens. ]
I'm really relieved to see you're okay.
[ bumps their shoulders together. ]
Good! [ the relief she feels is so much, along with warmth. ]
The two of you aren't allowed to go anywhere...
[ her emotions go a little wobbly after saying that, while the fondness is still there, there's also a sense of fear as well. fear of losing either of them. ]
Good! [ the relief she feels is so much, along with warmth. ]
The two of you aren't allowed to go anywhere...
[ her emotions go a little wobbly after saying that, while the fondness is still there, there's also a sense of fear as well. fear of losing either of them. ]
[ nnnooo baby girl. he just reaches out and slings an arm around her shoulders to pull her in for a side hug. ]
We're trying. [ "is vax trying" eh it's not any worse than it is at home, probably. he's gonna do his best to assuage that fear, something protective and soothing coming across in his own emotions. ] That goes the same for you too.
We're trying. [ "is vax trying" eh it's not any worse than it is at home, probably. he's gonna do his best to assuage that fear, something protective and soothing coming across in his own emotions. ] That goes the same for you too.
[ she leans into the hug, kind of curling up.
her emotions shift back to fondness, looking up with a smile and holding her hand out. ]
Gotta keep that pinky promise.
[ holds out pinky ]
her emotions shift back to fondness, looking up with a smile and holding her hand out. ]
Gotta keep that pinky promise.
[ holds out pinky ]
[ vax spent his immediate time with vin after the execution, but the minute he gets the chance to, he's gonna come find ruby, so.
up on the rooftop, ruby will feel from behind her, something warm - vax's cloak, a soft, gray material, coming to wrap around her shoulders, and the gentle warmth of concern and sorrow in his emotions. ]
up on the rooftop, ruby will feel from behind her, something warm - vax's cloak, a soft, gray material, coming to wrap around her shoulders, and the gentle warmth of concern and sorrow in his emotions. ]
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