[ Libby has always been kind to him, but he still looks a little surprised by the offer before his expression softens.
He glances off, thoughtful. ]
I don't remember much, I was pretty young when he died. But... I remember he always smelled terrible. [ Laughs a little. ] He was a fisherman, so he always had the scent of the sea, and fish, and labour when he'd get home. Me and my sister would always greet him.
We didn't even care back then. We'd make him play with us as soon as he got back; wouldn't wait for him to change or set his things down.
... It was actually a blessing, I think. Whenever I'm by the sea, he feels near again.
Thanks, it does feel good to remember. [ he looks over at her ] And, uh. I know it must be kind of awkward to be here [ with bdsm and everything ] but if you ever want to talk... I guess I'm here.
[she's pushing on the bubble already as it starts to disappear, desperate not to be trapped after experiencing that again. she has to pause for a long moment before responding to get her breathing under control, hearing her pulse pounding in her ears. her first response is snapped out, brittle.]
Because he's a piece of shit, and I never should have—
[there's a moment where she realizes she's lost control of herself and fights to pull it back, taking another breath.]
[ He thinks it's totally valid to be scared of it, but he doesn't say that. She gives her okay, but he still hesitates a moment, watching her expression before looking away. ]
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Ah- no. You're right. It's not a competition.
... Thanks for saying that. My dad was pretty huge to me. He's the reason I decided to become a professional swimmer in the first place.
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Do you want to tell me about him? I mean - only if you think it wouldn't be painful. Just, you know... Sometimes it can be nice to remember.
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He glances off, thoughtful. ]
I don't remember much, I was pretty young when he died. But... I remember he always smelled terrible. [ Laughs a little. ] He was a fisherman, so he always had the scent of the sea, and fish, and labour when he'd get home. Me and my sister would always greet him.
We didn't even care back then. We'd make him play with us as soon as he got back; wouldn't wait for him to change or set his things down.
... It was actually a blessing, I think. Whenever I'm by the sea, he feels near again.
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I'm really glad you have those memories of him. Even, um, if they aren't many.
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Thanks, it does feel good to remember. [ he looks over at her ] And, uh. I know it must be kind of awkward to be here [ with bdsm and everything ] but if you ever want to talk... I guess I'm here.
cw kidnapping
I think things are... understandably tense. [understatement!!] I might take you up on—
[she doesn't get to finish that thought before they're getting hit with another memory! nice.]
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But he barely finishes the thought before it vanishes into dread. It leaves him nauseous, with a strange unsettling sensation under his skin.
He looks at her in slight disbelief. ]
... Why would someone do that to you?
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Because he's a piece of shit, and I never should have—
[there's a moment where she realizes she's lost control of herself and fights to pull it back, taking another breath.]
...Because some people are terrible.
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... I'm sorry.
[ ... ]
I won't ask about it if you don't want to talk about it.
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[that's absolutely a lie, based on how she reacted, but she wonders whether it'll become a bit more true if she keeps repeating it.]
Sorry. I mean - you can ask whatever you want to.
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How long were you in there?
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It must've been... at least months. I probably should have figured out some way to track the days, but there was no clock and no windows, so...
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People must've been looking for you?