continued from here.
she remembers vividly in cyanotype splattered with pink: a scene she wishes more than anything she could have stopped. another failure... she remembers trying to rip herself free of the chair she was bound to as powder enacted something she knew her sister would never be able to take back. she remembers screaming for powder not to do it until her throat felt worn and raw. she remembers slumping in dejection as the realization it was too late settled in.
both topside and the undercity were about to be changed and remolded once again.
vi was tired, exhausted even... her world still felt like it wasn’t quite finished in it’s wild spinning. she didn’t remember how long it’d been between watching as powder left the scene and the sensation of the ropes loosen around her, blinking wearily her eyes settled on caitlyn. they helped one another toward the beaten path that awarded them a view of the chaos --- plumes of multi-colored smoke wafting upward from the council’s chambers in the distance.
“let’s get you back home, cupcake...” the words fell from her tongue and her own voice felt miles from her ears.
---
she watched caitlyn enter her home safely ; nodding to mrs. kiramman and refusing, in essence, their assistance for now before turning on heel to get back somewhere she could tend to her own injuries. a sharp inhale, barely noticing still just how stiff and damaged her arm was from the fight with sevika. between adrenaline and fear in all that had transpired, vi all but forgot her own condition.
still she neglected the dark stains on her bandaged arm, still she ignored the large gash from that traitor’s blade and the bruises that littered her body. she ached all over and yet, it just didn’t register. not now, not yet. and then her mind raced through a thousand and one thoughts --- was pretty boy okay? what about little man? where did pow-pow go in the end?
what... what was next?
---
she was unsure of how long she’d been standing beneath the golden, piltovan streetlight rigid from her endeavors when a voice broke through the silence. it was familiar, but different, perhaps attributed to how long it’d been since she’d seen the explorer in question last? she couldn’t be sure, nor was that necessarily all that important, she supposed. she blinked a few times as he said her name as if it was foreign to her, the thoughts that clouded her mind cleared slowly as she ushered them away with a shake of her head. quieting the storm for now.
after what felt like an age, her voice freed itself from her mouth and it didn’t sound so damn far away though still somewhat rasped, “ez? well shit... i --- wait, why are you here?” her tone making it feel as if it was just yesterday they spoke last, not years. clear blue eyes curiously searched him, assessing the changes he’s undergone over the years she’d missed out on.