*** Aether has joined 018.07.154.55 <Aether> Hello. You have reached Lusamine Mendel. <Aether> Please leave a message, and I will get back to you shortly.
Even so... Three days is quite a long time for a newborn... Oh, you poor thing—I should have checked more thoroughly... [With everything else that had transpired, she hadn't even been able to think of the egg. With the Rockruff in her arms now, she sighs, heavy and remorseful.] Can you ever forgive me?
[The pebbles ringing Junior's neck are sharp against her fingers, but with her Faerie chitin to guard her, the sting is little more than a tickle. It's nostalgic now, really, after how many times she'd cared for Rockruff at Aether Paradise. Knowing that the adorably, wonderfully simple creature is unlikely to grasp the extent of her guilt, she musters a bit of a smile.
At Beat's mention of the network, she looks up.]
I did... attempt to use that little pin you gifted me—to bring you back. But...
[But it had gone wrong. He was sent back to her mutilated, as if some beast had intercepted and savaged him on his way to her. When he landed on her floor, she had found him gutted like a fish, with an open space where his head should have been. So much blood, and such a hideous quiet; she hadn't even had the presence of mind enough in that moment to scream. She had only stared, frozen, unwilling—unable to accept what was before her.
Or so she remembered it. It had happened so quickly and so senselessly—his appearance, and then his disappearance, along with all trace of his ever being there, mere minutes later—that she doubted her own perception of it. Had to, perhaps, to keep herself from going mad. Now, she can't seem to recall if it had really happened at all. It could very well have been a nightmare, or a hallucination, some twisted vision sent from Ryslig itself.
She trails off there, suddenly still and distant, her mind elsewhere as she holds Junior close.]
[Junior puffs out a soft bark in return to Lusamine's question, nuzzling her nose up against the Faeries chin. Of course she forgives her. She tore a few things to shreds in retaliation. Her tail wags vigorously as she licks too, trying to cheer Lusamine up.
Beat frowns a little as Lusamine mentions the pin and trails off. He doesn't like that. The way she goes distant. Shaking his head, he steps forward and wraps her into a sudden hug. The foot in difference means it's very much like a little kid hugging a parent but whatever. He can get around it a little by standing on his toes.]
I'm sorry, yo. That musta been rough, 'specially since I promised not to disappear again, but I do promise [oop, an oath-bind there] to always come back to you. I can't stop this place from yankin' me away whenever it wanna, but I ain't never gonna stay away. You ain't ever gonna lose me.
[Junior squirms a little and plops her chin down against Lusamine's shoulder, huffing out a big sigh like the activity was the most draining thing in the world and closing her eyes.]
[The hug brings her instantly, mercifully out of her thoughts. Automatically, she adjusts Junior in her hold so she can cradle the Rockruff against her in one arm and draw the other around Beat. The both of them are comfortingly warm and alive, their fur soft under her fingers.
As Beat makes a new promise to her, she smiles fondly, but it doesn't soothe her quite as effectively as it did before.]
You sound so sure... [She sighs.] Oh, I just don't understand it. Why this world gives me such beautiful things—this form, this power, and you... only to keep taking them away from me. It feels as if... I'm being punished, at times... for something I've done...
[Beat can't fathom that idea. Why would she be punished?! All she wants to do is give people love. Yeah she might have her issues, Beat figures she does, but don't they all? Tilting his head back, he looks up the small distance with a frown.]
An' if it is some sorta weird ass punishment, yo, means someone's behind it bein' a dick. An' if someone's behind it, they can get they assed kicked. An' I'll find 'em an' kick it so they leave you alone.
[His logic is as comfortingly simple as ever. Finally, she's able to laugh, even if it sounds a bit weak.] How valiant you are. My darling defender... I can always count on you, can't I?
[With that, she breathes a sigh, willing the atmosphere to lighten.]
Oh—forgive me. I didn't mean to put a damper on our very first meeting... [She kneels, gently setting Junior back down onto her feet.] How have your first days together as partners been? Shredding aside...
[The question seems meant for Junior as much as it is for Beat.]
[If only she knew what was coming. If either of them did. Beat beams as Lusamine puts Junior back down, the Rockruff sitting down promptly, politely, tail wagging gently along her back. Which increases in pace to the question, her expression turning pleased and happy. Junior's loving it. She's still a puppy of course, everything is very new, but she's having a blast.
