save_the_souls | driftfleet ♪ IC Contact: Year Two

hey

could you come over? i need ur help w/something

Hey.

Sure. I can be right over. Is everything okay?

yeah i'm fine :)

[... But about ten seconds after that first text is sent:]

no not really

pearl left

[!]

Oh no, I'm sorry.

[Even if he really didn't understand Pearl, he knew how much she meant to Clay. And so soon after the other departures...]

I'm on my way, okay?

ok

i'll wait in the hangar

[And sure enough, he's there. He's busy doing an "I'm fine" mantra, loud at first, but then quieter. But when Allen's ship comes in, Clay stops, the sudden relief lifting a tension off of his shoulders that he didn't even realize was there.

Well, it's not quite off yet. But he knows it'll lift when he can be in Allen's arms, and so he waits eagerly for Allen to land the shuttle.]

[Allen meanwhile tries to get there as quick as he can. When he lands the shuttle in the Vanquish, he goes through the docking procedures as quick as he can. So very soon, he's stepping out of the shuttle and makes a line for Clay the moment he sees him- pulling him into a hug when he's close enough]

Hey you.

[And there it is. The tension that had been curling in his chest that shouting couldn't quite get rid of unfurls once he feels Allen's arms around him, once he feels the solid presence that he loves and trusts so much wrap around him. The weight of it was more than he thought it was, and so he lets out a shaky sigh as he practically melts against his boyfriend, leaning heavily on him while his arms lift up to circle his waist.]

Hey yourself.

[It's quiet, it's a bit hoarse, it's tired sounding. That's two people he was close to leaving within a week of each other.]

[He can practically feel that tension unfurl against him, the melting against him as Clay leans into him for support. He keeps his own arms wrapped around him, supporting him with his own weight and strength. This is what they did after all, they were there for each other.]

I'm sorry about Pearl.

Mmm...

[He buries his face against the dip in Allen's shoulder for a moment, just soaking in the warmth and support radiating from the other. He just... needs a moment, a little quiet time while he takes in the fact that someone is here for him, and it's someone he loves so deeply.

After that, he lifts his head a bit, if only so he can be heard without being muffled.]

It's weird, it's like... I don't know how to describe it.

[It's that, and also mixed in with him not wanting to say it out loud. That it's like waking up and suddenly a member of the family is gone without a trace. Like... back then, but the anger isn't there.]

[His arm moves up to rub his back, as a sign of comfort]

Like...it almost doesn't feel real?

[He knew that feeling well. He's had a lot of people leave him through the years]

Yeah... that, too. I keep expecting her to show up, see her working on the engine or something. It's... too sudden. That's what it feels like.

Yeah...it's always too sudden.

[He lets out an exhale of air as he continues to hold onto Clay]

Hopefully, Pearl's made it home safe.

I know she did. [A little pause as he holds on a bit tighter] I know she's happier there, too. Steven's there, and all her friends too. [He lets out a huff of a laugh, soft and disbelieving in nature] You know, once, she told me she thought her friends wouldn't miss her and would be better off without her. I didn't want her to keep thinking like that, so I said we'd definitely miss her if she left, and how great she is, so they must feel the same way. And... I wasn't wrong.

[Wow...she really said that? That's a depressing sign of low self-esteem there Pearl]

Yeah, with Steven I'm sure there's no way she wouldn't be missed.

[From what he knew of Steven, he was an extremely loving and caring boy. Of course he cared Pearl too.]

Maybe you can make something to remember her by, here in the ship. To show that you miss her.

Oh. Yeah, um... That's... actually what I needed your help with.

[Though he keeps his arms around Allen, he pulls back just enough to look at him as he speaks]

So... While Pearl was on board, she made swords and knives from materials she gathered on the planets we'd visit. I knew that. What I didn't know was that she made a lot, and now her room's full of them.

[There's a sheepish little smile as he explains, though he turns a bit more serious after]

Rogue and I were thinking of keeping some of the good ones to remember her by and selling the others to other people we come across. But... I want you to have one of the good ones.

Really?

[He looks surprised. He didn't know gems would be into swords- since you know, swords are pretty useless on rocks anyway. But hey]

Why...thank you, Clay. I'd like that.

How many swords are we talking about exactly?

Uh... about fifty?

[Y e a h.]

Fifty?!?

Fifty. Ish.

And I've never even held a sword until a little while ago, so I don't know how to tell which ones are good and which ones are... not as good?

[Pearl's been making weapons for years and years and years, so he doubts she'd made any bad ones.]

Fifty...ish.

[Greaaaat.]

Well, good thing I didn't plan anything for tonight.

[Since that's how long it's gonna take]

I'll look through them for you. Though I might take a couple of them for my crew. There's a few that use swords.

[He gives a big smile, even though it lacks the usual amount of spunk that he has. Yeah, he's feeling better, but... well, Pearl's still gone.]

You're the finest. The swords can be part of your payment for helping me out - oh, and a big meal later.

[No curry, no, but he's got some other recipes up his sleeve.]

And don't worry, I'll help you out with it. I don't want you taking care of it all alone.

[He smiles at that and reaches his hand up to put it on Clay's cheek in affection]

Ah...You really are the best boyfriend anyone could ask for.

[Swords, helping out and big meal? Hell yes please]

But alright. Show me where they're at when you're ready.

[Clay moves his own hand up to cover Allen's, pressing it to his cheeks a bit]

Well, I didn't want you to do all that work for me for nothing.

[That sort of thing deserves repayment, after all, and he'd be an ass to expect Allen to do all of that and not get anything out of it in return.

He takes another moment, then he curls his fingers around Allen's hand, takes it off of his cheek, and continues to hold it as he leads the way further into the Vanquish.]

We managed to categorize them a little, at least, by the planets and moons the weapons came from. [Mostly, just ones that had a similar blade color] The ones from the Blue Planet are all made from obsidian, so while they're really sharp, they're also pretty brittle.

Edited 2016-04-20 18:18 (UTC)

[He allows himself to get led by Clay, his hand holding onto Clay's in return and nodding as Clay explains things]

Ah...well, I can tell you right now that the obsidian knives might be useful, but any swords would be better off used as decoration only.

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geonomy - 2016-04-21 06:05 (UTC) - Expand

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save_the_souls - 2016-04-21 06:26 (UTC) - Expand

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