genessia | [Voice] I Don't Need Any Comrades

Alright.

*Faye just shakes her head when he asks if she's hungry, then walks with him after grabbing her stuff and leaves the range, lost in thought now and not really sure what to say*

I don't really know where to go... Can you decide?

*She finally looks at him, eyes wide and sad - if she had it her way she'd probably just stand there for a while*

[He nods to her. He won't take her to a restaurant or bar then, or at least not yet. Last thing he'll do is force anything she doesn't want on her. So he thinks for a few moments, running through the options. He knew that when the people he cared about disappeared, he wanted some place that was quiet, away from the prying eyes of Genessians. That tended to be where the subarchways came in handy. Sure, they technically had people, but none that would care to acknowledge them since they weren't real anyway.]

I think I know a good place. [He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.] C'mon. It'll be nice and quiet, away from all the bustle here.

[He would keep whatever pace Faye wanted to move, taking her back through the WayPoints and into Nova City. The subarchway he had in mind was one from his world- one he himself hadn't opened, it must've been that bird brain that was around before- and he'd never thought about returning to it after the first time until now. When he would take her through, they stood in a wisteria tunnel leading into the Hanging Gardens]

Here. Welcome to the hanging gardens. There's a lot of good spots to relax in here without any prying eyes. I figured this might make a good first stop.

*Faye goes along with Gale, glad to have someone else making the decision of where she should go, what she should do. She is very quiet, even when they get there, though her eyes wander around the wisteria. It is impressive, even if Faye isn't smiling - she's still quietly taking it all in*

Thanks...

*As she turns to him, again, she relies on him reading the gratitude in her eyes because she is clearly not able to smile at the moment. She just doesn't have the energy to*

[Gale certainly can't blame her at all. He knows he's never the most pleasant person in the world in this situation, so he can't expect her to be taking this with a grain of salt. That's why now more than ever, he wants her to know that he's got her back.

He nods to her again, wordlessly acknowledging her as he lead her through the tunnel. She'll talk when she's good and ready, and he wasn't about to make her try. For now, the main task is finding a good private spot for them to stop and relax. He thinks he finds that in a little spot at the outside corner of the central structure- an ornate bench surrounded by a garden wall of various flora with a pleasant view of the structure's waterfall.]

Just you and me here, kid. I've got a flask in my coat too, if you should need it.

[He's always prepared with some kind of drink, and if she thinks she needs it, then she'll get it.]

This is some place...

*It's as much of an observation that she can make right now, but she means it well. She walks with Gale to the bench and sinks down onto it slowly, eyes staying focused on her feet as she sits, rather than all the various flowers around them*

Quiet here too.

*Just like he said. She doesn't lift her head, still staring at the floor, her hands in her lap. She doesn't realise she's doing it, but her hands are twisting, nails pickings at the skin on her fingers, a sign of her upset*

It's one of the only good things about this country, honestly.

[He says with a quiet chuckle. He won't go on about the place though, unless she wanted to hear it, but now's not the time. He notices her picking at her fingers before he took her hand again, reaching his other arm around her and pulled her closer gently so she could lean against him.]

I'll say it again, I'm right here for you. Talk as little or as much as you want, I ain't here to pressure you one way or the other. Either way, I'm all ears.

[He would tell her that he has an idea of how she feels in an attempt to sympathize, but she already had a good idea of his spotty history with people. She didn't need to hear about any of that. Instead, he'll sit quietly with her, lightly rubbing her arm. He knows it's rough, he just hopes she still understands that he's there.]

*Faye rested her head against his shoulder and put her other hand flat on her knee in an attempt not to pick at the skin on that hand too. She stayed still like that for a while until she finally stirred slightly and spoke, her voice quiet and thoughtful*

I know you didn't like him much...but he meant a lot to me. He wasn't afraid to tell me what he thought of me, or tell me what others thought... He showed me that maybe...maybe it's not such a bad thing after all to have friends...to try to do some good...

*She shuffles again, just wriggling a little closer as she thinks about this all some more*

He saw me at my worst. And still he cared about me. And I really cared about him...

[Gale's brow lifted slightly when she started to speak. He was a little surprised that she was, but thank goodness for that. He was happy that she wasn't going to bottle it.]

Hey, doesn't matter what I thought of him. What matters is how important he was to you. He was someone from your world, right?

[As she moved closer, he helped oblige her by holding her closer, resting his head on hers. Losing someone she was familiar with before arriving here, that's an angle of this pain that Gale himself was unfamiliar with. He never had the luxury of someone from home like that.]

