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"It isn't you, Grace."
That much, she can bring herself to say.
"Whether it was you or anyone else, I think I would feel the same way that I do right now. They would still be words I had no answer for."
Words that she's going to have to figure out how to bury, because how is she supposed to talk to others to sort this one out? No, it'll be better if she can put them somewhere and forget, so that the strange self consciousness they bring can also be forgotten in the process.
That much, she can bring herself to say.
"Whether it was you or anyone else, I think I would feel the same way that I do right now. They would still be words I had no answer for."
Words that she's going to have to figure out how to bury, because how is she supposed to talk to others to sort this one out? No, it'll be better if she can put them somewhere and forget, so that the strange self consciousness they bring can also be forgotten in the process.
~They are not a question that needs an answer, simply a true thing. No better or worse than the truth that you are blind or the truth of your skill with machines. But it is as you say, you can hardly check for yourself.~
"Sometimes things ask for answers, questions or not."
But at the least, how much they have shaken her mind can remain her own private secret. Instead, her fingers land on a light fabric, somewhat floaty, a dress certainly too long for herself, but...
"...Would this fit you?"
Lighter fabrics are probably welcome for this eternal weather.
But at the least, how much they have shaken her mind can remain her own private secret. Instead, her fingers land on a light fabric, somewhat floaty, a dress certainly too long for herself, but...
"...Would this fit you?"
Lighter fabrics are probably welcome for this eternal weather.
Edited 2023-06-29 18:55 (UTC)
If Wayne were the type to gasp himself upright he might have as he's falling asleep. Fortunately for his roommate, he's quiet about it, though there's a clattering as he rolls himself out of bed to grab for his phone. It's not terribly late in the evening, he's just been listless and tired and trying to nap off some of the ennui. So much for that, when the realization hits him that he has something that he needs to give Helena before tomorrow.
hey you up?
Way less urgent-looking than he feels typing it...
hey you up?
Way less urgent-looking than he feels typing it...
got something for you if you have a minute
He's just, holding onto the little portable tv. He hasn't turned it on just yet.
He's just, holding onto the little portable tv. He hasn't turned it on just yet.
He's not far behind. He already has an idea what he wants, and so gets that set up shortly before sitting down with her, a steaming hot chocolate in hand. He sets down the little tv on the table.
"Here. I want you to pick that up and push a little button on the top, on the right-hand side." If she needs him to, he'll guide her hand to it, but he wants her to be the one to activate it.
"Here. I want you to pick that up and push a little button on the top, on the right-hand side." If she needs him to, he'll guide her hand to it, but he wants her to be the one to activate it.
The box hums in her hands, the screen coming to life. It makes a sound like bells being struck by soft mallets, the music giving way to the sound of...shaving cream? And Wayne breathes a sigh of relief at the shapes that drift into the air in front of her, then fade. He pauses when the little TV melts into putty in Helena's hands though. That, he hadn't expected.
"...huh."
Just...reaching over to poke that. It's inert. Weird. ANYWAY!
"Ok so did that feel like anything?" He's trying to remember how it felt when he learned his first Gesture, but it's been so long by now that he doesn't remember.
"...huh."
Just...reaching over to poke that. It's inert. Weird. ANYWAY!
"Ok so did that feel like anything?" He's trying to remember how it felt when he learned his first Gesture, but it's been so long by now that he doesn't remember.
The sound is a curious one, and somewhere in the tune is a knowing that feels like something light, tingling in her hands, in the back of her head. But before she can think on it deeper, the box melts, turning into a substance she idly squishes in her hands, intrigued by the texture and change. Weird. Nothing feels concerning, just...a little different, but she doesn't know why.
Wayne's question, though, means that whatever happened was supposed to happen.
"It felt a little strange...like something lightweight was on my hands, and inside my head. Was it supposed to feel any different?"
Wayne's question, though, means that whatever happened was supposed to happen.
"It felt a little strange...like something lightweight was on my hands, and inside my head. Was it supposed to feel any different?"
It feels like the sort of putty that one might use as a stress reliever, as she manipulates it in her hands. She can keep it, he figures, they just need to find a container for it.
"Huh... Okay, so I guess we should probably test it. That was a Gesture," he explains. When we learn new ones at home, usually it's through TV signals. That thing was sent to me from Sundries and I figured, if it's a Gesture, I already have everything I need, so why not see if someone else would be able to use it. And there's nobody I'd want to have it more than you." He wants her to be safe, and give her more ways to do that for herself, and this certainly falls in line with that. "That should be Foam Armor. Which is...actually really strong. It's for when you or others get hurt. It stops burning, fixes leaking, gives you a layer of protection so you can tank an extra hit. I never got the hang of it, it was more Dedusmuln's thing."
"Huh... Okay, so I guess we should probably test it. That was a Gesture," he explains. When we learn new ones at home, usually it's through TV signals. That thing was sent to me from Sundries and I figured, if it's a Gesture, I already have everything I need, so why not see if someone else would be able to use it. And there's nobody I'd want to have it more than you." He wants her to be safe, and give her more ways to do that for herself, and this certainly falls in line with that. "That should be Foam Armor. Which is...actually really strong. It's for when you or others get hurt. It stops burning, fixes leaking, gives you a layer of protection so you can tank an extra hit. I never got the hang of it, it was more Dedusmuln's thing."
She absently manipulates the putty as she listens to him, eyes wider in surprise to realize what just happened. But she's also deeply touched, her expression says, that he'd hand her something that precious - when he could still probably use it instead. What if he does? If something happens?
