it's only a 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮.

Vash can't say he hadn't snuck a few worried peeks at the woman, mostly to check on her condition, making a mental note of it worsening or getting better.

The lovely, but similar markings across her skin dazzle him, wondering if she had any sort of control over it or if it was much like his and any plant interaction did such.

Her voice draws his attention once more, blinking down at her as a hand comes to rest on his cheek. A red heat forms beneath her fingertips, the glow of his markings brightening for a moment, ❝Thank you.❞

At her echoing of his concerns, Vash stops in his tracks. If she agreed, maybe his assessment wasn't too far off. Sighing softly, he shakes his head, ❝Not scared, just... worried.❞

Continuing to walk, though much less hurried than before, he stays on the path towards the city. He keeps her held closely so she can rest. Her being alert is more than likely enough to keep people from prying too much.

     He's warm to the touch that Lacie hums. Her eyes gleam when she sees her touch brighten the marks on his skin. There's kindness there, soft and affectionate.

     When she drops her hand and he slows his pace, Lacie lifts her gaze again. A questioning gaze flickers through her visage before she settles on asking.

     ❝Why? I'm a complete stranger,❞ she says. And you saw me do something humans can't do. But the thought fades when she remembers the markings on his face. Ah, he's a Plant but an Independent—special.

     Though she isn't aware, her complexion is still pale. The visions have been more aggressive than any of her previous world visits, making her wonder what else she'll need to sift through to find out what happened.

     ❝No, I've... I've already imposed on you enough,❞ she murmurs. There's something comfortable and soothing about being in his embrace, something about his touch that makes it easy for her to feel at ease. But it's too soon—she still knows nothing about this world. And...

What a situation—no, what a massive misunderstanding. Zuri trembled as she drew nearer & nearer to the voices. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. She tried to hold it, she really did, but as she saw those two familiar figures, she burst into tears.

" L-Lacie, Lacie! " She called out to her in desperation. Her face was a mess; she was a mess. Just. . . can she do or say to make it right? She approached them both, drying away her tears as they kept incessantly falling. It hurts. Why does it hurt so bad? Why does it feel. . . like she had done this before? She comes to a stop & she can no longer speak. " I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to abandon you. " Wait, huh? A hand rushed up to cover her forehead. Abandon her? But, she had not done that before, had she? Memories. . . from the past. Were they real or fictitious? Why are they showing up now? Zuri rubbed her hands against each side of her head. Stop, stop it.

" W-What you saw back there. It does not have any meaning. I was just fooling around, b-because I'm stupid. " She struggled to regain her composure, but in the end, she remained a mess of sniffles & sobs. " I don't like him that way. I pro-promise. " It was true, but it was up to Lacie whether to believe her or not. " I-I care about you! I-I don't know why I care about you so much. But I love you with all my heart! I would never do anything to hurt you! "

They did, after all, still have issues to resolve between them. It's all that he could do to remain silent and bear witness to these moments. What good did that do? He couldn't say, but it felt... Somehow appropriate.

Maybe this was the catalyst that was needed to finally have the conversation that was long since waiting in the wings between them. Maybe, as painful as this was, this was necessary. Of course, this wasn't at all how he was hoping to bridge the gap between them. That matter of business was always going to be messy, somehow he knew that deep down. But at the same time, he had the feeling that it was always going to take some kind of "ripping the band-aid" manner of situation to really make it happen.

Zech nods slowly as Zuri clarifies the line between them, and it's only then that he feels compelled to speak up finally to assent to her claims. "Yeah... We're both stupid in that regard. I ended up crossing a line or two, intending just to fluster the hell out of little Zuri here." He explains, nodding again in Zuri's direction as he speaks. "I don't mean to excuse what I did. Just to explain the why of it. She certainly embarrassed the hell out of me a few times over already, so I just thought I was paying her back for all that. Had it been any other way... If I didn't have you, Lace, then I don't think I would've even had the confidence to respond to her like I did."

