My Cup of Tea

"By the sound of it, he was telling me just how necessary he was to your existence and that this was something I couldn't possibly understand." Vai didn't look up at her daughter, the chafing from her interaction with Kalt still too fresh for her to even contemplate looking at it through a different lens. At Ashe's confession - that she wouldn't be here if not for the know-it-all little gobshite - Vai clenched her fists and let Chunk pad away to oversee the tavern as was his feline right. She blinked quickly, inhaling a shaky breath and letting it out again. "I don't know how," she said slowly, "but you do have to talk about it, Ashe. You can't just choose someone who has shared trauma so you don't have to talk about it. That's unhealthy for both of you. The fact that you don't need to explain yourself to him, something that would help you heal and move past it, is exactly why it's toxic." Shaking her head, she straightened up from the bar and turned away again, pretending to arrange bottles to keep her hands busy. "Ashe, you come here telling me how worthless your life is and how you're no good for anyone and you really expect me to see this guy you're living with as a good influence?" Her laughter was humourless, and she let her hands rest flat on the counter. "He can continue to not go anywhere a million miles away from where I am, then," she said simply. "I'm sorry you disappeared again too, Ashe. And I'll be sorry the next time, and the time after that. Just... go home, please. Wherever that is for you." vervain touch-a touch-a touch me I wanna be dirty