mygod | pc catchall | vin

[flameguard]

the placing of these next to each other is exquisite

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[allomantic]

[MY SON

she does look for him after she sees the posters, and when she sees him and the way he looks - she's hurrying to his side.]

Rondo...

[flameguard]

[ it's bad!! it's bad.

he looks up when vin finds him, and, as she can probably expect, he has been crying. just ugly crying - red nose, red cheeks, and all. he sucks in a breath when she calls his name and tries... tries to rub at his eyes with his other hand, tries to compose himself a little. ]

... Vin... I'm... I'm glad you're alright.

[allomantic]

[she gives him a short nod - she's glad he's safe, too, but that doesn't mean she isn't concerned. she's quiet when she speaks up, gentler than normal.]

What can I do?

[flameguard]

[ what can she do?

he shakes his head, and says, a little lost. ]

I don't... I don't know. [ rondo can roll with the punches. he can take the hits. he's used to this, he's used to loss and pain and suffering. he's been through hell, literally, more times than any person should have ever gone through hell.

again, whispered. ] ....I don't know.

[allomantic]

[she hesitates for a moment before reaching forward, taking one of his hands.]

...I'll stay.

[it feels like the least she can do.]

[flameguard]

[ there's a little nod, a soft hiccup of a sob. that... that's something. he doesn't really want to be alone. gods know he's been out here since the investigation ended.

anyway when vin takes his hand she can also see that there's a ribbon tied around his wrist - a pretty, soft, pink one. it's not the first time he's worn it, but boy. ]

...okay. [ rondo murmurs, his lower lip trembling. his hand curls around vin's. okay. ]

[allomantic]

[she catches sight of it, and after a moment, even if she isn't sure whether this is the right thing to say:]

...She cared about you very much. You made her happy.

[flameguard]

[ his hand squeezes tighter in hers, reflexive, responding. he knows. he knows, he knows, and god, does that make it worse. a girl really feels safe, when you're around. ]

... We... we've spent every Thursday together. [ every single one. ] I... I didn't even get to tell her goodbye.

[allomantic]

It's never fair.

[but - it's even more upsetting to see someone like him hurt so badly. someone so honest and caring, who already had a very difficult week.]

Would it help to do something for her, later? Some kind of memorial.

[flameguard]

[ ... ]

We... we were. She told me that her dream was when... if she ever left Prehevil, she wanted to start a bookstore. We... we talked about... next week, when the door changes.

[ he tilts his head down, wiping his face with his other shoulder. ]

... About getting... getting all the books we'd borrowed from the library, and... setting up a library together, in the village, so... so people could still have it when this place was gone.

[allomantic]

...She was as kind as you, I see.

[it aches a little to hear that, but - she imagines that ache must be much worse for him. it feels inadequate to say this, but more inadequate to say nothing.]

I'm sorry, Rondo.

[flameguard]

[ god. it's - it helps, even just having the company helps. he turns to look at vin, eyes wet and wide, face red, just. miserable. ]

... Will you help me? Set it up. That's... that's how I want... I want to remember.

[allomantic]

Of course.

[there's no hesitation there.]