no grave can hold my body down
Given who they are to each other and how long they've been together, it's of little surprise that, despite this being something that apparently Ronin is going to have to shoulder and swallow, the Nova is already reaching out to try to comfort his husband. Words of reassurance dance on his lips, unspoken, and he reaches out to carefully swipe away the tear on Remi's cheek. It's where his hand will remain as the Lullaby's voice floods his thoughts.
The silence that stretches between them is almost a red flag in itself - quiet, within and without, Ronin's expression flinches towards confusion for a few seconds. Having put that chapter of his life to bed long ago - or so he thought - it takes more time than he'd care to admit to realise what Remi is saying. Confusion, then, morphs into horror and sorrow, and even though this is only a dream, Ronin steps back and turns his gaze desperately skywards, as if he'll be able to see a star up there after all. Just the one star. Just Vanya.
I'm sorry, what? is what he wants to say, but his throat is suddenly closed to word or sound. Alone. He hears it even though Remi doesn't say it. She's been alone up there. Without Aoife, without anyone. I stopped looking up.
The outrage comes creeping in slowly, oil slick beneath their feet, and an almost imperceptible vibration twangs the air. Clouds grow jagged. The landscape hollows.
"The Longnight I spent out there in the Grounds. It was for nothing?" he manages.
The silence that stretches between them is almost a red flag in itself - quiet, within and without, Ronin's expression flinches towards confusion for a few seconds. Having put that chapter of his life to bed long ago - or so he thought - it takes more time than he'd care to admit to realise what Remi is saying. Confusion, then, morphs into horror and sorrow, and even though this is only a dream, Ronin steps back and turns his gaze desperately skywards, as if he'll be able to see a star up there after all. Just the one star. Just Vanya.
I'm sorry, what? is what he wants to say, but his throat is suddenly closed to word or sound. Alone. He hears it even though Remi doesn't say it. She's been alone up there. Without Aoife, without anyone. I stopped looking up.
The outrage comes creeping in slowly, oil slick beneath their feet, and an almost imperceptible vibration twangs the air. Clouds grow jagged. The landscape hollows.
"The Longnight I spent out there in the Grounds. It was for nothing?" he manages.