He didn't expect her to just accept the explanation and treat it like water under the bridge, but he at least wanted her to know his reasoning. To know where his feelings lay on the matter, even if her mind wasn't right. Because never once had he ever lied to Lacie, and he wasn't about to start now.

"I know all too well where your feelings lie about Zuri." Zech begins again, stepping forward, reaching out to touch the rapidly freezing band around his wrist with his fingertips, not minding its sheer chill, seemingly withstanding what would surely become a burn before too much longer. "Before you arrived, before I could remember you completely, I could still feel them. They got all muddled up with my own perceptions of her, but now that you're right back here with me, I can make the distinction again."

Something about him hesitates in speaking any further, prompting him to bring his hand to cover his chest, clutching at the fabric of his shirt. Teeth clench behind closed lips for a moment and he forces himself to push past that hesitation he feels. Lacie deserves to know the truth. Zuri deserves to know the truth. And so, he takes a breath to steady himself and then speaks once more:

"I do... love Zuri. Platonically, of course. Arguably in a familial sense at the most. But... No more than that." Once more, he falls silent for several moments. "...You've seen enough bits and pieces of my past by now, Lacie, to piece together certain events that happened. The reason I latched onto Zuri as much as I did in the first place is because, when I met her, she... Reminded me so strongly of my 'precious other half'... My little Aurore, who was taken from me and butchered."

"Though I didn't know the circumstances when I met her, she looked... So much like my Aurore. And a part of me always felt the smallest of fears that... Maybe this girl was to be subjected to the same fate. Were it within my power, I wanted to make sure she was happy as she could be. That she could've had as comfortable and pleasant of a departure as possible. But... Unfortunately, this damned burden of mine apparently had other plans."

     Lacie flinches when she hears the call of her name from someone else, a higher pitch she'd recognize in her dreams. Ah, so Zuri has come as well? She doesn't get to hear what Zech has to say for himself, but instead, she hears Zuri's desperation.

     Abandon?

     The frost spreads thicker, so Zech feels he is at risk of frost burn from his bracelet. Is this what it is? Is this leap in logic the basis for her fear of being abandoned? To be left behind again?

     Lacie turns to face them, and this time, her gaze slowly opens to see them properly. She says they're just fooling around, but is that something one does when they see each other as family? Flirt as though they're lovers? Somehow, it almost feels hollow as the frost reminds her of what had happened.

     Never do anything to hurt her, she says, but Lacie somehow feels as though she is remembering all the compounding memories of where she's heard that exact same line. Images overlay over Zuri of women and men who have said the same thing and somehow, they still did manage to hurt her. Humans seem to always be the same, aren't they? What remains of Lucy's heart aches, and Lacie's love for the girl reminds her that Zuri means it. After all, she is nothing more than a young girl—ignorant and childish.

     And in the end, she can't help but only love her.

     ❝It'd be easy enough for you to leave me behind,❞ Lacie says, the light flickering out of her eyes. It's the same look Lucy has made many times before, smiling without it quite reaching her eyes. After all, Zuri's done it before, so what's stopping her from doing it again for another boy? Where's that line to be drawn if it's a boy she loves?

     And then Lacie wonders as she declares her love for her—is that the love that the soul of the other Zuri is proclaiming or is it this Zuri that's saying that?

     ❝Because what does it matter what I say?❞ When they clearly didn't give any due consideration to how she might feel if she found out about how they talked to each other, what they were like? It's a familiarity that they share, she wants to logically consider, but Lacie couldn't forgive how lines were crossed when they talked to each other like that.

     Lacie watches as the tears fall down Zuri's cheeks as she turns to apologize to Zech, who wears an expression she's only seen scantly before in the world before this one.

     ❝If you didn't have me—?❞ Zech was too comfortable and safe with how she felt about him that he could flirt with another girl? Was she not enough? That such things would be easily forgivable? To forgive either of them? Did they both feel the same about Lacie's love for either of them? Comfortable?

