rosetotheoccasion | Second Petal [video]

Second Petal [video]

[Well this is... new. For those who know Ruby, they're probably used to see her as a bouncing ball of energy and excitement. Which isn't a bad thing - Ruby's a pretty upbeat kid who just wants to keep making sure her friends always feel that way too!

But now... now she looks a bit withdrawn. Not outright upset, but she most certainly has the look of someone that's really being bugged by something.]

... Hey, guys.

[Geez, even the way she talks is a bit deflated.]

I kinda have a question. People have been talking about their friends disappearing, and it kinda got me wondering...

When someone returns home, what if they... knew things. About stuff that happened that they didn't experience yet, 'cause someone knows what happened to them in the future, and told them about it.

[... Ah. The picture is becoming clearer now...]

Do you think... could what happened to them later on change, then?

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[... Ah. Well. Any hint of a smile that may have been on her face when she saw her friend has quickly been wiped away.]

... Oh.

[Drat.]

Um... I'm okay, really! Just thinking. A lot. A whole big lot.

[And at that drop, however small, Penny steps forward and puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder.]

[There's too much and too little to say. 'Sorry' doesn't nearly cover it, and she can already hear Ruby saying it's not her fault anyway. Asking 'what about?' would just be silly.]

I've been... not. Thinking about it.

[It's not EXACTLY that she's been trying to avoid it, but it hasn't entirely been an unconscious effort either.]

...Unless it's not about what I think it is? Then I'm just a little confused, I guess, but still worried about you.

[She shuffles her feet a bit, suddenly feeling awkward again.]

Can I come in? Or would you rather be alone.

Oh! N-No, no... I don't think I wanna be alone right now.

[Especially when Penny is the main focus of what's been bothering Ruby today. So she steps aside, motioning to the room where most of her team is napping - except for Drei, who's watching the girls with a look of concern.]

... Sorry. I bright that up, kinda. I didn't mean to upset you.

No! It's-

[Again, "it's okay" dies on her tongue. This was an awful situation all around, and it somehow wasn't made easier by the fact that she remembered exactly NONE of it.]

It's not your fault.

[She kneels for a second to give Drei a scratch behind the ears.]

You're-

[What was it, they'd told her? She stood back up, facing Ruby.]

"You're the person least responsible." You even tried stopping it.

But I could've done more.

[If it was possible for Ruby's shoulders to slump even more, they would be right now.]

I knew something was weird. I knew that something really bad was gunna happen as soon as I heard who you were up against. And I tried to get past Mercury when he stopped me, but...!

[She's not going to cry. She is absolutely not going to cry in front of one of her friends. And she doesn't, but... her voice cracks, just a little, at that "but".]

I wasn't strong enough...

[And hugging. Hugging is a thing that's happening now.]

Ruby.

[She's quiet for a minute, thinking carefully over her words for once. She wants to pretend everything's okay, that she's not scared, and just hope that things will turn out all right.]

[But this is unfamiliar territory. She takes a deep breath before speaking.]

You're the first, best friend I've ever had. Better than I had ever hoped.

[She squeezes a little tighter.]

If I thought for even a second you were in danger, I would do absolutely everything I could to help, to make sure you were safe. And I absolutely believe that you would-

[Her own voice catches for just a second.]

-that you DID the same. That whatever happened wasn't your fault, and definitely wasn't because you weren't trying hard enough. I believe in you.

[That... that was like the breaking of a dam.

Back in Remnant, Ruby didn't really have time to actually mourn Penny's death. She couldn't, with so many people in danger. And when she was brought to Johto, Penny was here, alive, so she didn't even want to think about it. To attempt to cope with it.

So to hear Penny say those words... it's almost too much for Ruby, and she can't help but let out a small sob as her arms wrap tight around her friend, her face burying into Penny's shoulder.]

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...

Wha- oh, no! That wasn't what- You don't-

[Oh god, she made it worse she made it worse SHE MADE IT WORSE-]

It's okay!

[Hic.]

You don't have to be, it's not your fault!

[And hugging harder because that's clearly the answer here.]

Did I say something wrong?! It was the truth, you don't- please don't cry, I'm sorry!

Edited 2016-04-16 04:54 (UTC)

No no, you didn't...! Nothing you're doing or saying is wrong! It's just...