And frankly, so is Beat.]
I love her, yo. She's the best thing ever. She's so smart! [Junior beams.] An' so playful, we go out all the time when we can! She gets 'long wid everyone, too! Ain't met anyone yet who ain't love the shit outta her. I ain't able to thank you 'nuff, yo.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-10-01 02:10 am (UTC)[The pebbles ringing Junior's neck are sharp against her fingers, but with her Faerie chitin to guard her, the sting is little more than a tickle. It's nostalgic now, really, after how many times she'd cared for Rockruff at Aether Paradise. Knowing that the adorably, wonderfully simple creature is unlikely to grasp the extent of her guilt, she musters a bit of a smile.
At Beat's mention of the network, she looks up.]
I did... attempt to use that little pin you gifted me—to bring you back. But...
[But it had gone wrong. He was sent back to her mutilated, as if some beast had intercepted and savaged him on his way to her. When he landed on her floor, she had found him gutted like a fish, with an open space where his head should have been. So much blood, and such a hideous quiet; she hadn't even had the presence of mind enough in that moment to scream. She had only stared, frozen, unwilling—unable to accept what was before her.
Or so she remembered it. It had happened so quickly and so senselessly—his appearance, and then his disappearance, along with all trace of his ever being there, mere minutes later—that she doubted her own perception of it. Had to, perhaps, to keep herself from going mad. Now, she can't seem to recall if it had really happened at all. It could very well have been a nightmare, or a hallucination, some twisted vision sent from Ryslig itself.
She trails off there, suddenly still and distant, her mind elsewhere as she holds Junior close.]
no subject
Date: 2022-10-01 10:34 pm (UTC)Beat frowns a little as Lusamine mentions the pin and trails off. He doesn't like that. The way she goes distant. Shaking his head, he steps forward and wraps her into a sudden hug. The foot in difference means it's very much like a little kid hugging a parent but whatever. He can get around it a little by standing on his toes.]
I'm sorry, yo. That musta been rough, 'specially since I promised not to disappear again, but I do promise [oop, an oath-bind there] to always come back to you. I can't stop this place from yankin' me away whenever it wanna, but I ain't never gonna stay away. You ain't ever gonna lose me.
[Junior squirms a little and plops her chin down against Lusamine's shoulder, huffing out a big sigh like the activity was the most draining thing in the world and closing her eyes.]
no subject
Date: 2022-10-04 02:12 am (UTC)As Beat makes a new promise to her, she smiles fondly, but it doesn't soothe her quite as effectively as it did before.]
You sound so sure... [She sighs.] Oh, I just don't understand it. Why this world gives me such beautiful things—this form, this power, and you... only to keep taking them away from me. It feels as if... I'm being punished, at times... for something I've done...
no subject
Date: 2022-10-04 08:02 pm (UTC)[Beat can't fathom that idea. Why would she be punished?! All she wants to do is give people love. Yeah she might have her issues, Beat figures she does, but don't they all? Tilting his head back, he looks up the small distance with a frown.]
An' if it is some sorta weird ass punishment, yo, means someone's behind it bein' a dick. An' if someone's behind it, they can get they assed kicked. An' I'll find 'em an' kick it so they leave you alone.
[Junior wags her tail in agreement.]
no subject
Date: 2022-10-24 01:24 am (UTC)[With that, she breathes a sigh, willing the atmosphere to lighten.]
Oh—forgive me. I didn't mean to put a damper on our very first meeting... [She kneels, gently setting Junior back down onto her feet.] How have your first days together as partners been? Shredding aside...
[The question seems meant for Junior as much as it is for Beat.]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 02:15 am (UTC)[If only she knew what was coming. If either of them did. Beat beams as Lusamine puts Junior back down, the Rockruff sitting down promptly, politely, tail wagging gently along her back. Which increases in pace to the question, her expression turning pleased and happy. Junior's loving it. She's still a puppy of course, everything is very new, but she's having a blast.
And frankly, so is Beat.]
I love her, yo. She's the best thing ever. She's so smart! [Junior beams.] An' so playful, we go out all the time when we can! She gets 'long wid everyone, too! Ain't met anyone yet who ain't love the shit outta her. I ain't able to thank you 'nuff, yo.