Jessica doesn't answer right away, or at all for that matter. Answering- honestly answering would require her to say things- to admit to things- that she just can't. Not now. Maybe not ever. So instead, she just studies the woman in front of her for a few moments before eventually shaking her head once more. The heavy smile remains on her face, but it's not hard to tell that something has changed. Not just in the minutes since their
#SunTower – September 9, 2026
charged arrival which typically would've culminated in Jessica unwrapping Yan Sun like a gift on Christmas morning, but in the days since they came to the penthouse. She's been a bit more subdued. Almost walking on eggshells. Well, more like stomping on eggshells in Jessica's case, but still. Drawing in a heavy breath, she turns away from Yan Sun, meandering her way towards the bed. "You know this feeling when there is something
Yan Sun 's eyebrows furrow, and she moves aside slightly as Jessica passes her on the way to the bed. She's clearly picked up on the shift in the atmosphere of the room. There's concern in her gaze now, and in the uneasy twitch of the corner of her mouth. She watches Jessica move in the direction of the bed. "Yeah...?"
Jessica drops onto the edge of the bed, smile having fully faded by the time she turns back towards Yan Sun. Her gaze bounces off of her partner, settling on some random spot on the floor instead. "I... did not-... do not-..." she corrects, "...know how to say to you this, but maybe is best for me to just say it how it is." She hesitates, still uncertain of her own words. She's spent the past day doing her damndest not to think about
this moment that, now that it's here, even she's not sure what to say. But the time has come, right? It was a good night. One last hurrah before saying goodbye, that was the plan, wasn't it? It's hard to ignore that part of her that wants to keep putting it off. To nudge it back in order to steal every moment that she can. But at what point does that just become cruel? Putting off the inevitable, knowing what she knows when
Yan Sun is none the wiser? She swallows at that lump in her throat as she forces herself to meet her partner's gaze. "I am going to leave, kitty cat. Is-... is time for me to go."
Yan Sun 's frown deepens, confusion and concern overtaking her face. "...what? What are you talking about?" She moves over to the bed and takes a seat next to Jessica. "What's going on?"
Jessica bites down, gaze once more turning low as Yan Sun approaches. Her shoulders bounce in a half-shrug, her own uncertainty showing through. "I do not fit here, kitty cat." she says, her tone almost pleading for Yan Sun to understand. To not make this more difficult than it needs to be. "I know this as soon as we come here."
Yan Sun 's lip twitches and she places a hand on Jessica's arm. "Says who? I've loved having you here. Actually, you're pretty much the whole reason it's been bearable," she points out with a tiny smile, a wetness in her eyes at the emotion laced through Jessica's demeanor. She leans forward a little to try and catch her eye.
Jessica lets out a sound halfway between a snort and a scoff, frustration slipping out at Yan Sun not getting it. "Says me?" she offers. It's Sau's sentiment, sure, but it's one of the few things she agrees with him on. "This place, it is-..." she draws in a breath, indicating the building with a brief glance up, scanning across the window overlooking the city before shaking her head and returning her gaze to the floor, deciding
against finishing that thought. So much about being here feels wrong. "I do not belong here." she simply reiterates. "I already make up my mind, kitty cat. I am leaving. Please do not make this more harder..." she says, her tone quiet but carrying the finality of someone who has already made their decision.
