flameguard | mygod | pc catchall

[ there's - he laughs, a little. ]

Vin, you keep dropping surprises on me...I'm almost worried! [ very lightly teasing, though!! he hops up and brushes himself off. joking aside: ] Of course.

This one is better.

[she starts to head towards the swamp, stopping at the top of the stairs leading downwards.]

[ oh god he hates this place but he will follow her without any fuss; rondo frowns, but he looks around, and nods after a moment to follow her down... ]

[touch week, so she's taking his hand! she seems uncertain despite the news she received last night.

even so, she heads to the case with the ouija board, taking a deep breath before she reaches for it like she's trying to stave off any possible disappointment—

but when she tugs on the handle, it opens easily. give her a second to stare.]

I didn't - I swear, when I did it, I wasn't thinking of—

[this.]

[ I SEE

there's a short breath from behind her, startled, as everything just - clicks. ]

... Oh.

[ oh.

it takes a second. there's a beat of hesitation, and then... his hand curls, lifts in the air, and rondo sets it, very gently between her shoulderblades. bolstering. steady. ]

It's... I - I know, Vin. [ ... after what he's come to know of her so far, and of how much that hurt her, after the way she hugged him last night, there's just no way. and this is steady, too, conviction and belief. ] I know you weren't.

[she glances his way, and - there's something sincere in the way she looks at him, the way she nods. not nona. she wouldn't have made a move that calculated against someone she cared so much for.

when she looks back and reaches into the case, taking the board out - she's still for another moment until she has to shift it to one hand, using the other to rub at her eyes rapidly.]

It works. Rondo, it - it works, it's going to work.

[there's no external sign, but she can tell.]

[ NOOOO NOOOO AAAAH SHE'S BABY IM CRYINNNGGG

oh - the look on her face. for a moment, it just makes everything feel... it's better. it's not worth the cost of a life, but in this case, in the necessary execution of a dear friend in a horrible place, in a horrible situation, it's... it's something.

he can't help himself - he smiles. it's small, a little wet, and in sympathy, his eyes well up too, as the hand between her shoulder blades moves to squeeze her shoulder instead, to hook around hers and pull her in for a one armed hug. ]

It does? Good - that's, that's good. [ squeezing her into his side, the warmth breaks through his voice, the smile starting to break into something warmer like clouds on a sunny day. ] Vin... that's wonderful.

[for a moment before she hugs him back, she looks at the board like she's a bit afraid it'll disappear if she stops holding it, like a dream that fades too fast. luckily, she can hold it in one hand and still wrap her arms around him like she did last night, shaking a little bit despite herself.]

He's - I didn't think—

[rondo might not know who she's talking about, but he'll be able to hear the raw emotion in her voice when she continues.]

I needed him.

[ something about that just makes his smile crack a little further. it reminds him of home, in the sweetest way in the whole world, and he gives her a little wriggle where he's holding on, so they wobble back and forth, his heart just swelling to burst at the sound of her voice.

it sounds like love, and warmth, and it sounds like what vin deserves, after a nightmarish moment. a feeling to tie yourself to humanity, instead of just being a sword. ]

Well - let's get out of this dingy, terrible room and get that somewhere safer, then. [ fuck this place. ] Right?

Yes.

[she agrees easily. her voice cracks a little, thick with emotions and tears, but she gives a nod. as she lets him go:]

Don't - don't tell anyone.

[it's possible this won't be replaced and it'll be obvious who's used it soon, but she's already worried that she's painted a target on her back with what happened last night.]

But I thought you deserved to know if you really stood to gain something.

Of course not - here.

[ just in case anyone sees them coming, rondo swiftly reaches up to undo the clasp on his cloak, and then wraps it around her shoulders. the front part of the cloak usually comes across his own chest, so it should be more than enough that she can safely tuck the ouija board underneath it until they can get out of this room. just so no one sees. ]

On my honor as a Knight Ardante, this secret shall be safe with me.

[ whether he needs to act or not - his gaze flicks briefly to the cabinet, but he shakes his head, as he redoes the cloak clip for her. ]

Come on. I'll escort you back. [ ... ] And... I should like to hear about your friend, if you'd tell me, Vin.

[her expression as he does that is just - impossibly warm and fond. there's such a short list of people that she'd share this with, even in this context. he's one of the people who's managed to prove to her in the time they've had that he wouldn't be motivated just by the truth of what's being offered. she knows if he acts, it'll be for the same reasons she did.

under the cloak, she hugs it to herself like a lifeline, and gives him a nod.]

Whatever you want to know.

[ cute. he returns the smile with one of his own, gentle, and will lead the way out! off they go back to wherever vin is holed up, out of this nightmarishly awful swamp place. rondo waits for the stupid door to close behind him, before they head off.

and once they're out of earshot of others and somewhere safe and quiet... ]

...Who is he? The person that you want to contact.

His name was—

[a pause, and another breath. after over a year without him, it's strange to think about now.]

His name is Kelsier. He took me off the streets and trained me.

...A mentor.

[ oh. his smile just softens even further at that. the change in verbiage helps, too, but there's something about someone showing up to your life and changing it irrevocably that strikes warm in his core. ]

What is he like?

Oh, he's very annoying.

[don't say that first

but the warmth in her voice doesn't fade, even with that beginning.]

But - brave. Strong, too, and charismatic. He could lead people like nobody I've ever known. [...] We really could have used him over the last year. It's been - difficult.

[for practical reasons, and for personal ones as well.]

[ somewhere vaxildan is touching his heart in fondness

brave, strong, charismatic, and a leader... ]

He sounds wonderful. [ he sounds like captain hugo. rondo's heart warms again, at the idea of her getting to see this person again, and he's very sincere in his words. ] We...? There's a group of you?

[she gives a small nod.]

Yes. The new king and his advisors - my friends. The last leader of our empire was... abruptly dethroned, and creating a new order is about as difficult as you'd expect.

mygod | pc catchall | vin

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