[An audible sniffle that is quickly covered up with the best annoyed growl he can muster.]

You're the one that wants to toss yer life away for my sake, so don't talk to me about sacrifices. [A hurried, rough swipe at his eyes.] I don't have nothin' fancy to offer, but.... [A thoughtful pause. The spark of hope his plan had coaxed into life flickers dangerously, like a candle on the verge of being extinguished, then brightens again a moment later.] ...maybe it ain't about money?

[He mulls this idea over. Brady's no tactician, but the more he thinks about it, the more sense it seems to make: aren't there other, better, less complicated ways of forcing someone to hand over their wealth than this sadistic nightmare? So it can't be about wringing every last gold coin from them. "Value" can be pretty subjective, anyway....one man's trash is another's treasure, and all that.]

I'm not saying I want to die!

[ Out of all that nonsense, she dives in on the one thing that upsets her the most. Predictable in a way, she's rubbing her own eyes with less need to hide her tears. ]

Stupid, if it's not money they want, then what are we supposed to give? I don't have my weapon and the only other thing I have on my person are my clothes--which I'm never going go give this up!

[ There's one other thing, but if their captor wants nothing to do with money... ]

[Seeing that, he immediately feels bad for his earlier biting comment, but he wouldn't be part of the Snark & Bark Society if he was any good at being conciliatory or tactful.]

Well, what else do ya consider valuable? Geez, think outside the box for once.

[Brady realizes at the last moment that he's just inadvertedly allowed Severa to consider sacrificing something else without protest, and inwardly curses. But....at least they were discussing things instead of just bickering.]

I have this stupid thing. [ Suddenly there's a ring in-between her fingers being held up directly in his face. ] It's not the best, but it's enough to win any fiend over.

[ Her voice drops a bit as if she's unable to believe it herself and it's true. There's no way some stupid ring is going to make up for the cost of a life. ]

[A sharp intake of breath. He knows what that is — Cordelia's wedding ring. And he knows the significance attached to it, no matter what Severa might say otherwise. How could he not? Each orphaned child from that doomed world was the same way, him included.

Brady's silent for a minute. Then he takes out a wedding ring from his own pocket — Maribelle's. It's not exactly his to give away, and as a piece of jewelry it's only of an above average make.....but if the price wasn't about money, if he had to give up something he valued deeply to have the best chance at saving Severa, then there was really no question about it.

The woman that had raised him was dead, and the younger version of her that he had bonded with wasn't here. But Severa was here, she was still alive, and he wanted to make sure that didn't change.]

...with this, there ain't no question that it'll be enough.

[ What happens when two quick to anger idiots hold out rings towards each other? Severa's taken back by the gesture herself as her mind struggles to wrap around the reality before her. ]

Are you asking me to marry you when I'm going to die?! [ Because that's horrid timing if you ask her. ] There's no point to it unless you want to start necking right here! W-We can do that without marriage involved, gods! Don't you know anything?

[ It grows increasingly difficult to keep her tears from falling over her cheeks when one hand is holding up a ring, but somehow she's a CHAMP at wiping them away on her sleeves. ]

You daft old sod with your foolish timing!

[SIGHS FOR A MILLION YEARS.]

Eh?!

[Slack-jawed surprise. It's a minor miracle that this drastic shift in mood hasn't given him whiplash.]

Gods, Severa, I dunno if I'll ever understand how yer mind works! This ring is what I'm offerin' to keep ya alive, see?

[Ah, but then she's crying again, and the sight makes it impossible to hold his own tears back. So they stream openly down his ugly face — the trembling lower lip is just a bonus.]

B-Besides, I wouldn't propose to ya with my mother's ring! That's just tasteless! What kinda guy do ya take me for?! You gotta give me a chance to buy somethin' worthy of ya first, and then prepare a speech that won't get me laughed at, and then—

[But then Brady realizes he's thought just a little bit too much about this hypothetical proposal, so he reddens and stares intently off to the side instead of continuing.]

Gods, that's not what a girl wants to hear when she's being proposed at! [ It still hasn't clicked in her mind that this is anything but a promise. ] Saying I'm not good enough for your mother's ring! I know I'm not a perfect girl, but you could be a bit more sensitive to my feelings sometime!

[ Isn't he in too deep now to be pulling back? ]

It's just awful! You won't be able to take me on my dream shopping trip before I die and then I'd be leaving you a widower! Everyone will take pity on you and shower you with gifts without even thinking twice of me!

[It's impossible to wallow in mortified silence after hearing a response like that.]

I'm not even proposin' to ya! [Why does that even sound like an appealing idea to begin with? He's not quite sure and now seems like a terrible time to try and figure that out.] But anyway, that wasn't what I was saying at all! Of course you're good enough for ma's ring. Hell, I wouldn't be givin' it up unless I thought you were ten times more important!

[Wiping the wet trails from his face with both hands now.]

Wouldja please stop talkin' like you're already dead?

Only ten times more important?

[ Sniffle. Her voice's softened just a smidgen, but that's only because he's yelling back at her. Finding it difficult to actually remain upset when he's upset, Severa weakly nods. ]

Fine, I'll stop saying what we already know is the truth. [ Only because they're never going to get out of this situation otherwise. ]

Fine, a hundred times! A thousand times! Whatever you want, Severa, okay?!

