Smoke Break
YOU ARE DEAD. RESPAWN IN 10… 9… 8…
Crux nearly collapses against Tara as a fit of laughter overtakes them in the aftermath of Tara the Elf Druid’s unfortunate passing, the result of a failure to outrun a particularly persistent (and hostile) rodent.
Tara’s face scrunches up in a displeased grimace, the sight of which only intensifies Crux’ laughter, the sound filling the cramped room on the second floor of the Miner’s Respite. Tara’s cheeks redden slightly, and something shifts in her expression as she looks away. Embarrassment. Discouragement.
It’s the closest Crux has seen her get to annoyed, or… perhaps sulky, in their admittedly brief acquaintance, and it’s short-lived, Tara quickly schooling her expression into something more neutral. It’s this sight that causes Crux’ laughter to dry up, their mood sobering.
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re doing great for someone who’s never even held a controller before last week,” they assure, giving Tara’s shoulder a light nudge with their own. “When I first cobbled this rig together and got it running, I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing either.”
Tara’s carefully controlled neutrality softens a little, and she looks down at the controller in her hands. “You… made this?”
Crux nods, the corner of their mouth quirking upward slightly. “Uh-huh, I mean… not from scratch, but… I put it together from parts I scavenged. Had to replace a lot over the years.”
Tara studies the patchwork device with newfound curiosity while Crux stretches until their bones crack and then gets out of bed with a bounce. “I need a smoke. Wanna come?”
The outdoor air is cold. Colder than anywhere on Omega. The machinery of the ancient station generates enough heat that keeping warm is a non-issue outside of the most remote areas. Getting rid of that heat is a bigger one. It’s also snowy. The snow, blindingly bright and absolutely everywhere, was as alien to Crux as the awe-inspiring expanse of the sky above when they first arrived on Aite.
They’re still not really used to either, the flakes that land and melt against the warm skin of their hands as they light a cigarette as captivating as the moons that loom thousands of kilometers above. They’ve mostly managed to lose the reflexive fear that they might accidentally slip gravity’s hold and fall off this exposed rock into space above, but the thought of Litae above falling is harder to shake. They say that’s still centuries off, but Crux knows better than to trust everything that some distant “they” says.
The end of the lit cigarette glows bright blue, intensified after the first drag. It’s instant relief, calming jittery nerves and forming fraying thoughts into something focused. Crux lets out a slow exhale, a crisp, fruity smell accompanying the deep blue smoke that fills the air around them. Their eyes follow a passing truck for a moment before shifting to the girl next to them, realizing that she’s watching them smoke curiously.
“Want a taste?” Crux offers with a small smile, holding out the lit cigarette. They notice Tara’s gaze linger briefly on their missing finger, but she doesn’t ask about it, instead leaning forward to wrap her lips around the offered cigarette. Crux’ eyes widen slightly in surprise, but they clear their throat and do their best to roll with it. “Uh, yeah, okay, that works. Don’t chew on the end, just inhale, and, uh, hold it in your lungs for a sec, but-”
Tara pulls away coughing, little puffs of blue smoke escaping into the air and quickly dissipating. Her face is twisted in an involuntary grimace as the coughs wrack her body.
“...don’t overdo it. Shit, sorry, sorry! It takes a while to get used to.” Crux says with a wince of their own, flashing gritted teeth. Their free hand finds Tara’s back, giving it several pats as they lean to the side to check on her.
Fortunately the coughing soon passes, and she straightens up, taking an uninterrupted, deep breath of crisp winter air before giving her assessment of the experience. “It tastes tingly.”
The words draw a loud, surprised snort of laughter from Crux, but they’re quick to nod. “Heh, yeah,” they agree with a grin. “Good tingly though, right?”
Tara’s eyebrows furrow slightly, eyes darting around as she assesses. “Everything is… sharp.”
Crux’ grin softens but lingers, and they nod again. “Yeah. I like it. Helps me focus.”
Tara’s face scrunches up a little more as she seems to consider this. She doesn’t say anything, head instead turning this way and that as she continues to take in the chemically-enhanced crispness of the sparkling snow around them. It seems more like a detriment to her focus than anything.
Crux briefly just watches with mild amusement, but then they shift the cigarette to their other hand and holds up the one now freed, wiggling their fingers, including the scarred stump. “It’s okay to ask, by the way. I saw you looking at it.”
Tara ‘s gaze snaps to Crux, and then their hand, eyes widening slightly and expression turning uncertain, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Got caught stealing,” they volunteer despite Tara’s silence, only to be met with a concerned frown from the girl in the puffy blue jacket.
“That’s not allowed.”
“Yeeep. Sure isn’t,” they snicker. “Hence…” Crux wiggles their fingers again.
Tara’s frown deepens, gaze falling away from Crux. She hesitates for a moment, and then raises a hand to brush stiffly over the crisscrossing burns on the side of her face, not quite covered by her short blonde hair. “I… broke the rules too,” she offers quietly.
Crux briefly studies the pattern of the scars in silence. Their lips shift into a faint smirk, and they open their mouth to say something, only to immediately think better of it, instead taking a long drag of their cigarette. After exhaling, they tap the shortening cylinder, dislodging ash and a flurry of bright blue embers that dance away in the faint wind before offering Tara another puff.
She cautiously accepts, managing with only a single muffled cough this time.
For a moment, the young human remains silent, watching the distant, imposing mountains, and the rolling foothills in front of them, but it’s short-lived. “How long have you been living with Leah?”
Tara looks a little surprised by the question, perhaps even a little uneasy, but the answer comes quickly. “4 months. Almost.”
“And she treats you like family?”
Tara just nods.
“Wow.” Crux looks down at their cigarette, turning it over as they study the glow idly. Their gaze returns to Tara. “She’s kind of amazing, huh?”
Tara’s expression softens, and she smiles slightly, offering a firm nod. “Yes,” is her simple, but emphatic reply.
“Still can’t believe she helped us after…” They shift uncomfortably in place and gesture vaguely with their arms before shrugging. “You know.”
Tara doesn’t share in Crux’ discomfort, smile just growing firmer. Warmer. The love she has for her newfound sister is plain to see, and it seems entirely obvious to her that she’d help Crux and RC regardless of what transpired on the doorstep of their home.
“Glad you don’t hold a grudge either,” Crux says with a look in Tara’s direction. “Would’ve made living at your job pretty awkward,” they add with a slightly stiff chuckle.
Tara’s smile shrinks into something smaller and more restrained, but it’s still there. There’s the faintest furrow in her eyebrows, not seeming quite sure how she ought to respond.
Crux takes Tara’s silence in stride, just continuing to talk at her. “Plus, you wouldn’t have gotten to play the sweet-ass game that is Eon Otherworld, right?” they point out with a small grin. After a quick final drag from their cigarette they flick the butt into a pile of snow.
“Speaking of which…” They nod in the direction of the Respite. “Got a couple of others in the collection that you should try,” they suggest, looking Tara’s way and flashing another grin. They stuff their hands into the pockets of Rae’s bright yellow jacket and take a couple of steps backward, before spinning around on their heel to start leading the way back once it’s clear that Tara is following.