pullmeoutalive | Ramey

Must've been something pretty decent.

[ she manages up a smile, content to hold him for a moment, her fingers moving from his shirt to his hair.

(another lovely benefit of having vasquez there with her: all of this contact she'd missed so dearly.)

she's quiet for a few drawn-out minutes, before she speaks again. ]

...we can't stay much longer, you know. They're already in town.

Decent? Here I thought I forgot the meaning of the word.

[ He glances up at her, just watching her face while they sit in contemplative, heavy silence. This surely isn't something either of them wanted, but they both knew it was coming, looming on the horizon like storm clouds. ]

I know. How long will it take you to wrap things up here?

[ emma pauses as she thinks it over, runs through everything she needs to gather up before they can leave. it feels like there's so much she ought to do, so much that needs doing, but...

they truly do need to just get out of town. ]

An hour, maybe two, depending. Need to get some supplies, pack what I can, but...

I can leave a lotta this behind.

[ not much option otherwise. ]

I was expecting a day or two.

[ They likely don't have the luxury of that kind of time, though, with the hunters already in town. ]

But if you truly think you can be ready, then we should go.

Day or two would be lovely.

Can't afford that, though, and I'd rather not leave another pair of bodies behind, if it's all the same to you.

[ emma knows what going along with vasquez will mean (killing to keep themselves alive, if they have to), but something in her doesn't want to add another set of deaths as they try to get out of rose creek. ]

I understand, amor.

[ There's a lot of bloodshed waiting on the road ahead of them, but it doesn't have to start now. ]

Go on. Do what you need to do. I'll gather things up here in the meantime.

[ another kiss, then emma's reluctantly sliding off of his lap to get a few things together to take into town.

it's admittedly not too hard to gather up what she needs, mostly because part of her has run through this very scenario a few separate times. she's already figured what kind of provisions they'll want to bring along, how long it all ought to last them, what she can afford and what would be better left brought as money to spend on the move.

it's a lot to think on, but emma's had time enough for it, since the last encounter with the bounty hunters.

she stops into the general store (much to teddy's delight, given the way he lights up again when she walks right in), and gives theodore a proper list of what she needs. he writes it all down, trying to keep up with her, and then glances up from the sheet of paper.

"uh...might take a bit to get all'a this together."

"do you mind bringing it by my house for me?"

and teddy just smiles. "not a bit, miss emma."

sweet as always, emma thinks, and she offers him a soft, if somewhat strained smile.

"much obliged, teddy."

supplies arranged, money drawn, and emma is heading back to the house to gather up her things. clothes, guns, ammunition, a few small keepsakes (and the playing card she'd discovered, months ago, in vasquez's vest before she'd done the laundry; king of hearts, slightly rumpled, but well kept all the same. it sat on her mantel, undisturbed.).

she has her travel bags packed, and then there's a short knock at the door. glancing over, she hefts up her bag, carrying it into the bedroom, and then to vasquez, ]

Could you get that?

[ It doesn’t take Vasquez long to dig out his stuff from wherever he and Emma stashed it once he stopped sleeping in the common room. Most of his things have been undisturbed, never ever unpacked as she lent him clothes from Matthew’s closet and kept him fed on a regular basis.

When Emma returns, he helps her gather her own things, and he’s surprised at how little advice he has to give her. Clearly she has been thinking about this, and her diligence and preparedness eases some of the worry that’s been building in his chest.

She asks him to get the door, and for a second he just gives her the weirdest look, like he’s wondering if she forgot about the bounty hunters that are currently in town, but he goes anyway. First he slides up to the window to peer out through the slit in the curtains, one hand on his gun, just in case, but the tension goes out of him when he spots the familiar visage of Teddy Q.

Well, this is gonna give the kid a heart attack.

Vasquez swings the door open, and remarks midly, ]

Hola, Teddy. How’s Jack doing?

[ And the poor guy nearly loses his grip on the bundles of supplies in his arms out of shock. He sputters for a moment, gets as far as “Mister Va—” before Vasquez shushes him and guides him inside. ]

[ emma, at least, expected teddy, figured it would be him by the single set of boots on her porch, the particular sound of his knock (from all the days he'd checked in on her, soon after matthew's death and once the town was settled; he'd been a good friend, and she'd appreciated it).

but she looks out from the bedroom to offer teddy a small smile. ]

Thank you, Teddy, that was awful quick of you.

[ teddy looks from vasquez to emma a few times, opening and closing his mouth like a fish. ]

You— he— when did—

[ emma waves a somewhat dismissive hand, then goes to take the supplies out of teddy's arms. ]

He's been here a while now.

[ without really bothering to explain the context of why vasquez is there, in her home.

teddy continues to flounder for a moment, and then— ]

You're— are you leavin' along with him?

[ the disappointment in his tone makes emma's smile a little softer, sadder. ]

I am.

[ To be honest, Vasquez feels a bit bad. He feels bad for not finding a way to at least say hello to Teddy earlier, first of all. Teddy had been with them all from the beginning, right alongside Emma. He can also see the way Teddy’s expression falls when Emma admits to leaving town.

Heartbreak if he ever did see it.

He rests a hand on Teddy’s shoulder for a brief moment, before taking what remains of their supplies from his arms. ]

Would have liked to come into town, but— [ a shrug ] –obviously you have visitors already.

[ teddy seems to only just realize why so many bounty hunters have been passing through, and he looks over at vasquez, shaking his head. ]

They're here lookin' for you.

[ emma sighs, nodding as she takes the supplies over to be packed away. ]

And I'm sure you've gathered it's not the first time.

[ teddy nods slowly. ]

But you're going, just like that?

