sanlorenzo | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It probably isn't safe to let herself get this close to someone again.

Scratch that: she knows it isn't safe to let herself get this close to someone again. That has become the constant in Asgard for her - everyone else leaves, but she stays. Most of the time, Jade doesn't care. Knowing them for a little while is better than having never known them at all, and just because those friendships are lost doesn't mean that they're meaningless.

Other times, though, the loss of it still stings. Especially now, as she and Ellie sneak through the carnival in Hel's district. It's night, past curfew, but no one in the city patrol bothers to actually check this place, and Jade knows everyone in the guard personally, anyway. It's a perk that comes with being one of the most tenured travelers in the city. ]

Have you ever been to the top of one of these things?

[ She's pausing next to the ferris wheel, touching her hand on the rusted metal as she glances up. Jade is oddly pensive, but there's a stubborn set to her shoulders, as if she refuses to admit it even about herself. ]

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[ She had been ready to suggest that they use their powers to help them get to the top. They've both mastered their control over plants - making a ladder out of sturdy vines should be no problem, right?

Except Ellie is already starting to climb it before Jade can even make the suggestion. Right. When did she begin relying on her powers for everything, again? She'd done a ton of climbing and exploring just like this at home with no assistance at all.

So she reaches up to take her hand, using it to balance herself as she hoists herself up to start up behind her. ]

I, um, actually took the engine out of it. [ There's a little smile in her voice, now, too, and trying to mask it is futile. ] Not long after I got here. I was really bored, and kind of angry, and maybe also sort of destructive, sooo... it was a piece of junk, anyway.

[It's useful for when they get to sticky places, or when they start to fall. Ellie keeps her hand for a moment, holding it while she gets situated. It's stopped being weird to be the one in the lead when they go climbing.

With a snort, Ellie starts laughing as she hoists herself up onto the roof of a car, moving on upward.]

What is it with you and machines? Did you use it for anything, or just toss it?

I tossed it. Um -

[ Silence for a moment. She has to concentrate as she slides her foot over and pulls herself up a few feet. Jade's hands and movements are adept, but it's clear that she's taking pains to follow Ellie's lead as closely as she can. ]

- but not after it sat on the floor in the living room in a million parts for like, a month. I thought Draco was going to make me eat all the rusty metal if I didn't get rid of it eventually. But it was neat, you know? Figuring out how it worked, I'd never seen one that complicated in person before.

[Down at ground level, the vines start to grow. At a distance it's harder to maintain, but she's not taking any risks. Not after falling into a goddamn canyon, and not with Jade.]

You think you could build another one?

[It's probably a dumb question, they don't have all the resources, but Ellie is looking wistfully at the cars, wondering how it must look, all lit up.]

I bet this thing would be awesome if it worked.

[ No. There aren't the resources here, and with the pushing war effort, none of them have the time- ]

Yeah. Of course.

[ But there were travelers who could draw things to life who could spare a little energy, right? And, if one person couldn't draw something as complex as the engine itself, maybe it would be easier to get two or three of them to just draw the parts for her. She could put it together, she could make it work, just because the wistfulness on Ellie's face made her heart squeeze in a vague and unpleasant way.

She nudges her. ]

C'mon - still got a little way to go, don't we?

[Ellie positively lights up, turning back to her. She hadn't thought it would be possible, but Jade's surprised her before. She nudges her back.]

If anybody could do it, you could.

[Laying a hand against her back, Ellie helps her up over a particularly challenging spot with a long reach, boosting her up.]

We're gonna have to vine-slide down this fucker when we're done.

[ Draco always thought that was too dangerous, Jade thinks, and has to resist the urge to roll her eyes at herself. Is it just because they're at the ferris wheel? It has to be. ]

I think this is the highest place in the whole city, next to maybe the castle.

[ She pauses, just balancing herself when the car they're on creaks and sways mildly. Reflexively, she glances at Ellie to make sure she's alright. ]

I used to live in a tower. Did I ever tell you that? It was neat.

Like a princess?

[Ellie rides the creaking car with her arms outstretched. She has this certain careless grace about her, always knows where she'll end up. She catches her eyes with a smile.]