Yan Sun swallows hard. "Jessica, I-I-... I didn't-... I know that-..." She cuts herself off, taking a deep breath as she reconsiders her words. "If- if you're that miserable here, we'll go together," she offers, although there's an obvious reluctance in her voice despite the sincerity of the words. "I know this isn't what you signed up for when we came here..." Her hand slips down Jessica's arm to her hand, giving it a squeeze, gaze darting
Jessica bites down, a complicated look crossing her features. She would be lying to say it's not a tempting offer. But what would she be asking Yan Sun to give up? What was it that Nathan had said? 'Selfish, heartless psycho'? She'd certainly fit the bill if she forced someone to make a sacrifice like that. She can't help but recall just how much it stung when he said it. Not because his voice carried any weight. She couldn't care
less what he thought about her. Fuck him. No, it was that little voice in the back of her head. The one that was there long before those words left his mouth. The one that couldn't help but wonder if he was right. Look at the mess you've made. You're a wrecking ball that ruins everyone and everything in your path. Everyone you love ends up hurt. It feels like a foregone
conclusion that if she were to stay here, it would only be a matter of time before she ruined everything for Yan Sun, too. And for what? Her own selfish desire to have just a little more time together? Until she inevitably pushes the right buttons or goes too far and Yan Sun finally gets fed up with her shit? But she has a chance to do better. To leave on good terms. To be more than just a bad memory. And doesn't she owe Yan
Sun that much? "Is not-..." she scoffs, hanging her head lower, a pained expression briefly taking hold as she tightly shuts her eyes. Finally, she brings herself to look at the woman seated beside her and she blinks at the glassiness in her good eye, causing a stray tear to slip free that she's quick to wipe away with the back of her free hand. "I am not miserable, kitty cat." she assures, that pleading tone still in her
voice, begging for Yan Sun to understand. "I am never miserable with you, you idiot." she frowns, her half-hearted insult lacking any real edge, "I just do not belong here." she repeats once more. Her hand shifts, reorienting to grip Yan Sun's in turn. "And I know that I never will. But-... you do. So I will go and you will stay. And-... and is fine, because-..." she stammers, "...we already know that this is not
forever, yes?" Despite the tears that begin to run down her cheek, the smile that crosses her lips is sincere. Sad, but sincere.
Yan Sun flinches. She looks hurt, her own tears flowing freely now, reflecting the light of her cybernetics as they streak down her cheeks. "No. No, it's not fine! I thought-... 'Home is a who', remember?" A fragile attempt at a smile, small, worried. "You really think I care more about this..." She gestures vaguely all around them. "... than you?" She doesn't mention the complicating factors. The chance to have a relationship with
her father, the only family she has left. The chance to regain her birthright, and all the good she could do with it.
Jessica's brows pinch together as she shifts in place, turning to better face Yan Sun as she listens to her own words being weaponized against her. Words that she stands behind. But no home is forever. Something she knows far too well. She opens her mouth to say as much but falls silent when Yan Sun continues and, by the time she finishes, Jessica is already shaking her head. "No. I don't!" she's quick to snap back. It's an admission
that seems to be far less comforting to her than one might expect. Because it's exactly what Jessica is trying to avoid. Making Yan Sun choose between herself and a life that clearly means far more to her than she's willing to admit. "And this is why I know I have to go. I am not going to be the reason for everything fucking up. Not again." she says, her voice cracking despite her best attempt at keeping it together.
Yan Sun shakes her head, shifting closer to Jessica. "You won't be. Jessica, please... just talk to me about this... instead of just... what, running off? We can figure this out," she pleads, the taste of her own tears on her tongue as she watches her.
Jessica's expression shifts as Yan Sun's words land in what's likely an unintended way. "Running off?!" she repeats, an obvious hurt in her tone. "I am not running off! This is why I stay to say all of this to you! This is why-... I could just-... just-..." she stammers, everything finally fully bubbling to the surface in a torrent of mixed emotions. Hurt. Sadness. Frustration. Anger. "...fuck your brains out and then leave when you
are sleeping. This would be better?! Mm?! But-... but I am here! I stay to say this to your face because I do not want for you to be thinking that I do not-..." a bit of the energy drains from her as she clips her words short, a brief hesitation before finishing her sentence, "...that I do not care. That you are just another warm body to lay next to." It was how she had referred to Rafe. Something she can't help but regret.
Not for his sake- not that he deserved such callous indifference, of course- but because she can't help but wonder if it's what Yan Sun will think when she's gone. That all of this meant nothing to her.
Yan Sun flinches and averts her gaze without turning away, making no attempt to interrupt Jessica as she speaks. She nods once she's done. "I... I understand that," she says quietly, a sniffle slipping out before she meets her gaze again. "But Jessica... you don't have to go. I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose what we..."
Jessica draws in an uneven breath as Yan Sun speaks, the words seeming to temper her a little. She just seems... drained. Aware that she hasn't made much ground in convincing Yan Sun that this is for the best. How could she? She doesn't even want this herself. "...Me neither." she admits with a shrug. "But when does the galaxy care about what we want?" she adds, that small, sad smile tugging at the edge of her mouth again. "Besides,
this is the right choice." she continues, attempting to offer some amount of comfort in the form of a little squeeze of Yan Sun's hand. "Just-... do not forget about me, mm?" she requests, trying and failing to fight the crackle that reappears in her voice. "You are not allowed to!" she rephrases, leaning forward to press a brief kiss against the side of Yan Sun's head. She climbs to her feet, but seems reluctant to release
Yan Sun's hand just yet. "And when you are doing all your boring meetings or-... whatever it is that you rich people do, you can daydream about the Terminus trash that fucked you in a broken elevator." she snickers, but her attempt at levity is quickly interrupted by another sniffle.
