IT was a barely audible exclamation, conveying the sort of pained confusion that usually made her sister come running --- but, of course, no one was going to come. There’s a distinct sensation of blood roaring in her ears, rushing to her head all at once; they began to ring incessantly, her knees quaking to the point that they threatened to knock together. She’s only reacted this strongly once before: it was the last time she’d seen those same shades of green, the same bouncy curls that were so full of life --- just like the girl that had worn them. Ruby sees her plain as day, peering in some window or other ( the same exact mannerisms, the same eager curiosity without any of the usual restraints ), and it’s like all the air has been sucked out of this strange city.
She knows she should be wary; she remembers all too well how Emerald operates, and this was definitely a good way to push Ruby’s buttons... But deep down, a part of her knows this is real. There’s a maelstrom of emotions bubbling up and threatening to well over --- relief, an unbridled joy she hasn’t felt in such a long time; but also a distinct, internal sort of pain that came with deep regret and grief, all of which still lay mostly untouched in the back of her mind. Her uncertainty over what she was really seeing was, in all honesty, the only thing keeping those emotions at bay. It’s like all the air has been sucked out of this strange, cruel city.
Ruby opens her mouth, but nothing comes out --- a process she repeats several times with different, wheezy utterances of ‘wh--- wha, wheh ---’ that she still hasn’t outgrown. Finally, she manages a single word; her voice lilts as if gingerly waking a friend from a good dream, and it shakes with every ounce of everything she’s holding back.
@mechanicalaura // STARTER CALL.