Can't stay here anymore.

...Emma, this is your home.

[ she nods, not looking back at teddy as she brings the pack up with the others. ]

And I'm allowed to choose when to leave it.

[ Emma has very clearly made up her mind, and Vasquez knows how she can get when she’s set on something. At this rate this conversation is going to go in circles, which isn’t going to help anything. He doesn’t want Emma’s last words to anyone in Rose Creek to be angry and clipped and argumentative. ]

Querida. [ Softly, as he rests a gentle hand on Emma’s arm. He can feel Teddy’s eyes on them as he does. ]

Why don’t you two step outside? Talk to him. I can finish up in here.

[ emma hesitates, but...he's not wrong. she should settle this, say a proper goodbye to teddy before they have to leave. she doesn't have the time for farewells otherwise (and probably shouldn't, to give them both a good headstart), but she at least owes teddy something less tense and brusque.

she nods, giving his wrist a small squeeze. ]

All right.

[ and she pulls away, herding teddy out the front door.

the conversation doesn't go poorly, but teddy seems mostly confused by, well, why vasquez? why would she be choosing this for herself? why would she leave this house she built with matthew behind at the drop of a hat?

it's not that simple, she tells him. there's more to vasquez than teddy knows. there's more to her decision than just following this man away from her home. there's just more, and she appreciates teddy's concern, but she can make these choices for her own wellbeing. she knows how to look out for herself, and she knows what this means for her.

teddy goes quiet for a while, and then he finally nods. ]

Just— take care of yourself. Stay safe, you hear me?

[ emma's smile is softer, a bit of that need to defend herself slipping away. she reaches out, gives teddy's arm a gentle squeeze, then she pulls back to go into the house, then pauses by the front door. ]

Thank you, Teddy. For everything.

[ and then emma's leaving him on the porch, to go back to vasquez. ]

[ By the time Emma steps back inside, Vasquez has finished taking care of their supplies. Their bags are filled and ready to go, laid out in a line across the bed.

He glances up at the sound of the front door, and he’s not surprised to find that Teddy isn’t with her. ]

He really cares about you, you know.

[ emma appraises the bags, and there's something odd about seeing her life packed away, ready to be carried off (with so much left behind).

she meets vasquez's gaze with a small shrug. ]

He's been a good friend to me.

[ ...but she also knows that might not be what vasquez means. ]

[ His eyebrows go up a little. ]

That’s not what I mean and I think you know that.

[ emma sighs, and there's something reluctant in the way she nods. ]

I know.

[ it's nothing she's wanted to acknowledge or indulge with teddy. sweet as he may be, her feelings for him had never extended near so far as what she'd suspected he felt for her. ]

But I've seen no need to go willfully breakin' his heart.

[ well...until today, though that had been unavoidable. ]

[ It makes him sad for just a moment, because Teddy would be so much better for Emma than he was. But, it was something she could have chosen on her own, long before Vasquez showed back up. ]

What did you tell him?

That this choice is my own and one I've considered for a while now. That it's difficult being here more often than it's easy.

[ she walks past the very spot matthew died every day. it sparks something sharp and acrid every time until she looks away again.

even that hat on a peg by the door offers little comfort in its stark reminder of how much she's lost. it's a wound long since healed, but there are days when the memories ache just a little more, like cold seeping into old bones to make every inch of her stiff and sore and hollow. ]

And that I have something I want to hold onto, and that means leaving this place behind.

[ He steps away from their things on the bed for a moment to gather her into his arms, a small, sad smile on his face. This isn’t easy for her, he knows, but she bears it with the same quiet grace she bears everything. He would never have known that it hurt her to stay in Rose Creek had she never said anything. ]

Ojalá pudiera ser tan valiente como tú.

[ He breathes it out into her hair, holding her there for just a moment. He presses a kiss to the top of her head before he pulls away. ]

Come on. We’re wasting daylight.

[ she isn't expecting the way vasquez draws her close, but she settles into his arms, resting her forehead against his shoulder with a small, quiet sigh. she doesn't catch what he says, can't pick out the words, but it's the tone of his voice, the comfort of his touch, and it helps to ease some of the tension that's been thrumming through her since she saw those men in the saloon.

she straightens up when he steps away, nodding immediately in agreement. ]

Where should we go?

[ it doesn't especially matter she realizes, as long as the direction they pick is away. ]

Never really had a “where” in mind, but out of the valley is a good place to start, yes?

[ He flashes her a grin, something teasing, as he begins to gather up their bags. ]

You have any place in particular you want to go?

[ emma's laugh is quiet in response, but she's still smiling as she goes to help him with the bags. ]

Maybe outside of California would be a start. Haven't left the state in a good long while.

[ and most probably expect vasquez to still be in california, so the further they get, likely the better. ]

East, then. It’s a good start.

[ Emma is going to quickly learn that Vasquez just sort of did what he wanted. Flying by the seat of his pants made him difficult to track. ]

You’re sure you have everything?

[ it's absolutely going to be an adjustment for emma, traveling at random, with so little in mind of a destination. she'd moved around plenty with matthew before they settled in rose creek, come along with others to build the town up from nothing, but those days had long since passed.

and now here she is again, setting out for an unknown destination (or series of destinations, more like), with no real aim in mind.

odd. daunting.

but what an adventure. ]

I think that's all I'll need.

[ she looks back around at the house, considering what still stands (a lot, she realizes, but she can't haul it all with her). her eyes are drawn to the pegs by her door, and after a flicker of hesitation, she goes to take down matthew's hat.

she'll bring this with her instead of her own. ]

Ramey > open rp

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