Yan Sun just watches Jessica as she speaks, a mix of pain and confusion etched into her face. She doesn't let go either as Jessica stands up, if anything her grip tightens as she too gets to her feet. "That's not funny," she protests. "Jessica, please... if you don't want this, then don't do it. Stay," she begs, voice breaking. She wants to bring up their plans. Seeing the galaxy together. She wants to offer again to leave right now,
together. But that thought, the thought of staying, of reclaiming a life she had thought lost forever, the thought that she'd not dared to really talk about with Jessica yet, it ties her tongue.
Jessica's smile slips just a bit as Yan Sun seems intent on not letting this go without a fight. As if either of them have any real control over this. If it's not tonight, then it would be tomorrow. Or the day after. Or next month. It's an inevitability. They're a square peg and a round hole, things were never gonna fit. She knew that long before they got here, but the stakes were so much lower. She figured they could ride things out
to the end. Have a good time and, when everything falls apart? So be it. But things have changed. Right now it can still be amputated before any more damage is done. Before she does more damage. Yan Sun can still salvage things with her father. Get back her life. Something that Jessica would give almost anything for a chance at. And she walks away with a two million credit consolation prize. That's more than most have to
show for their heartache. She reaches up, wiping at her face with the back of her free hand as she shakes her head. The longer she drags this out, the more likely she is to be talked out of it and she just can't have that. "I-... I need to get my shit..." she says simply, giving Yan Sun's hand one last squeeze before letting go.
Yan Sun flinches as Jessica pulls away, mouth opening as if to say something and then closing again. She slumps back onto the bed, hugging herself as she struggles to make sense of what's happening, a growing pit in her stomach as her mind races, a confusing, muddled mess of emotions made all the harder to untangle thanks to alcohol and exhaustion.
Jessica's expression shifts, frown slowly emerging as she backs away from the bed. She soon turns, moving to get to work on collecting what few things of hers occupy the room and return them to her duffel bag in Yan Sun's closet. She does her best to ignore her own racing thoughts, desperate to get this over with. To put it behind her before she has a chance to change her mind.
Yan Sun remains silent for a time as Jessica collects things, focused on her own inner turmoil, but as the duffel bag refills her voice cuts through the silence of the dimly lit room. "Where... where are you going? How are you...?" Her voice is quiet and hoarse, filled with a resigned sadness, but there's something else there. Concern. She's worried about her.
Jessica has placed her duffel bag and crate just beside the bedroom door and she's currently kneeled down beside them, zipping her bag up. Yan Sun's voice causes her to finally look her way, something she's avoided doing as much as possible as she repacked. The question catches her a bit off guard. The 'how' is handled, not that she can tell Yan Sun about that. Not without dragging Sau through the mud. And, as much as she'd like to, it
would only hurt Yan Sun even more. But the 'where'...? Well, the truth is she hasn't spent much time considering things beyond tonight. A recurring problem in her life and not one she particularly wants to rectify right now, either, because from where she's standing right now, tomorrow isn't looking like a place she wants to be. She gives a small shrug of her shoulders. "I-... don't know. But you do not need to worry about me,
kitty cat. I am a survivor. Like a varren, yes?" she tries to joke, an attempt at calling back to earlier in the night, but the smile she flashes Yan Sun doesn't quite reach her eyes, "I will figure it out." She checks the zipper and rises to her feet, tugging the strap of the duffel bag over her shoulder. "For now I have the apartment until I know for sure." she gestures idly with a nod of her head. "...Then maybe-..." she
shifts her weight from one foot to the other, discomfort showing through once more, "...I don't know. Maybe there is still a place for me back on Aite." More than maybe. Kirill and the others would take her back with open arms. Something she'd never have known if Yan Sun hadn't entered her life. Yan Sun is responsible for most of the bright spots in her life right now, but lingering too long on that thought would just take
her down a road that she's not ready to face at the moment. An acknowledgement that things look a whole lot darker after tonight.
Yan Sun shakes her head and gets to her feet. Gets closer. "I'm gonna worry. I-... you're important to me," she says, voice cracking a little. A brief, quivering smile crosses her lips, before her face crumbles as fresh tears fall, blurring her vision and filling the room with the sound of her sob. She looks like she wants to pull Jessica into a hug. To hold her tight and never let her go. Maybe she will, if another moment passes.
