week 3, sunday w/ steph

[alchemenace]

[ SO I ASSUME SHE'S IN HER ROOM OR SMT. but Varian is going to go see Steph to reassure himself that she is not dead.

and then he's going to awkwardly stare at her because what the fuck does he even say. stares at lack of leg. ]

It. Does it hurt a lot?

[ perfect nailed it absolutely what he wanted to say why did he even bother coming here ]

Comments

[alchemenace]

I, um, feel like that's aiming pretty low.

[vigilantics]

This is optimism at work, dude.

[alchemenace]

It... doesn't sound like optimism?

[vigilantics]

It... can be?

[ leave her alone she just lost a leg ]

[alchemenace]

If you say so, Stephie.

[ he will but only because of the leg ]

I'm... really glad you're okay.

[ he's already said it but look. this has been. A Day. ]

[vigilantics]

[ his sudden bringing the topic back up again surprises her; she's used to people dropping it after she's insisted that it's fine.

there's a moment, and she'll give him another hug. ]

I won't ever do that to you again.

[alchemenace]

[ he chokes out a laugh ]

You'd, you'd better not, you've only got so many limbs left.

[vigilantics]

Yeah. I'm pretty attached to them.

[ it's a joke. ]

[alchemenace]

And yet, only three of them are left now.

[vigilantics]

More like three and a half, really.

[ it's only been a few hours. ]

[alchemenace]

[ jokes is how she copes and varian just never copes? they're fine. ]

It's... still not the right number.

[vigilantics]

It's just a little off.

[ it's fine? ]

[alchemenace]

A little, she says. ...You don't have to downplay it.

[vigilantics]

[ ... ]

There's not much else I can do.

[alchemenace]

... You don't have to pretend. You can admit that, that it's awful. I don't mind.

[vigilantics]

[ she's quiet after that. ]

Doing that kind of thing just causes people more stress, you know.

[alchemenace]

... So does pretending to be okay just so people don't worry. Besides, it's, it's just me.

[vigilantics]

[ with a sigh, she sinks back into her pillows. ]

... I'm still trying to figure it out.

[alchemenace]

And that's, that's fine too. I just. I can be there for you... if, if you ever want to talk about it.

[vigilantics]

Thanks.

[ her voice is quiet. ]

[alchemenace]

... But if you just want to talk trash about Tiger, I, I can be there for that too?

[vigilantics]

[ that gets a smile out of her. ]

That's now officially one of my favorite things to do.

[alchemenace]

Well, I'm, I'm here for it. ... Always.

[vigilantics]

... and back at ya. If you ever need it.

[alchemenace]

I think, I think I've cried enough for today. ... But I'll keep it in mind.