     But Zech begins to clarify and explain his muddled feelings since arriving here. To say that she wasn't curious why he had lunged for her the moment they first laid eyes on each other would be an understatement. To question why he feels so strangely distant and yet filled with an untold amount of grief amid the myriad images of his past is something she never wanted to press. Zech didn't seem comfortable with talking about it and she didn't have the heart to press him.

     Lacie's heart goes out to him now that she has more clarification on the pure, unadulterated hatred and grief-stricken expression he had when he faced that woman. In that vision she had seen of his past, this was one she had always wondered and now found an answer for. It explained that night in the cave when he seemed as heartbroken as she was.

     ❝Then why did either of you talk to each other like that if that's how both of you felt?❞ she asks with a wavering lilt, realizing she trusts them and doesn't think anything is wrong with them being together. She hasn't until those visions have told her otherwise. It's very easy to misunderstand from listening to such a conversation. ❝Just because I love both of you doesn't mean I am okay with either of you flirting with each other like that? Talk to each other like lovers? Because is that not how lovers talk? Just like that? Or am I wrong?❞

     There's a borderline hysteria she feels, a panic, questioning what sort of relationships she's been having. Lacie shakily rises to standing, revealing scrapped knees and hands. Those visions she saw didn't help alleviate the hurt, but who was she to compare when Zech fought against her own "other half?" Words can't even encapsulate her feelings about Zuri, so of course, it's not any easier. It's why she had no issue with trusting either of them to be with one another as what she had thought to be family... not... not whatever their discussions were like.

     Somehow, this feels terribly selfish of her. Who was she to judge what they did in their time together? She trusts them, doesn't she? Isn't she supposed to trust them?

     Doesn't she already know that both Zechariah and Zuri are foolish? So why is she surprised? Why does it hurt?

Vash considers himself lucky it's so bright in the daylight. He can't be absolutely sure, but he's got the feeling that the glowing markings that denote him as a Plant are plastered across his skin. Brad and Luida said they always appeared after he healed a Plant, but they never felt any different to him.

He mistakes her 'Please' as a yes, that the city would make her feel better and she needs the help. Though his heart tells him the humans might not know what to do with her.

Not one to deny someone of the help they're asking for, Vash gets to his feet with her in his arms, bridal carrying her as he sets out for the closest town.

She doesn't weigh enough to really encumber him (not that much really did, his wobbles were mostly for show), keeping her as physically close to him as he can. The sun begins it's descent behind the dunes and part of him worries he's still sporting his markings. But what would he even be able to do about it now? Tell her or anyone else not to look at him?

     Lacie can't quite see him as he thinks, still enraptured in a myriad of visions that swallow her entire sight. Whenever Vash looks, there's a distant look as her eyes shimmer, revolving like the night sky filled with stars, as she continues to see the visions.

     It's when he stands, lifting her to hold her close to him, that the visions slowly begin to fade. Around then is when her own marking appears on her skin, seemingly writing appears on her shoulders that shimmers down her shoulders and disappears under her clothes. It's a marquee of writing, its script pretty and elegant in strokes and looks, but it's not any language that's known to man.

     Tucked against his chest, Lacie blinks when the sun begins to set, and her information dump is ending. She blinks a few times before the glow of her visions fades, the symbol on her forehead vanishes, the writing is gone, and whatever glow is left of her eyes fades to the same subtle gleam of stars in her eyes.

     ❝Beautiful,❞ she faintly murmurs, seeing the glowing plant markings on his face. A hand lifts to touch his face, his cheek opposite her, in a voice so soft it's a whispered word.

     She blinks back up at him as he says they're close to somewhere and makes a small smile, ❝I don't think humans would know how to treat me.❞ Her gaze flits away to the buildings ahead of them before returning back to him.

She felt a surge of panic as she saw her leave, the ring of the bell echoing inside her head. " L-Lacie. . . You need to go after her. I think she misunderstood. You're faster than me, please go after her. I'll follow behind. " She trembled, unsure about their relationship if Lacie wasn't willing to listen to both of them. She knew she couldn’t cry now, so she fought to keep her tears in. " We're so fucking stupid. . . " She quietly complained & rubbed her temples, keeping an eye on the doorway, hoping Zech had gone after her.

