[ he does know, and emotionshare lets her know that if she can't read it in his expression. he lets her examine it all she wants; that ring is still on his left hand where it belongs. it was the right one that was cleaved.
he reaches up to slide his hand over her cheek. ]
I'm all right. There's nothin' to worry about. This happened to me more times than you know about, sweetheart.
[well, that doesn't make her feel a WHOLE lot better, but she knows that she can't change the fact that it happened in the past before she even knew him, so. karlach leans into the touch, with a sigh.
and then she moves forward all the way and pulls him into a hug, with an exhausted laugh. tries to let all that go, let the guilt and the tension go, as best she can. it lingers, it's still there, but.]
[ he slides catches her immediately when she steps forward, winding both arms around her and holding her tightly. he tenses, releases, trying to draw all of that weight from her shoulders. he lets them stay there as long as they need to, his nose buried in her shoulder, his eyes closed. they're both alive. everyone is alive. ]
Darn right, we're alive.
[ he smiles, kisses her collarbone, and lays his cheek on her chest. ]
And we beat the snot out of them clock-stuckers. You 'n me, like we said. I never felt more alive than I did in that moment, let me tell you.
[she murmurs against his hair, holding him tightly. he can hear her heart beat where he's settled, a steady, gentle thud. maybe a little fast, after everything, but calming, the longer he's got her.]
I don't think I've ever been more in love with you than I was right that second. [she runs her fingers through his hair, eyes closed.] You're something else with that weapon of yours, soldier, I was swooning. It was a good thing my hands were full.
[joking, a bit, but there's a hint of truth to that. her hand comes down, running up and down his right arm. reassuring herself a bit.]
[ not that he needs the reassurance, but he always latches on immediately to any sign of her affection for him. the fact that her heart seems to slow the longer he holds her is enough to light his happiness like a flame in his chest. hearing her swear is already a good sign.
happiness glows from him the longer she speaks. he smiles wide, leans back, and gives her a sly smile. ]
Oh, you were lucky my hands were full too. Covered in blood and ragin' all over, but you still gave me a kiss hot as hellfire... Have I told you how you're my dream woman?
[ he does this very, very often. more importantly, though, his smile eases a little bit as her hand slides down his arm, still trying to find comfort. he lifts that same hand and takes hers gently. ]
Let's head upstairs, yeah? There's somethin' I wanna talk to ya' about. 'Fore you get anxious, it ain't bad news.
Often! But you can always say it as much as you'd like.
[because she likes hearing it, like a sucker. he leans back and gives her that smile, and there's a sort of impish emotion to her, mischievous, with a whole sunburst of affection. it's the kind of emotion that she'd follow up with pouncing him, but for now, it fades when his smile eases up. the warmth stays. it always does.
talk, huh. pings of curiosity, but she nods.]
But - sure. Let's go, then.
[she laces their fingers together. up they can go, back up to their shared room.]
[ and he loves saying it, like a wifeguy. and he was SO ready to give into all of those impish desires up until he had this pc with scien. ]
Let's head on up.
[ fingers laced, he leads them back to their apartment and settles them both on the couch in front of the fireplace. it's night outside again, and the milky way is still blooming over them.
he takes her hand in both of his and looks at her with gentle eyes. ]
I spoke with Scien. ...He told me that machine he's got is ready to use tonight. Said it'd only take a few hours to turn me into a full-grown human.
[it's okay they have plenty of time to get up to trouble later, honestly. for now, she follows him easily up to their apartment, and watches him curiously as they settle. the fireplace is warm, comforting - the sky outside gives her the same sense of wonder it always does.
and then he tells her what he does, and she sits up, surprised.]
-- Wait, really? [there's excitement, and then:] Is that what you want?
[ he grips hers even more tightly. he remembers those nights they shared after he had his drinks—the ball, the springs, the bed, the beach. he remembers the absolute elation of feeling karlach's heartbeat against his own. he lifts his hand, smooths it over the back of karlach's neck, and leans forward to press their foreheads together. he closes his eyes. ]
Since we got that world-hoppin' machine, Scien said his offer's always gonna be there any time I wanna take it. If I wanted to stay like this longer, until I got my revenge, I could. But I don't know if I wanna wait that long, to be honest.
[ boothill smiles a little wider as her tail slides over his lap. her soft, warm voice sounds like a bell striking in his heart. he leans up, pressing his nose to hers. ]
He said you've gotta watch me for a few days after the procedure's done. That all right with you?
[ no one's waiting for him back in the asdana star system, on the other side of this cult mess. ]
I'll be with you as long as you need, and longer still. [maybe nobody's waiting for him there, but she'll be right with him here, every time he needs her.] We'll take it easy.
But yeah. Stay with me, while we've got the time just for us. [a beat. and then, a touch hesitantly:] Are you coming back with me right away? To the Gate, I mean. I have to go back before anything else, get rid of this thing in my head.
[ boothill slides over and kisses her jaw. if she lets him, he will lift his leg over one of her thighs. he wants in her lap if they aren't going to move, then, or he wants her in his. ]
If I'm rememberin' right, I got a few days 'fore this shindig happens that I can't miss. I ain't in any rush till then, and it won't take long when it happens. How long's that search gonna take ya'?
