[gently because he knows you are not joking you dork.]
This is a group of good people. You see that, don't you? A lot of big hearts. [...] People are dying here. It's bad. But I've watched a few of you realize someone may be sick and dangerous, and work all week to find a way to help them. I've watched one of you leave messages in an alley to remember the dead, and another of you leave flowers behind, and every week a little bit is added to that and not one person is left out. You all...work together to find out what happened behind each death and then when you have your answer you show kindness. There are even people here who receive prizes they could trade back for powers to defend themselves, but they use them to help others instead. Protecting each other, or helping solve a case.
[he's quiet for a second.] ...Even heard, about a week ago, of one person who happened upon a power who could prevent a death from occurring, and rather than saving that for themselves, they used it to save the life of the first person who needed it. And now somebody is alive because of that person and they haven't said a word.
Each of those things are all miracles, and that's what I find worth believing in.
vax stays quiet as shale talks, just, tending to the plants, but it's obvious he's listening. his emotions sort of swell, as shale speaks - a quiet fluster, at first, as he mentions the messages and the sickness, falling into soft affection for the others, underneath all that melancholy. shale's right - the people here are good. for someone who has struggled so hard to trust throughout most of his life, he's found his way here. stumbling, sometimes, but nevertheless, found a way.
... the last part, though. that catches his attention. he sucks in a soft, surprised breath, emotion fluttering, and his head turns to look at shale. he can probably see the unvoiced question all over vax's face, as he just - ] Who...
[ ... but trails off, because he doubts shale will tell.
there's a long pause.
he swallows. ]
...yeah.
[ for a minute, that's really all he has, voice rough, and a little wet, feelings just a mess - hope, and misery, and gratitude, and exhaustion mingling all together, and leaving him tongue tied.
[well a lot of those examples were things you did, bud, but shale has no way of knowing that, probably. his passive perception would have to be insane for that to happen.
anyway, aww. it's arm around the shoulders time. it really has been a long day.]
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What have you done that would make you doubt you're worth believing in?
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vax opens his mouth, and then closes it, surprised, hands pausing where he was pruning a plant... then huffs, and ducks his head. touched?? ]
...was just joking, Shale. [ but, shale might get the sense it wasn't that much of a joke. they've fucked up a lot so far! whew!! ]
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[gently because he knows you are not joking you dork.]
This is a group of good people. You see that, don't you? A lot of big hearts. [...] People are dying here. It's bad. But I've watched a few of you realize someone may be sick and dangerous, and work all week to find a way to help them. I've watched one of you leave messages in an alley to remember the dead, and another of you leave flowers behind, and every week a little bit is added to that and not one person is left out. You all...work together to find out what happened behind each death and then when you have your answer you show kindness. There are even people here who receive prizes they could trade back for powers to defend themselves, but they use them to help others instead. Protecting each other, or helping solve a case.
[he's quiet for a second.] ...Even heard, about a week ago, of one person who happened upon a power who could prevent a death from occurring, and rather than saving that for themselves, they used it to save the life of the first person who needed it. And now somebody is alive because of that person and they haven't said a word.
Each of those things are all miracles, and that's what I find worth believing in.
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or not!
vax stays quiet as shale talks, just, tending to the plants, but it's obvious he's listening. his emotions sort of swell, as shale speaks - a quiet fluster, at first, as he mentions the messages and the sickness, falling into soft affection for the others, underneath all that melancholy. shale's right - the people here are good. for someone who has struggled so hard to trust throughout most of his life, he's found his way here. stumbling, sometimes, but nevertheless, found a way.
... the last part, though. that catches his attention. he sucks in a soft, surprised breath, emotion fluttering, and his head turns to look at shale. he can probably see the unvoiced question all over vax's face, as he just - ] Who...
[ ... but trails off, because he doubts shale will tell.
there's a long pause.
he swallows. ]
...yeah.
[ for a minute, that's really all he has, voice rough, and a little wet, feelings just a mess - hope, and misery, and gratitude, and exhaustion mingling all together, and leaving him tongue tied.
vax closes his eyes.
...it's been a long day. ]
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anyway, aww. it's arm around the shoulders time. it really has been a long day.]
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... he will accept this arm, leaning into it a little bit, and just exhaling. the tension comes out of his shoulders with it, just drooping.
... ]
Think you give better hugs like this. [ this is soft, a weak little joke. ]
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[soft. but yes enjoy a big fuzzy firbolg hug.]
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....thanks, Shale.
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[he says that strangely confidently.]
Maybe not everything, but in important ways.
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[ he's not always the most optimistic person in the world, but - that confidence does help, a little bit. ]
Nothing else, I'm getting pretty fucking good at gardening by hand. [ ok that's also a joke. but he is!! its true!! ]
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