[Deep, struggling breaths to make himself calm the hell down. He's already ashamed of himself for losing control and crying — ugh, why did he have to be such an overemotional loser? That sort of person couldn't help anyone, couldn't keep those he cared about safe and happy.]

It ain't the truth until ya stop breathin'. [He manages to sound firm about this, despite the recent sobbing outburst.] You're still alive, and we got a good chance at makin' sure ya stay that way.

[Optimism from Brady? More likely than you think.]

Fine, but what will happen if we don't?

[ It seems like that's a question she should ask her captor, but as if she gives a damn about what she thinks. Seems better to get an answer from Brady himself. ]

You going to tell my mother I was crying like a baby? I wasn't! I just have to smell your breath and it's making my face burn, that's all!

[Peeking out from behind his fingers for a moment, then they fall away entirely.]

If I told her that, yer ghost would torment me forever — and I'd deserve every minute of it.

[A weak, dumb joke delivered in gruff tones, but he doesn't know how else to field that sort of question when he can barely stand to imagine such an outcome.]

It wouldn't be that bad. [ Can't leave half of the Snark & Bark Society alone after all. ] I can tell you what would look nice in our tent and you can buy it.

You'd have to front the bill all on your own though.

[ Another sniffle. Despite the grim talk, she's seemingly calming down? Don't mess it up, Brady. ]

[That's like asking a person without hands to successfully juggle knives.]

I was basically doing that already, so no worries there. And uh, of course I'd have to get a fancy plaque or statue or somethin' in yer honor.

It'd have to be gold and covered in rubies. [ She never stops. ]

All right, I think I've accepted what must be done.

[ If their offer doesn't work, then she'll have to die. It's not the first time she's seen death, but something about their situation tugs at her mind. Her eyes fall back on the untouched knife in the room. ]

Will I have to do it myself?

[He's about to say some smartass remark along the lines of "but then it won't stand out from all the other shiny stuff in the tent" when she brings up the potential manner of her death.

Brady's quiet for a minute, just until he can set aside his immense discomfort. After all....a 50/50 chance made for better odds than they were used to, but it was no guarantee. He was certainly cynical enough to understand that wishing and hoping rarely played a hand in one's luck.]

....dunno, is that how you'd wanna go out?

Edited (wow such typo much shame) 2013-12-30 10:36 am (UTC)

You'd just cry if you have to do it!

[ As if he wasn't going to cry regardless. ] So I'd have to be the one to do it otherwise it'll never get done.

[ Then something rare happens after she says that.

Severa shuts her mouth and doesn't speak anymore. Death is a serious enough topic, but to talk about it even when they're offering up valuable mementos for their lives? It's too much even for her. ]

Yeah, but.....I could still probably do it if things came down to that, if that's what ya wanted.

[He mutters this awkwardly under his breath, not fully sure why he's even saying it. As a healer, he's more than familiar enough with basic anatomy to make figuring out a quick, relatively painless way to end someone's life a frighteningly simple matter.....but the thought of having to do that to Severa is almost too horrible to be tolerated. It's just that, should the worst indeed come to pass, he wants to honor her last wishes, even should they include the request to have her life be ended by his hands.

.....

Silence from her is rare, and in this particular situation, not a relief in the slightest. Someone not quite so maladjusted might take this as an opportunity to draw Severa into a hug, but Brady just hesitantly rests one hand upon her shoulder in what he hopes is a comforting gesture.]

[ It's not very comforting, but the thought is appreciated only because she doesn't pull away. She's never noticed before how much strength he has in his grip or maybe that's just the weight of a tired man looking for rest? ]

Maybe if you could just tell me how to do it instead.

[ Her voice is barely above a whisper, but does it need to be any louder when he's this close? ]

[A nervous shifting of his weight from foot to foot.]

Uh, well......I can show ya where to use the knife, I guess. Bleeding out wouldn't be the quickest way to go, but you'd lose consciousness pretty fast. [He swallows hard.] Should be less painful than drinking whatever's in that bottle.

You think so?

[ He would know better than she. All she's used to doing is cutting up monsters to ensure they won't get back up. The thought of cutting herself to bleed to death twists her insides up so much that she's grabbing at her stomach with her free hand. ]

Gods, this is really sick. I'm getting sick just thinking about it and you're over there calm as can be!

I ain't calm! [It's not as though he's detached from the situation — it's a struggle just to keep his voice level while discussing such a bleak outcome.] I don't like it any more than you do. It's just.....ya did ask.

You're very calm about the matter! [ Sniff. ]

I bet you're just relieved that I'm going to do it all on my own if I have to and that's why you're not freaking out. What if I said you had to help me, then what, you big crybaby?!

[Somehow, miracle of miracles, he resists throwing both hands up in the air. That particular breaking limit has not yet been reached.]

I wouldn't be any damn good to ya as a blubberin' mess, that's why! [And yet tears are welling up again anyway, already on the brink of falling. Blame her bringing up that deeply unsettling possibility.] And of course I'm gonna help ya if it comes to that! What, d'you think I'd turn my back on ya or something?!