There's always a lighthouse

[wheremst]

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

Comments

[snackooed]

Clever as ever.

[ She pretends there isn't a frog in her throat and lets a hearty little laugh escape, not even bothering to hide it. ]

If you think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second, you've got another thing coming. It'll take a lot more than distracting me with good conversation to catch me off my game, Therion. I don't fall for the same tricks twice.

[ She didn't forget your little stunt with her horseradish! ]

I'm afraid you're stuck with me.

[bolderfell]

[Therion doesn't really cry anymore. He can't even remember the last time. But his chuckle comes out a little wet with everything he's feeling: the relief, the guilt, the joy to have her back and smiling and alive.]

Damn. Guess I'll just have to get used to it. Worth it for the drinks, though.

[snackooed]

Oh, as if the drinks are the only thing that you like having me around for!

[ She can't help herself; she makes a big show of pouting at him, as though she's really fooling anyone when her cheeks puff out like balloons-- ]

That does it. Next one I make for you, it's gonna knock you flat on your butt! It'll taste so good, it's gonna make your head spin!

[bolderfell]

Oh no. How terrible. That'll really show me.

[Under his cloak, Therion holds on to his own elbows like he might come apart otherwise. He missed this so much. He missed her so much.]

[snackooed]

It will! You're gonna forget you're drinking liquor and you won't be able to hold it, and then you'll come crying to me...

[ She has a hard time imagining he'll actually come crying. If anything, it'd be the other way around. But this is her story, and she's sticking to it.

She's tempted to ruffle that mangled mess of hair on his head, just to really stick it to him, but she settles for a nudge instead, a gentle little push while he huddles in on himself. Her hand doesn't pass right through him; they're both here. ]

...I knew you could do it, Therion.

[bolderfell]

[The nudge gets a soft, ticklish sound out of him, a faintly disbelieving laugh. She's solid flesh and bone, and her belief--that's something tangible, too.]

I... don't know how you did. [He says that quiet as a confession, then breathes out.] But I suppose an investigator has to have an eye for those things.

[Therion looks at her a moment, glances away, sighs, and drops his arms.]

If you want a... hug, or something. [-///-] I won't tell anyone if you don't.

[snackooed]

[ If the statement surprises her, it doesn't show on her face through shock. Her eyes may go a touch wider, and the play-pout she's giving might find its way back to that wide smile, like she's pulled a perfect print...

But she doesn't even have the words to crack wise, or poke fun. Like a barrier's just come crumbling down, the only thing keeping some level of distance between them crushed with those words, Ema's arms are moving before her lips can start.

She pulls him in and holds him tight. ]

My lips are sealed.

[bolderfell]

[For the first time in recorded history, Therion hugs back just as fiercely.]

...I'm glad you're back.

[It's probably not enough, not compared to everything he owes her. But he hopes, at the very least, she can hear some of what he wants her to know in there. How very, very much her acceptance, her teaching, her presence has meant to him all this time.]