( Red knew Vanessa was going to go through the beacon. They talked about it. It's the reason why she knows as soon as she sees the envelope with Vanessa's handwriting on it that she's gone. The beacon is being activated right now. Red's avoiding it like she can somehow avoid her fate, but the collar she was given for her help with the city is proof that isn't so. Even here.
And Vanessa's gone. She must already be gone, and what the hell can she do anyway? Stop her? Try to take away her choice? They only have so many in these worlds. Vanessa is one of the only other individuals who knows what it's like to struggle with this idea of identity (how fucking mixed up it can get when gods are involved).
Beyond that, Red cares about her a great deal, respects and admires her. There's the connection that was forged in the Labyrinth between them, everything they've gone through here together. And just like that she's gone through the Beacon, gone as if she was never here at all, won't remember this place - none of them will when they return. But already there's this ache opening inside of her chest to know she'll never see Vanessa again. Here Red's been debating if she should ever return, face reality or bury her fucking head in the sand more, and Vanessa does not debate but acts despite the very clear danger Red knows waits for her.
She heads up the stairs, shuts the door behind her, and curls up in a corner of her room. She's the only one in this empty house, clutching the letter with shaky hands. Red pulls it out of the envelope, tries to read it. She can only read the first line before her eyes blur over with tears again and again, and she slides her hand over her mouth, a muffled sound is released there. Caught between anger and sadness. Of the group of them who arrived all together securing passports, how many are even left? Fei's gone, Vanessa, it-
Red shuts the letter and folds it up tight: once, twice, three times without reading the rest. The paper is pressed to her palm, and the first gift anyone's ever given to her - personally, just for her lies at her feet. )
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And Vanessa's gone. She must already be gone, and what the hell can she do anyway? Stop her? Try to take away her choice? They only have so many in these worlds. Vanessa is one of the only other individuals who knows what it's like to struggle with this idea of identity (how fucking mixed up it can get when gods are involved).
Beyond that, Red cares about her a great deal, respects and admires her. There's the connection that was forged in the Labyrinth between them, everything they've gone through here together. And just like that she's gone through the Beacon, gone as if she was never here at all, won't remember this place - none of them will when they return. But already there's this ache opening inside of her chest to know she'll never see Vanessa again. Here Red's been debating if she should ever return, face reality or bury her fucking head in the sand more, and Vanessa does not debate but acts despite the very clear danger Red knows waits for her.
She heads up the stairs, shuts the door behind her, and curls up in a corner of her room. She's the only one in this empty house, clutching the letter with shaky hands. Red pulls it out of the envelope, tries to read it. She can only read the first line before her eyes blur over with tears again and again, and she slides her hand over her mouth, a muffled sound is released there. Caught between anger and sadness. Of the group of them who arrived all together securing passports, how many are even left? Fei's gone, Vanessa, it-
Red shuts the letter and folds it up tight: once, twice, three times without reading the rest. The paper is pressed to her palm, and the first gift anyone's ever given to her - personally, just for her lies at her feet. )