Jessica blinks. Hard. Yan Sun's crying only serving to cause her own tears to fall free once more. "You are going to be okay, kitty cat..." she says, the words painfully soft despite her gravelly voice. And it's true. Time will pass and the wound will heal. She's nobody special, after all. Hell, there's a hole back on Aite filled with people just like her. Terminus trash. Yan Sun will move on. She adjusts the strap of her duffel bag
and brings her free hand to the handle of her crate, gripping it tightly just to ground herself. To make sure her hand can't wander. Can't beat Yan Sun to the punch and wrap her up. The desire is strong. Almost unbearable. A harsh reminder of just how dangerous it is for her to linger. Every moment makes it harder for her to step through that door when she knows that all she would have to do to stop Yan Sun's tears is stay. But
what would that accomplish? Fix a heart today, ruin a life tomorrow. "We both will." she adds, her voice so quiet it's almost imperceptible. She dips her head down, forcing herself to look away from Yan Sun as she steps through the door.
Yan Sun 's hand lifts, on the verge of reaching out, of grabbing hold to stop her. But what would she say? Some of Jessica's words found their mark, wormed their way in. Illuminated the truth that she doesn't want to leave. That she's not ready to. Not now. Not after learning about her mother. Not after her father embracing her. And it's cruel to ask her to stay. To also endure this gilded glass cage that Yan Sun herself loathes so. She, at
least, has a life time of experience coping with it. Another set of words almost find their way to her lips. A request for a promise. To take care of herself. To really do so. To not fall back into the self-destruction that Yan Sun was witness to. That thought scares her more than any other. But Jessica's quiet addition keeps those words too from surfacing, and instead her hand falls as she watches Jessica leave, her departing
Jessica manages to keep herself together long enough to get down the hall, the sound of her shoes against the floor and the rolling crate she's dragging behind her eventually fading away. She wills herself to keep walking. Don't stop. Don't turn back. Do the right thing for once in your fucking life and let her go. There's a storm of thoughts and emotions hammering down on her. Already questioning the
decision. Questioning her own intentions. By the time she reaches the elevator, the dam has broken. So much so that she has to stop to calm herself down, slumping against the padded bench. And for a while she just... sits. Shoulders bouncing as tears stream down her face.
Yan Sun falls back into a sitting position on the edge of her bed, staring at the closed door. Her face twists into an unrestrained cry as loud sobs wrack her body, filling the large, empty room. Soon she's lying down, curled into a ball on the bed, her view of the lights of the city transformed into a chaotic, distorted kaleidoscope of colors by her tears.
Guang materializes in front of Jessica with a fizzle, casting a faint white glow in the dim lobby. "Greetings. I have been asked to inform you that a skycar awaits on the landing pad. It will take you directly to a private dock where your off-world transport is being prepared. A luxurious ship, I have been assured," the featureless figure announces with a bland, light politeness that ill-suits the moment.
Jessica is quick to wipe at her face as soon as Guang Huan appears before her, seemingly unwilling to even allow a hologram to see her cry. She keeps her head low, rubbing at her eye with her thumb, breathing ragged. "Wha-... gah! Fuck off!" she says, swatting a hand at the hologram that glides through it unimpeded, failing to even provide the satisfaction that would've come from hitting something right now. "This-... this was not the
deal! I get to say where it is that I am going, yes? So I-... I need time to figure this shit out." she says. Time to decide if the Gorge is really where she wants to go. No, that's not true. Where else would she go? It's the only place she has left. But she needs time to reach out to Kirill and make sure there's even a spot for her in the Gorge. Who knows what they've got going on. No... that's not true either. She needs time
to unpack what just happened. Time alone. Time to hide from the galaxy while she musters up the strength to look at herself in the mirror again. "Just-... give to me his contact info and I will tell him when I am ready."
Guang 's form freezes, and it takes several seconds before a response comes. "Very well. The skycar will take you to a destination of your choice."
Jessica glares at the hologram, well aware of the person making the call behind it. But it doesn't matter. All of that is about to be behind her soon enough. Drawing in a deep breath to collect herself, she pushes herself back to her feet. "And tell him that he is still a fuck." she adds before starting back towards the pad. The trip to the landing pad is decidedly less cheerful than the one coming from the landing pad.