Come Sail Away IC Inbox

[crushed_pearls]

Erin's voice mail message is in a weary voice: "Erin Peters. If you called in the middle of the night and I didn't answer, I'm dying. If I pick up and someone on your end isn't dying, they will be shortly. Text otherwise."

Comments

[redlightgreenlight]

The touch isn't unwelcome, in fact, Valdis places her hand over Erin's and just leans her head into it.

"Emotionally or physically?"

[crushed_pearls]

"...Well, physically would be a new bonus concern." Erin smiles sadly; there's not enough joke in that joke. "I was asking how you're feeling, yeah."

What she had called Valdis in the heat of the moment hasn't escaped Erin, but that's a later problem.

[redlightgreenlight]

Instead of answering Erin's question, Valdis counters with one of her own.

"How would you break someone who can feel the emotions of others, Erin? What would be the best way to destroy their soul?"

[crushed_pearls]

"...Torture others." It's said in such a small voice, tinged with shame. That had been one of Liz's tricks.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis hears the shame in Erin's voice and squeezes her hand. She knew that Erin would know exactly how, but she didn't mean to make it painful for her too.

"It's not my pain I remember," she replies, "It's theirs."

She lets that sit for a moment before continuing, "And then I felt nothing for thousands of years. I became a twisted and corrupted version of what I was supposed to be. I killed my father. I tried to kill my brother. And when all was said and done. I killed two of my own kind. Two souls who were also victims, and I destroyed them."

A normal person would probably be crying by now, but she can't. She's been sitting with all this for days and has taken moments to process. These are all simply facts she now has to live with and keep moving forward as she always has.

"I'm not alright. I feel guilty for being the only one who escaped. I'm worried the monster will come back. I'm furious with Amos for what he did. I am absolutely terrified of Fenrir showing up here. And I'm heartbroken for that little girl who never got the chance to live her life."

[crushed_pearls]

Erin's face flickers through a series of emotions as she fights for self control.

When she loses that fight she hugs Valdis tight, wings bending as if to shield her from the world.

[redlightgreenlight]

Being in Erin's arms is so different from being in Max's. But both feel right somehow.

"I hope the me back home has someone like you to help guide her through all this." Valdis murmurs, hugging Erin back.

[crushed_pearls]

"You've guided me too," Erin whispers through the emotion that tightens her throat. "You've got me in your corner. Even if they come, if your whole world beats down the door, you've got me."

[redlightgreenlight]

Between Erin, Nobunaga and Yato, she has plenty of powerful people in her corner. She would tell each and every one of them, and many more, that it's alright to feel fear, to lean on others when they need to.

"I don't want you to think of me as a victim who needs protecting. But...it's nice to have people who want to even if I don't need it."

[crushed_pearls]

"I could never mistake you for something helpless, love."

(Peters -)

NOT NOW.

Erin pulls away just far enough to give Valdis her best version of eye contact. "But...I am still on the same death march with you, to the versions of ourselves that can be happy. I'll be there when you falter."

[redlightgreenlight]

"You make me happy."

In a different way than with Max, but no less important. Valdis leans forward to press her forehead against Erin's.

"And I can only assume the opposite is also true, because that's the second time you've called me that."

If Erin was hoping she hadn't noticed the first time, well, she had.

[crushed_pearls]

Ah, there's the intense blush on that pale face. Erin can't even hide her expression from Valdis with their heads together like this, but her wings do tighten, hiding them from the world without in a warm embrace.

"...You do. And you frustrate me, and you worry me, and you comfort me, and...and I'm never gonna have something simple, y'know? There's no endgame where I marry a pastor's daughter and raise two point five dogs and an adopted kid, that's just not happening. You've been trying to tell me to keep my distance but..."

A shaky breath. Erin nuzzles her nose against Valdis's. "I don't expect anything back. But I wouldn't trade this life with you in it for any other without."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Well, I'm always going to frustrate you, and I doubt you will ever stop worrying, because I never stop worrying about Max, and there is definitely isn't any future in which we raise half a dog."