I know it's cheesy as shit and unhelpful, but keep that good he did in mind. Havin' friends ain't a bad thing, even if it can be difficult for our stubborn asses to see that.

[He brought a hand up and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.]

What'd you two even get up to 'round here? I mean, if you'd want to talk about it, that is.

[He certainly didn't want to pry into things if she didn't want to, but he did hope that maybe talking about Gren would help her at least a little bit.]

Yes. He's dead in my world...

*So she won't see him again. That makes her want to curl up into a ball, so she nuzzles into him slightly. She lifted her head to look at him for a moment when he touched her hair, and then, finally, she managed a small smile, and a sad little laugh*

What didn't we do? We talked and argued and made up. We went for meals and walks. We even had a sleepover. He tried to set me up on some dates, encouraged me to try. He looked out for me when I felt alone... He was a good, good friend. And yet...

*Faye bit her lip and put her head back carefully on his shoulder*

And I don't think I ever fully made him aware of how much he meant to me...

Edited 2018-12-02 17:10 (UTC)

[Damn. It was one of those cases. He hugs her and softly kisses her forehead, lightly squeezing her hand again.]

Try not to think of it like that. You'll only make it harder on yourself if you think about the "I should haves" and the "what ifs." It sounds to me like he would call you out if you let yourself overthink this.

[People rarely want their friends to wallow in their own self pity, and Gale would assume (or at least hope) that this would be no different.]

I don't know if you're aware of it, but there's a place called Memoria Park in Genessia City. People here have left small notes and memorials for ones who've left. I know it's rough that you can't tell him directly, but maybe leaving somethin' there might help give you a little closure. If that would be somethin' you'd want to do.

More than anything, just keep in mind what he did. Eventually, it'll be more comfort than hurt in the end.

[There was always the possibility he could return too, but Gale wouldn't want to get her hopes up. She probably already knows of the possibility anyway, and mentioning it just might make it hurt more if he doesn't come back.]

You're right...

*This time she squeezes his hand back, just to show she is listening. Even if her eyes are on the ground, Faye is taking in everything that he's saying, thinking about it silently. There is just too much to think about right now*

I should visit there sometime...

*Because now that she has started to make friends, she is also starting to lose them. Finally, she sighs and lifts her face, gaze lost and confused, but searching his. Searching and just...looking. Really properly looking him in the eye*

[When she looks at him, he moves a hand to her face, resting it against her cheek. He gave her a reassuring smile, his gaze as loving and comforting as it could be. His other hand squeezes hers again.]

Take some time to think on it. It might help more than you realize.

[But right now, he's content with it just being them. He hopes to help alleviate her pain somewhat, but he knows full well how hard it can be to accept it and let it go.]

In the meantime, you can call me if you need a shoulder. I know I can't magically make anything better, but even if you just want to get out or talk to someone, call me anytime. I'll drop anythin' for you.

[He says that with the utmost seriousness and sincerity that he can. He won't let her feel alone through this. He refuses.]

*Despite the way he had looked at her, in the end he just gave her hand a squeeze. She felt her stomach drop slightly, but why would he kiss her with the way she had been treating him lately? Still, that look in his eye was enough that she didn't quite know where to look, so she turned her head, but not enough to move his hand from her cheek*

I'll maybe visit tomorrow...

*Then she did finally glance back at him, her lips twitching into a smile - he was just too adorable when he was sincere like this. It felt like more than the usual charm he would offer to anyone, and that felt good*

Be careful with your promises: I might hold you to them.

[Seeing her smile was a small relief. It was probably hard for her to, but he was glad he gave her one at all. And she wasn't wrong, he was going well beyond his usual charms for her- a side barely anyone ever gets to see. She was important to him, he wanted to do his best for her.]

Good. I want you to hold me to them. It'll give me good reason to make more.

[That's when he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. He was waiting for a good time to do that, and now that she was smiling a little, it felt like a good time. He wants to be clear about how serious about his promises he really was- he couldn't possibly be more serious than he was now.]

You really are just a charmer...

*Which is all she managed to say because then he kissed her. And with how alone she felt with Gren gone, that empty numb feeling, the caring way he deliberately found time and space to be with her. She knew his job was hugely important to him, but she also knew that she had waited a long time to feel like she was even more important to him than that. With all that mind, Faye leaned into him to kiss him in return*

[His job was important to him, sure, but no one was more important to him than she was. So when she returned that kiss, he could almost feel his cybernetic heart skip a few beats. He'd actually not expected that, but damn it, he couldn't be happier for it. His hand brushed across her cheek, running it through her hair as he leaned in and kissed her deeper. His heart was racing again. This almost felt too good to be true.