[she makes room for him to crawl into her lap if he wants, wrapping her arms around him, sinking further into the couch. the fire in the fireplace flares up, gets very warm for a moment, before settling back down.]
Not sure, really. The last time I did this, it was a few days between where Gale left off and where I left off. Might be faster, this time, just because I already know what's going to happen.
[ oh... he feels that fire blazing behind his back, watching it darken and stretch his shadow over her. his smile grows a little sly as he sets an arm on her shoulder, the other sliding into her hair. (there's still that silver glint on his ring finger.) ]
That ain't gonna confuse any other folks with ya', that you know the future? Or are you gonna try to tell 'em about what happened?
[god, does she love seeing that silver glint. her emotions do a little thrill at it, and she hums, resting her head against his.]
Haven't decided yet, really. I think it might be better to pretend I don't know what's going to happen - but I will tell them all about this. There's no way around it. Got to explain my heart somehow.
[ it feels like it's been years since she first arrived into the graveyard without her engine. it's odd, thinking that there are others out there who would be completely blindsided by its disappearance. ]
That's gonna be one heck of a tale to tell. Important thing is you got your old heart back now, yeah? Don't gotta worry 'bout it no more.
[she is really going to go home and wyll, lae'zel, shadowheart and halsin are going to be like HUH? not that she minds explaining, just boy howdy.]
It's one less ticking time bomb! [don't say that so cheerfully] The important thing, yeah, is that it's fine. I'm a bit worried about being... well, you know, less helpful to the cause and all that, but I can still bash an axe into a squid. It'll be fine.
[ he takes her cheek in his hand and leans in for a short kiss, only he doesn't pull away far once it's finished. he takes the moment to look between her eyes, taking in the bright and shining gold of them, remembering how they'd flashed with fury and adrenaline just hours ago.
he lets himself get swept in the memory of her. they came full circle on the promise they made together, and despite circumstances, it was one of the most thrilling moments of his life. the fact that he shared it with her made the ending all the better. ]
Oh, I don't have any doubt about that. [ he lowers his voice, brushes his nose against hers as he closes his eyes. ] They wouldn't neither, if they saw you out there on that battlefield today like I did.
[that makes her laugh - makes her sigh out a little, too, as she thinks about it. what a rush. a pause, as she shifts to settle her arms around his shoulders, as she brings a hand up to stroke through his hair absently.]
I did promise you we'd paint the city red. [she hums, with a little grin.] And you, you're a fucking whirlwind out there. I've never seen a better shot than you, and I've seen some shit.
[it felt... cathartic, she thinks, to finally cash in on it. wipe out the bad, and start over with the good.]
Watched you shoot one of the fuckers right between the eyes without looking. Hottest thing I've ever seen.
[ his grin creeps even further up his cheeks. he kisses her cheek, her jaw, murmuring as he trails down to the slope of her neck to her shoulder. ]
Not as much as watchin' you carvin' into them cultists left and right. Probably ain't a good sign, goin' crazy over a woman painted in blood, but you had my heart singin'. Like ya' said—just countin' us both lucky that we had other priorities. Might've dragged ya' off somewhere otherwise.
Hmmm. [the effects are presumably still active so he can have a little thoughtshare blip of her imagining making out with him in the middle of a battlefield. just briefly. and then:]
Well, I'm not complaining. A little blood can be hot. [with the emotional equivalent of >:3] You've got me all night, you know. God defeated, us victorious. Alive.
[a beat.] ... Think it'll change any? Once we're out of here.
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he reaches up to slide his hand over her cheek. ]
I'm all right. There's nothin' to worry about. This happened to me more times than you know about, sweetheart.
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and then she moves forward all the way and pulls him into a hug, with an exhausted laugh. tries to let all that go, let the guilt and the tension go, as best she can. it lingers, it's still there, but.]
You're okay. [she repeats, and then:] I'm okay. Holy shit, we're alive.
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Darn right, we're alive.
[ he smiles, kisses her collarbone, and lays his cheek on her chest. ]
And we beat the snot out of them clock-stuckers. You 'n me, like we said. I never felt more alive than I did in that moment, let me tell you.
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[she murmurs against his hair, holding him tightly. he can hear her heart beat where he's settled, a steady, gentle thud. maybe a little fast, after everything, but calming, the longer he's got her.]
I don't think I've ever been more in love with you than I was right that second. [she runs her fingers through his hair, eyes closed.] You're something else with that weapon of yours, soldier, I was swooning. It was a good thing my hands were full.
[joking, a bit, but there's a hint of truth to that. her hand comes down, running up and down his right arm. reassuring herself a bit.]
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happiness glows from him the longer she speaks. he smiles wide, leans back, and gives her a sly smile. ]
Oh, you were lucky my hands were full too. Covered in blood and ragin' all over, but you still gave me a kiss hot as hellfire... Have I told you how you're my dream woman?
[ he does this very, very often. more importantly, though, his smile eases a little bit as her hand slides down his arm, still trying to find comfort. he lifts that same hand and takes hers gently. ]
Let's head upstairs, yeah? There's somethin' I wanna talk to ya' about. 'Fore you get anxious, it ain't bad news.