Unless the Captain saw fit to create half a dog, but he seems quite averse to creating life that might harm the reality he has created.

"There is never going to be anything simple about loving a non-human who will outlive you in the real world, but that doesn't mean we can't try. As long as we both realize that there will come a day when the Nothing comes for one of us and the one who is left will have to survive despite that."

This is a lie. If someone she loves, Max, Ari, Klaus, Nobunaga, Yato, Erin, were to vanish, she would tear a hole in this reality to get them back and go through anyone who tried to stop her. Because here, coming back is possible.

[crushed_pearls]

"I know that loving a warrior means making peace with losing her," Erin murmurs softly. "...No promises about not going on a rampage, but...I know."

Hesitantly, face still so very red, Erin dips closer. Valdis can't feel her emotions right now, and Erin dares to hope that maybe, just, maybe, that means this is...not uncomplicated, but straightforward. That Valdis will say yes, or no, to a kiss or to more without being intruded on.

[redlightgreenlight]

She never thought she'd be falling into this particular trope, but Erin's closeness seems like a clear invitation, so she leans in the rest of the way.

[crushed_pearls]

Erin's lips taste of strawberries; the kiss she offers is gentle, but not hesitant. A low sound, relief and affection and wonder, floats from low in her throat as she holds Valdis close.

She's dreamed of this moment, at times when her dreams were too strong for her to banish them as fantasies she shouldn't entertain.

[redlightgreenlight]

It's sweet, tender, but also hungry, even without knowing what Erin is feeling those three things are clear. She wraps her arms around Erin neck, careful to not touch the black wings curled around them, leaning into the kiss with a little more pressure.

She's not sure how far she wants to go, but they can have this kiss at the very least.

[crushed_pearls]

Erin has to come up for air eventually, and when she does she tightens her hug, shaking faintly with a mix of emotions that has her feeling like someone hit her with lightning. She cups Valdis's cheek, smiling, amazed, and for a moment she can only breathe.

"I think," Erin murmurs at last, smiling, "this is when I ask if you'd like to go dancing again sometime."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Yes, I think now would be a good time for that." She replies when Erin breaks the kiss, though she still leans into her touch like a cat, "I promise to not put you on the floor without permission this time."

Is that too much teasing?

[crushed_pearls]

"Careful love, I already ripped the band-aid of ending up at the photo joint off, I've got nothing to lose." Erin opens her wings, at last, before they can cramp up terribly, but the look on her face is all dazed happiness. Emboldened, she carries on: "Friday night, storytime optional? I do believe I promised you the tale of Vasilia the Beautiful."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis laughs, "Well, I want to keep my reputation off of Photos at Sea, not quite as bold as you are."

The light floods back in when Erin opens her wings. She doesn't mind the light, but she didn't mind the darkness either.

"Friday is great, and I can't wait to hear the story."

She will have to find a dress that isn't too overboard, she can't tease Erin the way she teases Max.

[crushed_pearls]

Valdis please, destroy her, Erin's so goddamn thirsty all the time.

She takes Valdis's hand and kisses her knuckles softly. "I know there's more to tell, but...I think...I need to go onto the decks and scream like a little girl for a bit. I'd do it here but people might be napping."

Erin is, in defense of that statement, still all but vibrating.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis' brow furrows momentarily in confusion, not entirely sure which part of what happened Erin needs to scream about. But knowing Erin, it's probably the kiss. The second kiss, a brush on the back of her hand, reminds her so much of others she has met throughout her life. But so far, only three have gotten anywhere near her heart.

"I certainly don't want my roommate running back to the room worried I've done something again."

Not that she's going to relate any of those events to Erin right now.

"There will be time for more later."

[crushed_pearls]

That takes Erin right out. Blushing furiously she retreats out the door.

A delighted squeal escapes her before she can be heard running for the deck.

[redlightgreenlight]

It's probably a good thing she doesn't know what Erin is feeling, but she can guess because the woman isn't exactly good at hiding her heart. None of that had gone the way she expected, but she's not sure that's a bad thing.