[Ruby's words are a little muffled, with her face buried in Penny's shoulder like it is, but oh well. Penny's just gunna have to deal with that.]

It's not fair. Someone as good as you didn't deserve that...

I'm so sorry.

[Yeah, this hug is basically never ending, is it.]

I know it's not my fault, but- you don't deserve this either, living with it. And I don't even REMEMBER-

[Burying her own face, now.]

I'm so sorry you have to feel like this when I don't know any way to fix it.

Edited 2016-04-21 03:50 (UTC)

Wha- no!! This shouldn't have anything to do with you. I-I mean, no it does but I really mean...

[augh why is this so hard]

You didn't do anything. All you were doing is having fun. So you shouldn't have to do anything to fix it.

I know, I know! But-

[Shouldn't have anything to do with her, but does. That about sums up the problem, doesn't it.]

But I want to. Not just for me, but for you too. You've done so much for me, and now you're hurting like this because- I mean not BECAUSE of me I know, but-

[She falls quiet for another moment, the unfairness of everything spinning around her head in a loop.]

[She loosens her grip a little, speaking quietly.]

...Do you want to get some hot chocolate or something? Staryubucks is still open.

But you shouldn't have to do anything! It's not fair that you have to shoulder any of this! Just...

[Penny may relax her hold, but Ruby sure doesn't. In fact, it gets just a bit tighter.]

... Okay.

[And returning the squeeze again, she's not letting go until Ruby does.]

[Getting to the coffee shop might take a while.]

It's not fair. To you, to me, to anyone, but-

[Another pause, collecting her thoughts again.]

I don't know if I even CAN do anything about. That. But I can get my best friend some hot chocolate and maybe help her feel a little better?

Edited 2016-04-25 05:44 (UTC)

[Ruby hates this. She hates feeling useless and she hates it when her friends feel useless too. It's frustrating and upsetting... but oddly enough, Penny's suggestion does a lot to quell those feelings. For the moment, at least.]

... Can it be the fancy kind? With whipped cream and caramel?

[Penny can't help but smile, just a little bit, at the question. Even if she can't make this all go away, she CAN help at least a little.]

Absolutely.

[Another squeeze, before experimentally loosening her grip a little.]

And those big cookies they sell, with the chunks of chocolate in them.

[...It's possible she's projecting just a little bit.]

Edited 2016-04-29 23:26 (UTC)

[Ruby doesn't seem to mind the looser hold, judging by how she still remains leaning against Penny.]

You're too good to me, y'know. You're practically spoiling me.

That's what friends are for, right?

[A small sniffle in the aftermath of everything, but combinedwith a quiet laugh.]

...it is, isn't it? I mean, I thought I was sure and I'm going to do it either way, but I think some of my previous information wasn't as complete as I thought.

Huh? Yeah, of course! Friends do stuff like this all the time!

[So why does it feel. Weird? Not bad-weird, but... weird.]

But it's still.. I dunno. Really nice.

Like I said, you're my best friend.

[...She understands what a big deal that is, right?]

I mean- before I met you there wasn't-

[Falling silent for a second, trying to put words to something she'd thought was too obvious to need further definition.]

You accepted me for what I was with no hesitation or question. Told me I was real, that I have a soul. Something I'm not even sure I- ...it meant a lot to me. Means a lot.

... I'm glad I could make that feel special for you.

[Her face feels warm. But... it's not a bad sort of warm. Not like when she's sweating in the middle of a fight or on a hot summer day. It's more like the kind of warmth you feel when you wrap yourself up in a fluffy scarf.

She kinda doesn't want it to stop.]

And it still means a lot that you trusted me enough to tell me, y'know? I wouldn't be upset if you didn't, I can understand why you were scared, but... not a lot of people trust me with big, life-changing secrets.

[Only Penny and Blake, really.]

It's- really special, yes.

[Ducking her head a little as her cheeks flush a bit. This... probably isn't the best time for THAT.]

I just wish I'd had the courage to tell you on my own.

[And probably also not the best time to change the topic back to regrets. She takes a step back, forcing a bright smile and holding out a hand for Ruby to take.]

Are you ready, friend?

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Second Petal [video]

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