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[because she likes hearing it, like a sucker. he leans back and gives her that smile, and there's a sort of impish emotion to her, mischievous, with a whole sunburst of affection. it's the kind of emotion that she'd follow up with pouncing him, but for now, it fades when his smile eases up. the warmth stays. it always does.
talk, huh. pings of curiosity, but she nods.]
But - sure. Let's go, then.
[she laces their fingers together. up they can go, back up to their shared room.]
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Let's head on up.
[ fingers laced, he leads them back to their apartment and settles them both on the couch in front of the fireplace. it's night outside again, and the milky way is still blooming over them.
he takes her hand in both of his and looks at her with gentle eyes. ]
I spoke with Scien. ...He told me that machine he's got is ready to use tonight. Said it'd only take a few hours to turn me into a full-grown human.
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and then he tells her what he does, and she sits up, surprised.]
-- Wait, really? [there's excitement, and then:] Is that what you want?
[holds his hands with her own, tightly.]
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Since we got that world-hoppin' machine, Scien said his offer's always gonna be there any time I wanna take it. If I wanted to stay like this longer, until I got my revenge, I could. But I don't know if I wanna wait that long, to be honest.
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... It's your body, sweetheart. [she says, soft, warm.] It belongs to you. So whatever you want, you should do.
[that is - wildly important to her. whatever she wants or thinks is not a priority, in her mind.]
There's pros and cons to doing it now, and to waiting, but... I'm going to keep you safe, no matter what.
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He said you've gotta watch me for a few days after the procedure's done. That all right with you?
[ no one's waiting for him back in the asdana star system, on the other side of this cult mess. ]
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she kisses him, when she feels his lips twitch.]
I'll be with you as long as you need, and longer still. [maybe nobody's waiting for him there, but she'll be right with him here, every time he needs her.] We'll take it easy.
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[ he's teasing... he leans up, takes another kiss, and squeezes her hand. ]
Let's have one more night of this, yeah? I know it'll only take a few hours, but I wanna have the rest of the night with you while we've still got it.
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[she laughs, tugging him closer.]
But yeah. Stay with me, while we've got the time just for us. [a beat. and then, a touch hesitantly:] Are you coming back with me right away? To the Gate, I mean. I have to go back before anything else, get rid of this thing in my head.
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If I'm rememberin' right, I got a few days 'fore this shindig happens that I can't miss. I ain't in any rush till then, and it won't take long when it happens. How long's that search gonna take ya'?
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Not sure, really. The last time I did this, it was a few days between where Gale left off and where I left off. Might be faster, this time, just because I already know what's going to happen.
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That ain't gonna confuse any other folks with ya', that you know the future? Or are you gonna try to tell 'em about what happened?
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Haven't decided yet, really. I think it might be better to pretend I don't know what's going to happen - but I will tell them all about this. There's no way around it. Got to explain my heart somehow.
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Well, that's true, isn't it?
[ it feels like it's been years since she first arrived into the graveyard without her engine. it's odd, thinking that there are others out there who would be completely blindsided by its disappearance. ]
That's gonna be one heck of a tale to tell. Important thing is you got your old heart back now, yeah? Don't gotta worry 'bout it no more.
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It's one less ticking time bomb! [don't say that so cheerfully] The important thing, yeah, is that it's fine. I'm a bit worried about being... well, you know, less helpful to the cause and all that, but I can still bash an axe into a squid. It'll be fine.
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he lets himself get swept in the memory of her. they came full circle on the promise they made together, and despite circumstances, it was one of the most thrilling moments of his life. the fact that he shared it with her made the ending all the better. ]
Oh, I don't have any doubt about that. [ he lowers his voice, brushes his nose against hers as he closes his eyes. ] They wouldn't neither, if they saw you out there on that battlefield today like I did.
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I did promise you we'd paint the city red. [she hums, with a little grin.] And you, you're a fucking whirlwind out there. I've never seen a better shot than you, and I've seen some shit.
[it felt... cathartic, she thinks, to finally cash in on it. wipe out the bad, and start over with the good.]
Watched you shoot one of the fuckers right between the eyes without looking. Hottest thing I've ever seen.
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Not as much as watchin' you carvin' into them cultists left and right. Probably ain't a good sign, goin' crazy over a woman painted in blood, but you had my heart singin'. Like ya' said—just countin' us both lucky that we had other priorities. Might've dragged ya' off somewhere otherwise.
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Hmmm. [the effects are presumably still active so he can have a little thoughtshare blip of her imagining making out with him in the middle of a battlefield. just briefly. and then:]
Well, I'm not complaining. A little blood can be hot. [with the emotional equivalent of >:3] You've got me all night, you know. God defeated, us victorious. Alive.
[a beat.] ... Think it'll change any? Once we're out of here.
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What? Me havin' you all night? Not unless my circuits get fried and I lose all my forkin' marbles somehow.
[ ok maybe she doesn't mean that but he's disgusting and she's hot. he closes his mouth, grazes the tips of his teeth over her skin. ]
Anyone in their right mind would say the same.
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