Of course, Zuri could not just leave straight away; there was a bill to pay, after all. However, after that was taken care of, Zuri bolted out of there as fast as she could.

It's enough to send him into a thorough rush of panic as he jolts up and turns... Seeing none other than Lacie herself at the doorway, knowing full well that those closed eyes were directed solely upon the both of them. His own expression cracks into mortified shock as he can already see, and feel, the conflict – the potential rejection – she was surely feeling at the sight. All emotions that were a given that she might feel. A fatal misunderstanding.

"Lacie, wait!!" Zech shouts as he's already bolting off after her, not even waiting for Zuri's leave or for her to explain the circumstances. Because despite how Lacie must have felt, seeing what transpired, she would always come first for him, no matter what. It is for that sole reason alone that he's already out the door, bolting after Lacie and hounding her down even as she tried to run away, as though his body was already instinctively utilizing his honed skill at chasing bounties. Running as if his very life depended upon it.

When he does finally catch up, he's not even winded. Zech simply quietly stands behind her, staring at her back with a conflicted gaze. What is even the right thing to say in this situation? To do? It wasn't exactly as compromising of a situation as one would normally expect, but it was certainly enough to create a misunderstanding and hurt her. Just that much was bad enough.

     Frost manifests like thorns, threading itself across her heart, making it difficult for her to breathe. Lacie needed to get far away and give herself a moment to try and collect herself. She's being irrational, being emotionally compromised by leaps in logic. But the visions—did they always talk like that to one another?

     Caramel runs beside her, helping her weave by tugging lightly enough to help her dodge through people until they come across a park. But it's there that she finds she can't focus too well and trips, falling to the ground. The sting of her hands and knees reminds her and cools her head from the frantic thoughts that run a million questions in her head.

     With a whimper, Caramel begins to lick at Lacie's face to comfort her. She sits back to lift a shaky hand to the dog, petting her to reassure her. Rubbing Caramel's ear, Lacie feels some semblance of calm, especially since it doesn't seem like there are many people around them; otherwise, she's sure that someone would've asked if she was all right for having taken a fall like that.

     Of course, it didn't take long for the familiar footsteps to come behind her. He could always move faster than her, but she didn't really have her head on right to simply go home—just to leave them behind to keep doing whatever it was that they were doing. That might've been better for her to just do just that...

     His words may be stereotypical, but she clenches her throbbing hand. Lacie doesn't turn to look at him, his voice very much an expression she can see without looking back at him. Perhaps that's what makes this hurt more. She knows him as well as she knows herself—or, rather, she hopes she does—but she can't say that her heart and her mind feel the same.

     It's almost laughable how usually level-headed she is, but when it comes to either Zech or Zuri, she loses all logic and sense of reason.

He blinks at her question. Somehow, in some way, he feels his train of thought hit a slight bump, as if bidding him to reconsider his course. And despite this, he still lets his mouth get ahead of him all the same as he retorts: "Do you want me to?" It's only when she's almost leaned against him that he truly does stop and consider for a moment that maybe he's pushed his teasing too far. Ultimately, all he really wanted to do was make her feel as mortified as she had made him feel a handful of times already. But maybe this was getting a bit—

...Oh. She just... Well. If his brain was already hitching before, it came to a full on stop now that she'd kissed his cheek. His expression immediately goes blank and he's just staring ahead, attempting to try and get his brain back on track in the wake of this little twist that he had entirely brought upon himself.

     Coming into the ice cream shop was perfect timing on her part because Caramel recognized the familiar scents of Zech and Zuri. It helps that Lacie doesn't technically need Caramel, but for the sake of "normalcy" in this world, Caramel helps ensure that she doesn't appear out of her place by having her eyes closed. Already an odd and curious characteristic for any one person to have, it's a habit Lacie has trained to keep for the sake of a clearer mind.

