forum “What is with this sassy, lost child?” // closed with @whathappensifidothis

Started August 27, 2023 by @the-void-phantasmic group

tune

Resh notices Ren’s discomfort and gives her an apologetic look. “She stares a lot. Not much of a talker. Come on, kiddo.” He reaches out with both arms, and Juni quickly turns around and lets him pick her up.

Resh stands up and looks outside the cave. “…Do you want to go back home? Or do you have anywhere else to stay?” He’s clearly addressing Ren.

Ren whirled around to face Resh again, barely letting him finish his second question before responding. ”No-“ She couldn’t go back there. It was difficult enough to run away. If he tried to take her back-

Her eyes widened when she realized she interrupted him. “_Sorry- I don’t… no. I’m alone.”

Resh gave Ren a sympathetic look. He raised his free hand slightly in a surrendering gesture. “Hey- It’s okay. I won’t force you to go back.” He looked down, thinking for a moment. “…You really don’t have anywhere to stay? Are you sure?”

“If I had anywhere to go, I wouldn’t be here.” Ren gestured to the view of Eden. Her tone carried a sense of finality. She truly didn’t have anywhere else to go—she had no friends to speak of.

“…You probably already pieced together my first plan.”

Resh sighed. “A little bit, yeah.” He looked down for a bit. “…You could stay with me and Juni, if you’d like to.” He didn’t expect Ren to accept his offer, but he still felt like it was important to ask anyways. Just in case.

(Right yes- sorry been distracted by well you know)

Ren blinked at Resh. She could what?

She looked at the two of them for a long moment. And she… was actually considering it. But she also had her doubts. And they weren’t just about Resh and Juni.

“I would just be a burden to you two.”

Resh shook his head. “Ren, why would I offer to let you stay with me if you were just going to be a burden? Besides, I’m not letting you die here, so it’s either that or we find someone else to take care of you.” He was determined tp give Ren somewhere to stay. He realized that his tone was a little more harsh than he intended, and added in a gentler voice, “…I know it seems weird, but I want to make sure you’re safe. Please let me do this for you.”

Ren shifted on her feet. She didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t know how she should respond. “I-“ Tears threatened to spill already as the weight of Resh’s words got to her. Damn it- keep it together!

“_Okay…“ Ren looked at the ground instead of Resh. She knew if she did that she would lose control of her emotions. And when she did that, there was consequences.

Resh looked a little frustrated for a moment. But not with Ren. Damn it, you made her cry. Well done, dumbass. He took a deep breath, then crouched down in front of Ren, lightly placing his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m not angry with you. I just…” He trailed of, not really sure what to say. “…It’s okay to cry, if you need to.”

Juni looked at Ren, visibly worried. She looked up at Resh curiously and he simply shook his head at her. Not now, Juni.

Ren shook her head and wiped away her tears. “Thank you…”

Truly, it was genuine. And with Resh’s gestures and reassurances, Ren had begun to take a liking to the man. She almost felt… safer, around him. Even though she had only met him not that long ago.

Resh smiled slightly at Ren. “You’re welcome.” He stayed silent for a few moments, then spoke again. “Do you want to stay with me, or should I try to find you somewhere else to stay?” He wouldn’t drop the matter until he got a definite answer.

Ren looked up at Resh.

She knew she wouldn’t try to find someone else or have them be found for her. Finding Resh was already a miracle, to her at least.

“I’d like to stay with you.”

Resh tilted his head. “Okay.” He lightly patted Ren’s shoulder, then stood up. “We should get going, then.“ He holds his hand out toward Ren again. “I’ll try to be a bit more gentle this time.” He had a slightly guilty look on his face.

Juni shifted her position in Resh’s arm, her eyelids drooping. She already looked sleepy again.

Ren cringed a bit at the idea of that. "Can I uh- I can just follow you…"

She looked at Juni and tilted her head. How can fall asleep so quickly? Ren would admit, she was a bit jealous of that ability. She couldn't remember the last time she got a good night's rest.

Resh nodded and brought his hand back to his side, his cloak quickly hiding it again. “Sure. Just… stay in my line of sight, okay?”

Juni perked up slightly when Ren looked at her. She probably would have started staring again if Resh hadn’t pulled his cloak over the little girl, giving her enough room to breathe but still keeping her hidden.

Ren nodded. Fair enough, she thought. He probably didn't completely trust her himself. Or maybe it was something more than that?

It wasn't worth the trouble of asking him why. At least right now.

(When this thread sneaked to the 2nd page abyss I knew I had to force myself to words)

Resh started walking away from the cave, carefully slowing his stride a bit so that Ren could keep up. Juni chirped and peeked out of Resh’s cloak, huffing at him. He playfully huffed back at her, then ruffled her hair, much to Juni’s annoyance.

Ren mostly stared at the ground as they walked. If she tried to look up and see her surroundings, she felt that she’d trip on one of the many rocks that littered the path.

Right now, she couldn’t tell if they were going back to a safer part of Eden or further into it. She should ask where he’s taking her. She could ask where he’s taking her. She knew it wasn’t that hard to ask a simple question.

But still, Ren delayed a good couple minutes before she actually said anything. She didn’t bother to look up from the path either. “Where are we going?”