[re-aging goes here!]

[purple_pliers]

[In Ash and Kieran's cabin, there are the sounds of people beginning to wake up]

...mn. Jus' a dream...

Comments

[bulletwthmyname]

[is already awake, just lying still]

Something like that.

[purple_pliers]

[is cozy and content and safe and just barely beginning to realize something's wrong]

...Ash?

[bulletwthmyname]

[probably has an arm over her shoulder]

Morning, Violet.

[purple_pliers]

...I dreamed there was a fire.

[bulletwthmyname]

Did you?

[purple_pliers]

Mhm...

[waking up some more.

oh now I remember, that wasn't a dream.

and I'm not eight.]

[bulletwthmyname]

[no, no you aren't. not saying anything, just tightening that arm around her shoulder until she's snug against him. while he is definitely there empathically, he's not projecting any emotion at all.]

[purple_pliers]

Oh, god --

[whereas she hurts, in the way that one does when they wake up quite blissfully, and remember all in a rush that they've lost their parents and have many enemies and can never go home again.

turning her face away.]

[bulletwthmyname]

[just holding and stroking her hair. he's very there, incredibly present around her, but still not projecting]

Shh, I know. I know.

[purple_pliers]

[there will be gratitude for this when she is less overwhelmed. for now, just crying. shaking with it, even, but silent]

[bulletwthmyname]

[letting her cry for awhile. not going to interfere unless she seems to be getting hysterical, because this isn't something that should be forced away]

[purple_pliers]

[no hysterics, just deep loss and grief and loneliness. after several minutes she shifts around so she's clinging to him, and the loneliness at least lessens.]

S-s-sorry.

[bulletwthmyname]

[putting both arms around her and holding tight]

Nothing to be sorry for.

[purple_pliers]

It. I-it w-wasn't real. I thought. I thought.

[and now she's pushing everything down and away, compartmentalizing it and making it ignorable.]

[bulletwthmyname]

I guess that depends on what you mean by real. You were really eight. I'm guessing that was what your life was really like, then. But everything between then and now didn't unhappen.

[purple_pliers]

[wiping her face with her hands in a tired, resigned way]

No.