I'm in the autumn of my years

[panspermia]

Who: Greg Universe and any Rescuers
What: who's this asshole
When: June 18
Where: The Rescuers' ship
Warnings: trauma and PTSD

If Greg has a reaction to entering a massive alien guitar spaceship, he keeps it to himself. Between the drama of the ritual, the return of his maimed soul, and his haphazard rescue, he simply has too much to process first before he can take in the rest of the rescuer operation. As a result, first thing he does is find a small, empty room--a bathroom--and ask to be left alone for a while.

An hour or so later, a very different man emerges again.

It hadn't been his first intention in locking himself in that room, but the longer he'd been in there, the more necessary it had felt. Greg hasn't felt like himself in a very long time. The worst of it was the result of Blanche's meddling with his soul, yes, but it extended before that point as well. The face of his youth, the one Blanche used and tried to make into a different person altogether... Greg couldn't keep looking at that face anymore. It hurt too much, made him too sick. Adding a few years on to his appearance and a beard isn't going to fix it, either; he's not the same person he used to be, either. (After all, he did keep the hair.) But this is better, closer than before. Whoever he is now, this is about as close as he's willing to get.

Greg Universe emerges into the ship, avoiding eye contact, and finally begins to take things in.

Comments

[panspermia]

He chews it over, still downcast. There's still so much going awry, he can't find a way to cheer up at the thought... but she's right. It's better to focus on the good and use that for the future.

"Yeah... yeah. Blanche seemed like he was betting a lot on that ritual. He's gonna be pretty bad off after this, I think."

[faithfulflame]

"And what's bad for him? Is good for us."

That's really what's important. That they accomplished something bigger than just a normal win.

[panspermia]

"Takes a step at a time to make it to the beach." He nods solemnly, as if that were a thing people say.

He chews that over a moment, then looks over at Rei. "You know, we never got to chat a whole lot, before." His smile is nervous, but sincere. "Would you mind talking a little more?"

[faithfulflame]

She chuffs a laugh and nods, rolling her shoulder in an almost shrug. "We didn't, no. Things were pretty busy, and I guess...I've been away for a while haven't I?" Since she got rescued in like, April.

"Your real name is Greg, isn't it? I guess...that's a good place to start."

[panspermia]

That is a pretty good place to start. Greg laughs faintly. "Yeah, that much is the same. Greg Universe, before and after. Stiiiiiill figuring the rest of who I am past that, though." He tries his best to make that sound like a joke. "You're still Rei?"

[faithfulflame]

"Yes, I am. Rei Hino. Still from Japan, and I'm still something of a priestess. It's...what came after I turned fourteen that changed." Rubbing her shoulder with a rueful smile, she goes on. "I didn't run away to become a musician. You...I guess you saw what I am, really, back there."

[panspermia]

"I saw something, for sure." His grin is equal parts anxious and awed. "Didn't think I'd get to see anyone hold their own like that against a valkyrie. You girls were incredible."

[faithfulflame]

"We're not human. We're...I guess you could say we're the beings that the Roman gods are named after," Rei says with an awkward smile. "I don't know the full story myself, just bits and pieces at the moment. But yeah. I didn't really expect Meril to be a valkyrie, myself. Honestly...I'm glad we got her to back down, or we'd have risked hurting her. Me...ah...especially. I haven't quite re-learned how to restrain my powers yet."

She holds up a hand, waving anxiously. "Not...that I just randomly burst into flame or anything."

[panspermia]

Well, that's good, but Greg might be leaning a little away now, just in case.

Spontaneous combustion aside, he lets out a low whistle. "That's really something, jeez. I was already happy you got through to her, but... boy, that could have gone a lot worse for everyone. ...Not sure if you could have hurt her, though." Not to brag or anything but his girlfriend is really badass.

[faithfulflame]

Rei just smiles, leaning against a wall, and feeling a little emboldened by his reaction and up for a little teasing. "Well, we'll never know, now that we don't have to fight, but I could've easily brought the whole building down on our way out. If there weren't civilians inside, I would have. Blanche would have deserved it."

[panspermia]

"I dunno if that would've hurt him, either." Whereas the last barb was full of pride, this one's more resigned. A ruined building is the least of the collateral damage Blanche could do, Greg's sure of it. But, they're trying to move away from the depressing stuff. "But now that all four of you ladies are on the same side, I don't envy anybody who tries to get in your way."