[And this one's turning up on foot with a lighted cigarette of her own, looking dazed and happy. Mostly dazed. The senior op in charge of monitoring her initiation had offered to drive her straight to her house. She had declined; she needed a walk. It was a Brennan thing.
She's smiling the moment she sees Josh waiting, and comes right over. She only ever walks in this fast if she wants to punch something, or if she wants to hug you.
[ He's coming to his feet, of course. He knows the signals for when it's a punch and when it's a hug and the last couple of months have been good to you both. So yeah, have a really tight one the moment he's got you in his arms, Cinds -- and the accompanying swing-around that he used to do when you were a tiny little thing.
He does say one thing: hushed and thick with emotion. ] I am so proud of you, baby.
[ He says it with fondness. You'll always be that kid he brought up and dropped everything for. In some ways, that still holds true if you need it. ]
[She's laughing at that, and it's both because she wasn't really expecting it and it feels good to be able to be able to come home to all of this after achieving something great.
Then she's going quiet, and hugging you even tighter.]
Thanks. I'm... I'm really happy I made it.
[No witty comments or smart comebacks for this one right now. She's a bit overwhelmed.]
I found the old haunt of the Manhattan Fireflies, a resistance group made of former Valkryie operatives. Their commander was a Technomancer... with his help, they made a base underground that was completely off the grid.
[It is actually a piece of history of the Darkest Vigil that Cindy had always loved to read.]
They were the ones who helped the Methuselah, Netsach, and Zangyaku liberate New York from Grendal.
[ And this one's just watching you as you talk, eyes fixed on the little changes in your expression, ears tuned to the tone that you use ( stress and cadence ) because few are the times that you have both spoken about Vigil-related business and hearing you speak of your initiation is akin to watching you march up the stage to receiving your diploma.
It's something he never thought he'd experience... given how things turned out.
Taking another puff of that cigarette. Go on, baby sis. He's listening. ]
[ He's sliding an arm around your shoulders now. ]
What'd you do next?
[ They'd had to send off old ghosts, help the ones that were still around. But your abilities are different and he really wants to know more about what you do. And what he could have been. ]
I asked my supervisor if it was okay if I did my send-off at the cemetery where the Fireflies were buried. Ended up lighting a candle for their leader.
[ He hasn't had the opportunity to read up so much on the Manhattan Fireflies, or Technomancers in general. It's been his way of letting you do your thing, and then waiting for the perfect opportunity to listen to you -- just like this. ]
[ You say 'ten' and he knows. He remembers that year. He remembers the grief and the hurt and how nothing made sense. How he hadn't known what to do but he knew he had to do something. How Dad had kept things together and how he'd looked at how you had been so terribly quiet one time at dinner and his world had shifted.
This one's going to gather you up now, just like he used to, hug you so tight and whisper: ] We're gonna get her back. We are.
[She was pleasantly surprised by that, and it shows all over her face.]
The first words out of his mouth were "I'm not even going to bother congratulating you. You're a Brennan: aiming high and getting to the top is part of the deal."
[ And there's a look of surprise on his face -- just for a moment, and then you'll recognize that grin. It's the one that shows he's touch and pleased. ]
We talked a bit about the Steps, and then... well, he kind of hit it on the nail. Instead of asking me why I wanted to be a Keeper of the Vigil, he just said, "I already know. You want answers. You want to BE the answer."
[Taking a drag from her cigarette now.]
It sounded a lot like he was talking about himself too.
[ He's lighting up a fresh cigarette now, having finished his. ]
That's Jessie for you.
[ He's thinking back to their conversations, to what he's seen of the man, of the admiration and respect that is sky-high where that one is concerned. ]
He's been around a long time. And it hasn't been easy, but he works hard. And he respects those who do the same.
[ Watching that now, head bowed as he listens to you talk. When you finish, he's reaching for your hand and thread his fingers through yours, holding tight.
No words in response, just the quiet and gentle squeeze of his hand. ]
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She's smiling the moment she sees Josh waiting, and comes right over. She only ever walks in this fast if she wants to punch something, or if she wants to hug you.
It's the latter, of course.]
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He does say one thing: hushed and thick with emotion. ] I am so proud of you, baby.
[ He says it with fondness. You'll always be that kid he brought up and dropped everything for. In some ways, that still holds true if you need it. ]
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Then she's going quiet, and hugging you even tighter.]
Thanks. I'm... I'm really happy I made it.
[No witty comments or smart comebacks for this one right now. She's a bit overwhelmed.]
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parentolder brother that he is. ]Are you kidding? Of course you made it.
[ Tweaking her nose at that, before he slings an arm around her shoulders and offers to guide her towards the porch. ]
You're amazing, Cinds. There was never any doubt that you'd kick ass.
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[Teasing, as she's letting Josh bring her over.]
It wasn't easy. Not that I ever expected it to be, but... yeah.
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Slipping out his pack and offering you a smoke though. ]
Tell me all about it?
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They dropped me off underneath New York. I had to reach a certain spot on my GPS before midnight, all on my own.
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Where'd you end up?
[ There's a fond smile on his face as he briefly remembers how he, Brig and Brianna had been issued to task of mapping out the Kingdom of Namayan. ]
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[It is actually a piece of history of the Darkest Vigil that Cindy had always loved to read.]
They were the ones who helped the Methuselah, Netsach, and Zangyaku liberate New York from Grendal.
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It's something he never thought he'd experience... given how things turned out.
Taking another puff of that cigarette. Go on, baby sis. He's listening. ]
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[Smiling now, as she's remembering what it was like to stand there, surrounded by a legacy.]
History was made there, and it was all started by a Technomancer.
[Like here.]
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What'd you do next?
[ They'd had to send off old ghosts, help the ones that were still around. But your abilities are different and he really wants to know more about what you do. And what he could have been. ]
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[Smiling up at.]
I already knew her story, so.
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Tell me about her?
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[Saying all of this quietly, as she looks down at her hands.]
She only had one thought, or so they said: "I don't want to lose another one."
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This one's going to gather you up now, just like he used to, hug you so tight and whisper: ] We're gonna get her back. We are.
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I know. That's why I'm here.
[And she knows that it's like that for you too.]
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Tell me the rest?
[ He wants to know everything that you're willing to share with him. ]
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[She was pleasantly surprised by that, and it shows all over her face.]
The first words out of his mouth were "I'm not even going to bother congratulating you. You're a Brennan: aiming high and getting to the top is part of the deal."
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That it?
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We talked a bit about the Steps, and then... well, he kind of hit it on the nail. Instead of asking me why I wanted to be a Keeper of the Vigil, he just said, "I already know. You want answers. You want to BE the answer."
[Taking a drag from her cigarette now.]
It sounded a lot like he was talking about himself too.
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That's Jessie for you.
[ He's thinking back to their conversations, to what he's seen of the man, of the admiration and respect that is sky-high where that one is concerned. ]
He's been around a long time. And it hasn't been easy, but he works hard. And he respects those who do the same.
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[Her gaze is distant now, as she takes her last drag and goes for another one.]
That sometimes I need to remember that I'm not alone, I'm not the best, and someone will always be able to finish what I've started.
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No words in response, just the quiet and gentle squeeze of his hand. ]
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Thanks for waiting for me. I'm... I'm really happy we're in this together now.
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