     But that doesn't mean she's truly blind when Caramel guides her inside the shop.

     She isn't sure what to feel at first, seeing Zuri lean in and press a kiss to Zech's cheek. It should be a regular thing, being that it can be a greeting. But it's not a greeting, and it's fairly obvious that they've been here for some time. Visions swim briefly; inconvenient timing, really. Lacie doesn't want to see what led up to this, but she also doesn't want to see whatever this is.

     It's just a cheek kiss, right? Isn't she being dramatic? But, both of them are... they're both people she...

     Lacie suddenly decides she can't handle this. After all they've been through, somehow, she feels as though she's reverted back to the childish emotions that plagued her in uncertainty. Because maybe that's what he's always wanted was her—

     She backs out of the shop, leaving with the ring of the ice cream's bell. Is she being rejected by both of them? Does neither of them care for her feelings on the matter? Did neither of them really think that Lacie would be okay with this? Is this just another repeat of Zuri's previous lifetime?

     ❝Yes, dearest Zechariah, that was flirting,❞ Lacie says, moving to toss some of her hair back over her shoulder.

Qin Che ⸺ Sylus Reveal ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

            𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒  𝐇𝐀𝐒  𝐓𝐎  𝐁𝐄  𝐀  𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓.  It's  the  only  explanation  she  think  of  as  to  why,  on  God's  green  earth,  he'd  drag  her  to  a  concert  at  the  last  minute.  It's  loud,  both  from  the  music  and  the  screaming  fans.  Corinne  is  not  even  sure  she  knows  who  is  performing,  if  she's  honest.

            Jasper  must  think  he's  so  clever,  shoving  her  into  a  situation  in  which  she  will  have  little  choice  but  to  cling  to  his  hand  lest  she  get  swept  away  in  the  crowd  of  frenzied  concert-goers.  She's  jostled  about,  unable  to  acclimate  herself  to  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  chaos.

            Corinne  can  feel  her  anxiety  spiking  and  —  as  if  on  instinct  —  squeezes  his  hand  a  little  tighter,  moves  a  little  closer.  Even  through  the  sweat-laced  euphoria  of  the  crowd,  she  can  smell  Jasper's  crisp  cologne.  It's...  soothing  in  a  way  she  doesn't  want  to  inspect  too  closely.

     The music is blasting from the stage as people around them move and dance to and fro with the beat and lyrics of the song. It's humid with the excitement of the people around them, perhaps even a little too hot with how many people are crammed into this little section of the audience. The music is loud enough that he can feel the bass thrumming through his entire body with how loudly the music beats its music.

     Her lithe hand coils around his hand, his arm, as she's jostled by the frenetic energy bound aplenty around them.

     Her little touch is enough to ground him from being overstimulated by the overwhelming sensation of music, people, and energy that he feels on the verge of snapping. What brought him and Cor here again? Jasper remembers that it's because of the tickets—foisted onto him as a means of a good time, a date that he ought to have. Because of his position, it's a means of a sort of bribe, but it's one that Jasper finds ill-advised. Especially since it seems like Cor is very much as miserable as he feels.

     Jasper leans down when he hears her trying to call out to him.

     Her desperation in her voice is enough to convey the misery of her being her that his lips twitch into a smirk.

     ❝Have you had enough, Princess?❞ he inquires, removing his arm from her hands so that he can wrap it around her waist and pull her to him. While it might be a little forceful, she won't continue to be jostled by the other people around them as the beat takes a turn, and they become more energetic in their movements.

     But he doesn't quite wait for her to respond either, instead linking his other hand underneath her legs so he can lift her off her feet. He starts forcibly shoving and moving through the crowd with interspersed "Excuse me's" thrown into the movements. Using his tall stature and piercing gaze to push himself through, it takes a fair bit of time for them to get through the bodies until they finally find themselves outside the crowds, in the halls between the lobby and where the crowds have gathered and seated themselves.