lifetothefullest | [IC Inbox

[He looks over at her again when she full turns her attention back to him, offering a small smile that's half knowing and half sad as she speaks.]

Yeah, it does. But I got some magical healing, and you have cool robo-fingers now, so look at us.

[Maybe a little patchwork, but both still going. There's something to be said for that, right?]

[Ellie echoes that smile, feeling old, and tired, and hollowed out, but better. A lot better than when she started.]

Look at us.

[Ellie lets out her breath, glances back out onto the water, weighing things in her head. It's not a total revelation, but she gets what he's trying to say.]

... guess it's about finding a way to make it work, even if it's not pretty.

[Lance lets his power fade, the music trailing off with the glow, and he gives a small shrug of agreement.]

Yeah. Sometimes, you just have to make the most of what you have.

[And sometimes 'the most' isn't great. Not just in terms of the situation, but in terms of the choices someone has to make, and when it's done it's done. Then you have to decide how to go forward with what's left.

But that said--]

And for now, we have it getting dark, and so we should probably go get something to eat.

[One of those little 'I'll take care of myself like an adult if you do too' arrangements of theirs, especially since neither of them is probably feeling too up for that otherwise.]

[Maybe it's because she feels so tender, but Lance taking care of her like this, now, makes the bridge of her nose sting. She'd rather disappear, hole up like some wounded animal to lick her hurts. But him knowing that she needs the company without the pressure, along with the silent confirmation that he knows exactly what she's done with him, helps.

It feels raw, yes. It feels like she cracked something open, even with how comparatively little he's gotten out of her in terms of the whole story.

But she's also willing to bear the cost, to try to patch something of herself together.

And more than that, try to give Lance something he actually can accomplish. They came out this evening with him feeling so obviously despondent and ineffective... but now he can focus on her instead, just for a little while. On someone he can genuinely help, who does need him and his friendship and support, instead of the things he can't fix.

Maybe they can both find some peace.]

Yeah. Not a bad idea.

[IC Inbox | Meadowlark]

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