He hummed softly, pulling away ever so slightly to smile. He wanted to keep going, but he didn't want to seem like he was trying to take advantage of her in this kind of state. He brushed his hand through her hair again, his face still centimeters from hers.]

This kind of charm is somethin' only you get to see. And I mean every single word of it. You're too important to me, so I'll be at your beck and call.

[He absolutely wants to go back into that kiss, but he wants to give her a moment. He doesn't want to overwhelm her, if that's a risk.]

*Faye reciprocated as he kissed her deeper, her own hand moving to the side of his neck, fingers stretched up into his hair. Being so consumed in the kiss felt good, pushing aside all her hurts and worries from before.

She ran a finger over his lips as he spoke, chuckling quietly and giving a small shake of the head*

Now you're just trying to be cute...

*And so she leaned in to resume the kiss, firmly*

Is it working?

[He managed that quick answer before they kissed again. He hooked an arm around her waist to pull her closer as he leaned back into the bench, his other hand sliding from her hair to her neck. Never had Gale ever felt anything like this, not something that felt so genuine. It felt amazing. And if he was able to help her in any manner, especially with this, then he was happy. Again, he wanted to say he loved her, but he was content not breaking the kiss again. He can say it later, but for now, his actions would have to say it for him, holding her tight and kissing her deeply.

He was doubly glad her brought to her to such a secluded place. Here he knew they would be alone, and more importantly, uninterrupted.]

*When Gale held her close, Faye turned slightly, wriggling so that she was fully pressed against him. She sighed softly into the kiss as he touched her neck. This was helping her forget, that was for sure; his closeness, the depth of kiss. Again, Faye wriggled close, melting against him as she willed this continue, though she'd have to break for breath in a moment, heart beating faster*

[Breathing was overrated, but damn it for being such a necessity, even for him. Still, he would take it and enjoy every second of this moment, allowing one of his hands to trail down her back, resting it in the curve of her lower back. Part of him still wondered if he should be doing this with her in the state she was, but if she needed someone to give her this attention and take her mind off things, then damn it he was going to do it. He wasn't going to deny either of them that privilege, selfish though he may be.

He hummed softly, taking a second to pull away so they could catch their breath, grinning slightly.]

Breathing's a real inconvenience, isn't it? I'd love if we could do this all night without bein' interrupted like that.

[Keeping one hand on her back, he ran his other hand through her hair.]

God damn, you're beautiful, you know that?

I guess the breathing thing just gives people the chance to pause and remember they have shit to do. Otherwise, people would be kissing all day...

*It's a stupid thing to say, and she knows it, but she's kind of done with feeling so down about herself, about Gren being gone. Her smile was there, even if it was a little bit sad, and she glanced out at the flowers, seeming to finally actually notice them. Faye looked back at him when he put his hand in her hair, turning quicky with wide eyes. Hearing him say these things, sounding genuine, not just the cute silly flirting they've always done, it's still so new to her, and still makes her feel unsure. Faye bit her lip, just looking at him shyly*

...thanks.

I guess, but it's still a bummer. I just want to spend the day and night with you, Guardian duties be damned.

[Gale knows he probably shouldn't even think about putting anyone, even Faye, before his Guardian work but when situations like this arise, he just wants to be by her side. Technically he still is even in their work, but not this close. But that work is important to her, and that's important to him. He chuckles quietly, brushing her hair still.]

Own it, sweetheart. I'll tell you it time and time again.

[Her being shy was a little cute too. But that he won't say to avoid potentially getting smacked.]

The entirety of these gardens doesn't hold a candle to how gorgeous you are.

[He's being cheesy and sappy, he knows it, but he means every word of it.]

You know you don't have to...

*Faye speaks carefully as she looks at his face - it's not that she isn't grateful, it's just that she wouldn't expect him to give so much of his time for her like that, especially not if he had work that he could do.

At his compliment about the garden, Faye doesn't know what to think. Usually, she would laugh at that, nudge him and call him an idiot for such a cheesy line. But now...is there something more behind those words? Real feeling? It wouldn't be fair to laugh at him for that. So instead, she just pokes his shoulder lightly with a small roll of her eyes*

Sure, sweetie. Okay. Thanks.

[Voice] I Don't Need Any Comrades

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