thermalwind | Life Aftr IC Inbox

Thank you. [Better he get asked than Allura. She has dealt with enough and it’s his job to shoulder some of it too.]

So with that out of the way. How are you? You got a trial by water kind of entrance. [Shiro he can handle later. He definitely has plans...]

[On her end, she leans a little more onto the interior wall of the diner, letting the back of her head rest against it as she sat.]

You're welcome. I- [Allura has to bite back an obvious lie, reminded by the fact Keith likely saw whatever state Lance was in if he recalled the hospital she did not.] ...suppose it could have been worse.

[Her tone remains light and neutral as she tries to be reassuring, yet the undertone beneath it betrays the exhaustion. She's been running on adrenaline and survival instincts since she awoke and it's been catching up to her since they made it.]

Had a few more ticks passed in our reality, it would have been. You likely would have had to help me move to safety. [Iiinstead of her subtly focusing quintessence to heal herself enough to get by.]

[Silence claims the line. He leans back against the wall with the stone in his hands. He puts the pieces together. Allura's hints are the last piece he needed. Lance had been in hospital garb. He'd been hurt and needed his assistance.

He'd made sure his medical supplies were readily available to him. In the camp fire on Mu he'd witnessed the start of a mission. Allura had told him things on Mu as well.

He clears his throat once. There, she knows he's still here.]

If you need any patching up I've...gotten pretty good at it. Otherwise, get some sleep. If anything happens I'll come wake you.

[Allura allows the silence to claim them both for a time, tired blue eyes staring up at the ceiling as it sinks in on the other end.]

I healed what I could as I lay there on the sand. [A wry smile crosses her lips as she allows her exhaustion to come through. She hasn't felt this tired since revitalizing the Balmera.] I will, and Keith?

We make it. [Her eyes slowly begin to close.] ...used too much to keep going.

[She had to. They had to, or all they fought for would have been...

Another time. When they did not need to rest and she isn't so tired.] Get some rest as well, Keith.

I will. I'll take a nap then be up for my guard shift.

...if you need anything at all, let me or anyone else around know. We'll help. [He sounds tired too. He took a few bad hits out on patrol. But nothing he can't handle.]

If it helps you sleep, come rest with me and Kosmo. It's pretty warm out here.

[Allura doesn't respond right away. In fact, it is about five earth minutes before the door to Denny opens and she walks out -- helmet under her arm. She looks around for a moment, but it's hard not to spot Kosmo's fur in particular at night. Even with the fires.

She approaches, sitting beside Kosmo, leaving the cosmic wolf between them. Resting her helmet on her lap, she gently places a hand on Kosmo's back; petting him. Part of her hopes that the light from the fire that hits her face is low enough to disguise some of her exhaustion.]

Mira and Daisy refused to leave my side while I was on mine. [She says quietly, as though to at least acknowledge that she did indeed hear his last message.] Ann, as well.

[In the end, her voice gives away her exhaustion and she lies down, staring up at the sky with eyes half-closed. ...She misses her mice friends.]

[Keith rests his hand on top of hers for a moment. The exhaustion is plain as day to him. He's been here so long. Keith lays down, pillowing his head with his forearm.]

Mira and Ann are good people. [His dreams are going to be bad but there's no helping it. They both need the rest. He glances up to Ember sleeping in the heart of the flames.]

...if you tell enough stories at the end of the month. You can ask for things and pets back. I turned over stories to get Kosmo here.

They are. [It's easy to agree with that, even if she heard the way Mira's voice changed slightly at the mention of Lance.

Allura is silent for a moment, and Keith may just very well sense her staring up at the sky for a moment before she turns onto her side to face both him and the wolf.]

Keith, when have you ever known me to be open to tell stories when they are unprompted by either being asked directly or by a similar instance? [It isn't scolding. She... almost sounds a little terrified at the prospect of opening up like that. For any reason.]

Sorry I didn’t specify it only happens a certain time. And It scared me at first too. [He tucks himself up against Kosmo’s side. And the wolf breathes against his hair. He missed small comforts like this.] You don’t have to tell them directly to the whole group. Most of my stories are told privately to Storyteller.

You’ll know when it’s time we wake back up on Mu at the end of the month. You sit at the camp fire and we take turns telling stories either publically or privately to the god helping us. We also decide what islands to check out. It’s a community vote.

[He lays his Bayard in easy reach. If he needs it he can snatch it up in a moment.]

I can walk you through it when it’s time.

[Keith, their fearless leader, admitting something scared him. Pinch her; clearly she’s already asleep.

Allura’s gaze falls briefly before she curls up completely for the night. She could handle private, depending upon which story she shares. Yet she frowns as she thinks it over. There are so many she could share, but... Shiro.

She runs a finger along her own bayard and sighs.] Alright.

[She is too tired to argue, but she trusts him, at least.]

[He shuts his eyes and lets the warmth of the fire start to drag him under.] We can talk more when we wake up.

[He rolls just enough into the side of Kosmo to shield himself with his fur. He starts to drift off.] Sleep well, Allura.

[Allura closes her eyes and nods. In the morning; right.] Goodnight, Keith. Kosmo.

[She lets herself drift off. Somewhere in the night, she curls up into Kosmo completely. He might even hear a quiet sniff in her sleep.]

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