( closed )

[carmesi]

Who: Himeka, Nero, Wanda.
What: They're living together, and it's a bit of a disaster getting used to each other. Nero may have tiny ears? We're on the case.
Where: Gardsbruk Farm, Solvunn.
When: After Summoning arrival and throughout April.
Warnings: TBA if necessary.

Comments

[ofthesword]

[Groan's better than nothing. Alive, then. All three of them. He hears Wanda getting up but he stays put, lets Bella baah in his face. It's not like getting sick happens to him that often. Headaches don't knock him out.

Then again, he usually doesn't relive traumatic events from a week ago. Or hear commentary on them. Or share them. Memories should have never been a group activity.

Nero waves a hand through the air.]

Felt important. Figured you spent some time on it.

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka exhales, long and low. The couch is a welcome reprieve and she doesn't hesitate a second before flopping right onto it. It's plush and comfy in ways that most of the local furniture isn't and, honestly, she could use a nap for once.

She pats the arm in a motion for Nero to come and join them if he'd like. Or he can sit with Bella, she won't judge. ]

I could use a snack...

[ That's her secret: she could always use a snack.

She turns to Wanda then, relatively good at masking her headaches after these sorts of things. ]

You said that this has been happening?

[carmesi]

[would that they could all use with a snack. tired as she is, she draws the plate with the baked bread closer to them on the couch (so get your ass up here, nero), and offers it to himeka.

the reminder of her children has taken the hunger away from her. her children need her. her boys. and what is she doing, but playing house in this farm? lying down in the horizon wilting her will away?—]

Yes, in the Horizon. I tried removing myself from it, but I ended up entering so many memories of others.

[—a family is forever, but doesn't she dream of them every night, wishing she wouldn't wake up? just so she could spend one more moment with them.

big tears blur her eyes and, oh, maybe she would like to have a snack, too? wanda pulls her feet up on the couch, presses her hands onto her eyes, covering her face, a sob escaping her, then another, her shoulders shaking.

she can't ever go back to them.]

[ofthesword]

[Nero huffs, flops a hand through the air, and then finally shoves his ass up. The whole world spins with him, but luckily he's never been the type for motion sickness. He falls heavily on the couch between them, manspreading, legs laid out straight in front of him.

Hey. This sucks.]

Even in the astral plane? Damn.

[He sniffs. Still not the worst experience of his life. And... yeah, for whtever reason this happened, whatever it means -- if anything -- he doesn't regret seeing them again. Even if it doesn't change a damn thing --

His thoughts pause. Nero turns to Wanda and doesn't miss that -- shit. Yeah. Family is forever. Until they aren't.

He moves an arm around her shoulders, then the other. It's awkward as hell, next to her on the couch, but he makes it work. he has to. He gets it, and he doesn't, but he knows what it feels like to --

To cry. To cry when you lose family.] Wanda. I'm sorry.

[aquaveiled]

[ It's really been happening...

There's no small amount of guilt in this. She doesn't know why, but this is definitely the Echo. (It has to be, right?) But why are others experience it? And so often? Yet...she doesn't want to put that thought into their heads--to these new people who are staying with her. They're good people. She doesn't want to give them more reason to doubt.

So she leaves it unsaid, instead shifting her attention to the people in front of her. That's what's most important.

Nero, for all his gruffness, has a heart. A big heart, she's found. Wanda and Nero may bicker but as soon as there is real pain, he softens instantly.

Himeka reaches across Nero to place her hand on Wanda's thigh and gives it a warm squeeze. She knows what it's like to lose people--friends, family--and the pain never does go away. You can only move forward. But...sometimes you just have to feel. ]

[carmesi]

[it's telling how vulnerable she feels. her usual irritated attitude is gone, the distance she likes to keep between herself and others melting away. nero had reminded wanda of pietro when he had first arrived, a shock of white hair and the jock-like gait to go with it; now, with his arm around her shoulders, the touch almost sends her back in time to precious memories of her brother looking after her, protecting her.

wanda leans into nero, a squeeze of emotion in her chest.

she mourns and mourns and mourns. she is not done burying a loved one before she has to dig a grave anew, get torn asunder by the shock and the waves of grieving. anchor after anchor removed from her, the ground slipping from beneath her feet. nero is here—a safety net; himeka is here—keeping her ashore.

she doesn't know how much time passes as she cries into his shirt, eventually removing herself with an ounce of embarrassment on her face (downcast eyes, slow, trembling movements, rubbing at her tear-stained cheeks). for what it's worth, she remains close, pressed to his side, and brings a hand to hold onto himeka's.

her lips tremble as she tries to get the words out. her chest feels heavy, every breath painful, but she's been here before. she can surface again.

(she is home here, temporary as it may be.)]

Is— is the bread still warm?

[how to awkwardly shuffle out of this?]

[ofthesword]

[It's not the first time he's held someone crying into his shirt, but somehow, it never gets any fucking easier. Even if he hasn't known Wanda his whole life, it's still as painful as a red-hot poker lodged in his chest. His arms stay where they are, letting her get it out. Wet his shirt. Let the bread go cold. His hand rubs her shoulder, his teeth clenched.

Was there a point to this whole thing? The memories? Just a forced way to share their pasts? Or just some random bullshit, like a thunderstorm outta nowhere?

He lets her go when she starts to pull away, but his hands rest on her shoulders. What's one wet shirt, anyway? The two of them hang onto her and it feels like something solid's been built between them. A chain, maybe. The sort of thing he felt with Nico when she got her grubby hands all over his sword to fix her, leaving her singing like a bird.

It's a fair question. He doesn't laugh, but his lips curl up a little.] Uh. Yeah, ice cold, honestly. Maybe we can pop it in the microw -- er, the. Fire oven thing. I can go fire it up.

[Hah, get it? Fire oven?] Maybe a cup of milk or something with it. Gotta hydrate, you know. [Nero, that's for water.] You wanna come with, Wanda?

[As in: should we all stay here until you're good, or are you looking for an escape to move on? There's always gotta be an out when someone comes down out of grief. Either to settle in it, or step away as fast as possible.]