featherduster | ( limelight ) overflow

You have friends on the outside, don't you?

[ It's a rhetorical question, really; he knows she has friends on the boat, at minimum ]

And what am I, chopped liver?

[ The ears are always more expressive than the feathers; they flick back, flat against her hair, and she just considers the empty cup with more attention than it's truly worth. ]

Acquaintances, sure, but they're not like-- I don't really have--

...

And anyway, I kinda assumed you'd move on for real after all that.

[ His frown deepens ]

What does "moving on for real" entail, exactly?

I don't know. Like-- getting away from all of this, for good. Or the people in it. Now that you don't have to be at the edge of it anymore...?

Well, yeah.

But you're not in it, not anymore. So why would I have to move on from you?

[ Because they don't technically have a "connection" anymore? Because they hadn't talked for like ten years before the boat forced them into close quarters so why start now? Because-- and most importantly-- now that she's done the job she was tasked to do, she's fully outlived her usefulness?

She doesn't say any of that, of course, because it sounds insane and also they're in public. But she does visibly fret about it, sort of idly picking at her sleeve in lieu of anything actually connected to her, and eventually says, ]

... Just felt like how it was gonna go. We get "out" and then-- ... then you all go back to the lives you actually want, and all that.

Cori.

[ He moves around in front of her, tugging a little at her hand. ]

You know I didn't want to leave you. Right?

[ He is not sure she does in fact know that ]

[ she looks back up at him-- them down again, at their hands.

There is a distinct sense that No She Did Not Really Know That. But. ]

Well-- you had to, right? Even if you didn't want to, it isn't like you can trust me.

I just... didn't wanna put you in an impossible position.

It would've been selfish, wouldn't it?

Wasn't... doing all of this selfish anyway?

[ it isn't accusing; more wasn't that the point? ]

Depends on what's included in "all of this," I guess.

Regardless, I'm not...

I'm not mad the you "left me" or anything like that. If that's what you think. I just figured-- with everything done...

[ gestures weakly. ]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do and all, so it isn't like that's your issue to solve.

Edited 2025-05-18 19:16 (UTC)

[ He looks her in the eye, deciding directness is the wisest possible path at this crossroads. ]

Do you want me to leave you behind now?

[ Looking directly in the eye it's nearly impossible for her to hide the way the idea of it crushes her, but she sure does try to shut it down as quickly as possible. ]

... No.

[ He twists his hand to take hers fully ]

Then I'm not going to.

[ Simply ]

[ it takes a second, for her grip to curl more firmly around his hand. ]

... sorry. I've been doing a lot of-- assuming, lately.

Don't apologize. I haven't exactly been... clear. To be honest, until the boat, I never really knew what my future might look like.

[ He squeezes her hand ]

I want you in it, though.

[ She definitely looks like she's fighting off a bit of tears, her lips twisting before she ducks her head. ]

-- Y'don't have to. It'd be easier if you didn't. So long as you're happy with how things turned out, I can't complain.

[ a pause. ]

But if you actually want me. Around, still. I want... that, too.

Trust me-- if I didn't want you around, I'd be long gone.

You were one of the only things about that shitty place that was worth it.

[ Somehow looks even WEEPIER ]

... I do trust you.

[ Baby girl

Fuck it, there's nobody here to break their fingers. Pulls her into a hug ]

[ The reaction is near-instant, the moment he makes it clear what he's doing-- she pushes into him, arms tight around him and fingers clinging hard into the back of his shirt, ears flat and tail low. ]

Edited (forgor no wings) 2025-05-19 16:51 (UTC)

[ Quietly, smoothing a hand over her hair ]

I'm sorry, Cori.

[ muffled, a little bit of a wobble in her voice. she sniffles. ]

For what? I-- have you, so...

You do.

But... I remember how it felt.

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