Then, she guesses, that means she has to be there as well, to make sure it gets used.
"Wayne, I...words feel insufficient."
To grant her any power at all, to grant her this, something that heals and protects instead of harms, as if it somehow was going to end up in her hands by fate. Something to give her and others more shots at surviving.
Then, she guesses, that means she has to be there as well, to make sure it gets used.
"Wayne, I...words feel insufficient."
To grant her any power at all, to grant her this, something that heals and protects instead of harms, as if it somehow was going to end up in her hands by fate. Something to give her and others more shots at surviving.
Wayne reaches across the table, carefully wrapping his hands around the backs of hers.
"You're one of the best friends I've ever had," he says quietly, eyes down on their hands and giving hers a gentle squeeze. "I know I'm probably never gonna be able to convince you to stay out of harm's way, but...I can make it so you're harder to kill. Whatever comes next, I know you'll give it a good run for its money."
"You're one of the best friends I've ever had," he says quietly, eyes down on their hands and giving hers a gentle squeeze. "I know I'm probably never gonna be able to convince you to stay out of harm's way, but...I can make it so you're harder to kill. Whatever comes next, I know you'll give it a good run for its money."
For a moment, her throat feels tight, and she swallows past it, choosing instead to squeeze his hands back. If she could stay out of the way, if there was a path that didn't require blood to keep the engine running, she'd like it. She'd like very much to not have to be hurt in order to keep her existence. But that day isn't here yet. And to make sure Wayne never is forced to, she'll go gladly and by choice.
"I'll hold out as long as I can. I promise you."
Whatever it is. She'll fight for every second - just like she used to. No matter the dignity she loses in the process. She won't make it easy.
"I'll hold out as long as I can. I promise you."
Whatever it is. She'll fight for every second - just like she used to. No matter the dignity she loses in the process. She won't make it easy.
Wayne is accustomed to violence, but then, they both are. There's no point in pretending that it's not true, as much as they both wish they could leave it behind. The best they can do in the here and now is take care of one another. He's not good at it, but he can certainly try, and to him, that means giving her whatever tools he can, be it an outlet or the ability to patch herself up on the fly.
"Help whoever you can. Live as long as you can. I'll be there in the morning for coffee, alright?"
"Help whoever you can. Live as long as you can. I'll be there in the morning for coffee, alright?"
"Actually...Max is supposed to be in my cabin in the morning. If you want, he can leave the door unlocked, so you can come and see me as early as you like. Then you'll be able to see I'm safe and sound."
And from her expression, her tone, she wants him to. Of course, she doesn't mind running through the halls looking for him, to show that she's awake and intact, but being able to talk with him even before then? It'd be reassuring for her as much as it would be for him.
And from her expression, her tone, she wants him to. Of course, she doesn't mind running through the halls looking for him, to show that she's awake and intact, but being able to talk with him even before then? It'd be reassuring for her as much as it would be for him.
She's learned him and the way he works pretty damned well by now. She knows what to say to make him feel a little bit more stable, and give him something outside of himself to focus on. She knows he's trying not to turn back in on himself and allowing him to do this for her would surely help them both.
At least, that's what he hopes.
"Maybe in the morning, we can all have something good for breakfast together then," he suggests. He likes Max after all, he wouldn't hesitate to spend at least part of the morning with the man. Besides, they already planned to make the rounds and make sure others were going to be okay, dispensing sweets where necessary.
At least, that's what he hopes.
"Maybe in the morning, we can all have something good for breakfast together then," he suggests. He likes Max after all, he wouldn't hesitate to spend at least part of the morning with the man. Besides, they already planned to make the rounds and make sure others were going to be okay, dispensing sweets where necessary.
"I asked for berry crepes, with fruit on the side. If that sounds good, we can both have some - it can't be hard to make it for two instead of one."
It also helps her mean what she said, about relying on each other. Saying in so many words, I need you there when it will be difficult. Allowing him to be there, the way he wants to be, and entrusting him with herself in a moment like this. Promising that even if he'll worry, she'll take care of herself, as long as it's allowed. It's a steady building up, piece by piece.
It also helps her mean what she said, about relying on each other. Saying in so many words, I need you there when it will be difficult. Allowing him to be there, the way he wants to be, and entrusting him with herself in a moment like this. Promising that even if he'll worry, she'll take care of herself, as long as it's allowed. It's a steady building up, piece by piece.
"Oh, he's made crepes for me before, that sounds awesome." He'd been informed that you could put all kinds of things in them even, so maybe they can scrounge up some chocolate too. They could indulge when everyone gets back.
On that thought, he finally releases Helena's hands again, picking up his cup that's no longer steaming. He's got an eye on that putty, wondering if it's going to do anything, or if it's just inert goo now. It's not the same kind of goo that he can incorporate into himself...
He reaches and pokes it a little bit. "What do we do with this stuff? You wanna keep it?"
On that thought, he finally releases Helena's hands again, picking up his cup that's no longer steaming. He's got an eye on that putty, wondering if it's going to do anything, or if it's just inert goo now. It's not the same kind of goo that he can incorporate into himself...
He reaches and pokes it a little bit. "What do we do with this stuff? You wanna keep it?"
"It looks totally inert now so I don't think it's gonna do anything. Does it feel weird?" Comparatively, anyway. He's learning that some humans think gooey things in general are pretty weird.
At least she seems to be enjoying herself with it. Maybe even if it does feel funky, it's not in a bad way.
At least she seems to be enjoying herself with it. Maybe even if it does feel funky, it's not in a bad way.
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