Did anybody ever let you out?

[ And Jade's little grin is just as reflexive when Ellie catches her eyes. It never matters how melancholy the city has her - that much is a constant. ]

Hehehe. I let myself out - does that count?

Sounds like you. How'd you get out?

[The next car creaks alarmingly, and Ellie laughs, catching herself and leaning over the side in a way that would horrify Joel if he were still kicking around.]

Build a flying machine?

[ It doesn't really worry Jade, but she does shift, moving to make sure that her own weight is counterbalancing the car enough to keep it from just dumping Ellie off the side. ]

I thought about it! But then I figured that the stairs might be a little more convenient. Don't fall, okay?

That easy, huh? Man, you think they'd have invested in better security.

[Ellie puts out her hands, urging Jade to be steady while they both take steps towards the center of the car's roof, careful with the counterbalance. They're most of the way to the top by now.]

I wasn't locked up in it, dummy. That's just where my bedroom was. Grandpa wanted me to be able to see the whole island.

[ It's hard to put even playful bite into her words, though, when she's focused so hard on this. Jade isn't afraid, just a little overly cautious as they finish ascending. ]

Next time we bring a picnic basket.

Your grandpa was a strange guy.

[She grins even as she says it, slowing down to make each move very deliberate. It's exhilrating being up here, and scary as hell. But she hasn't felt so alive in a long time.]

Next time. I mean, we're definitely doing this again. Too bad we don't have Flight, it'd make this easy.

You have noooo idea.

[ Except Ellie probably does. Jade looks like she's about to continue, before Ellie mentions flight, and Jade's expression constricts a little bit. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumbest. She barely thought about Draco these days. Now wasn't the time to start. ]

D'you wanna climb into the car? We can just watch the city for a while from up here.

Sure, we're almost at the top.

[Just another car up. Ellie clambers on it, reaching out for Jade's hands to help her. She car slips and gives a rock with the both of them on the same side, so Ellie grips her tighter.]

Woah, shit, hold on-

[ Jade freezes, her hands seizing hard on Ellie's. It's hard not to make a reflexive move, and god she wishes she still had her actual powers so she could get them both to safety, but instead she just holds her breath until the car stops rocking. ]

Are you okay?

Yeah. ... yeah. You?

[Slowly, very slowly, Ellie eases Jade first into the car, climbing in after her. She's breathing faster than normal, wipes an arm across her forehead and puts her hands on her hips. It may have been some time back, but falling is always a fear when it comes to high places.]

Hah... man, I though I was gonna pee my pants for a second there.

Ellie, that's gross.

[ But Jade's breathing is a little surprised, similarly shallow. She shakes her head, then, but she's having trouble biting back a smile as she seats herself on one of the rusted out seats. ]

We, um - me Draco. This was always our meeting place, if things went to shit. I could get up here with my plants, and he could fly - I always forget about that until I see it again.

I didn't.

[Ellie pulls a face, but quickly goes thoughtful.]

... it's kinda romantic. Being up here.

Hehe, you think so.

[ She reaches to tug her sleeve, indicating out the side of the car. ]

Maybe it's a good thing it's not all lit up. You can still see all the stars this way.

[Ellie sits down next to her, and the car creaks, leaning -- she tips her head back, lets the rocking motion of the car carry them while she watches the sky.]

... wow.

It's so... gorgeous.

[ She could follow every cliche in the book. 'Yeah, it is,' she could sigh, before slipping an arm around Ellie's shoulder and gazing fondly and obviously at her. Instead, she just swallows a little in embarrassment and scoots closer to her, enough to point at a line of the stars. ]

I like to call that one 'Thor's Giant Mug of Beer.' Name pending.

[Good job, Jade. Ellie slips an elbow up between them, turning to lean in and follow the line of sight down her arm, spotting the stars in question.]

I feel like there should be a pun for this, but I'm coming up dry. Give me some time to think on it.

Hehe. Okay, but it better be something good if you're gonna make me wait for it.

[ She leans back, stretching, before yawning and settling her head against Ellie's shoulder. It's not an unusual display of casual affection for her. ]

Seriously, though, a giant picnic. Ants would leave us alone, I bet.