[SE] at the first cringe of morning

Isla

Unaware of how Sunjata feels his explanation is going, Isla is unable to tell him that it truly isn't his fault. The things he has to say are all things she's needed to hear, and for quite a long time now too. Only the realisation of what means to be infected - from someone who has been there personally - is enough for her to finally understand the severity of it, and however much she might not want to hear it, this has been a necessary evil.

"It does have to be me," she objects softly, shifting to lean against him as he steps closer to her, the Remedy frowning sadly down at the tiled floor. "I couldn't let someone just... grab him and go. Or trick him there, not knowing why." Not like what happened to you, but she doesn't say that of course. "I'll explain things. I'll let Remi know beforehand, so he can... so he'll be with him." Rubbing at her forehead, Isla lets out a long, heavy sigh. "Thanks for letting me know."

sooner or later, we all have to wake
and try forgetting everything

SUNJATA

the flood

dreams where you're murdered
boy i know you heard it all before

His touch is accepted, at least, and with that little boon, Sunjata steps closer to wind his arm around her shoulders, letting her lean against him as much as he wants to, his posture slumped from exhaustion and wariness as much as weariness has overcome him.

He nods to her explanation, a heavy sigh escaping him as his accented voice adds in. “Yeah… I get that.” He’d been pissed and then terrified when it happened, partially because water did harbor the chance of actually killing him, and partially because the infection was clear from his body. And while it has affected him in quite uncomfortable ways, he wasn’t Everest. He can’t say how the Aviator would respond, but he hurts for her in the not knowing.

“I’m so sorry Isla. I didn’t.. don’t.. want to bear bad news all the time. You know that, right?” Maybe it’s the discomfort of the conversation that brings back the fact that this closeness is still relatively new, after everything that had happened between them.

you shut your eyes to pain
boy then just lock the fuckin' door

Isla

With her mind far away on conversations to be had in the near future and the arguably life-altering consequences of them, Isla thinks nothing of leaning into the cradle of Sunjata's touch, turning eventually to wrap her arms around him properly, burying her face away in his chest. "Of course I know that, don't be silly," she mumbles, giving him a gentle squeeze and shifting to offer a sad smile up at him, lifting her shoulder to wipe away the wetness on her cheeks.

"It's not as though you're telling me all this gleefully because you want to," she adds, before tossing him a playfully skeptical raise of her eyebrow. "...Right?" Heaving out another long sigh, Isla finally steps back and smooths out the accidental creases she's left in his (arguably already far too creased) shirt. "Do you need anything?" she asks; not wanting to belabour the point of him looking like shit, she can nonetheless offer anything she can for the journey he has ahead.

sooner or later, we all have to wake
and try forgetting everything

SUNJATA

the flood

dreams where you're murdered
boy i know you heard it all before

He’s open for her the second she turns toward him, winding both of his arms around her in a gentle hug, keeping her close as she needs and offering whatever warmth he can to help her parse through the thoughts. As such, his voice rumbles out in his nervousness, only to find that she isn’t blaming him at all. Relief spreads sadly against his face, the flickering light in his scars soothingly “’Course not.” He says, stumbling over the first statement as if somewhat surprised, huffing a soft sound and flashing a sad smile.

He releases her when she steps back and he cares far little about the state of his outfit when she tries to straighten it out. He waves her off, that sad smile still on his face. “No, no. I’m okay. Really.” He hums softly, shrugging broad shoulders before he glances to the oven. “Maybe some cobbler when it’s done?” But anything else? No.

you shut your eyes to pain
boy then just lock the fuckin' door

Isla

"Good." Huffing and wiping at her eyes until she feels put together enough to look at him again properly, Isla forces away the tension that instantly tries to creep back into her shoulders. One thing at a time, and whatever will be will be. Once she's rolled the dice and let them fall where they may, there will be time to feel sorry for herself - and even more so for Everest - and to see if there's anything left to salvage.

Even that thought has her throat tightening again, Isla tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear and nodding to Sunjata as he confirms he doesn't need anything. She'd expected as much, but as his friend and as a medic, she can't help but ask. "Cobbler I can do," she confirms, smiling weakly and glancing to the timer. "There's a few minutes left. Come on - I'll put more coffee on."

Doing just that, she'll happily spend a little more time with Sunjata until he has to leave, though their small-talk is stilted at best. Even with the Flood uninfected, evidently The Family continues to cast a long shadow of his life.

~FIN

sooner or later, we all have to wake
and try forgetting everything