WATCHING HER DRIFT AWAY ☆ joining

[VANDAL R.]

Vandal likes him enough, she thinks. He entertains her curious questions and responds without malice, without annoyance—genuine, they call it, genuine and friendly. She has always appreciated having a warm soul around on the island, even when her own disposition isn't always so. Yes, she assures herself, they might get along. She's spent far too much time mourning those she has lost that, perhaps, it's time she spends more time appreciating those that she hasn't, and maybe make some new connections along the way. It's a risk, but it's a risk worth taking. None of her family would surely want her to live any other way.

"Yes," she responds with an enthusiastic nod of her head. "'M Goldie's aunt, actually! I've known'er since she was younger. She's somethin' else, isn' she?" If anybody asks her what the best thing about coming back is, it's certainly getting to see  Goldie grow older. Goldie has always had a special place in the fiend's heart, dark and bitter and shriveled up as it might be, and to see her fighting, to see her breathing, to see her smiling—something sharp stabs at her chest, and her gaze momentarily flickers skyward. She wonders if Pincher is out there.

She wonders if Pincher can see them now.

"Sometimes I wish I can wrap around her, y'know? Keep all th'bad things away, like those Pitt-ifuls?" She smiles wickedly at the thinly-veiled but twice as cheesy insult, waving a gleaming tail towards the Tangler, now part Crewmate. "But she's never wanted to be trea'ed as anything lesser; she's strong, tha' one. You and her are friends, I'm assuming? I'm sure you can see tha' too."

She smiles at him, then, softer than her features have ever allowed her to be. It takes a second for her grin to turn wicked again, as it often is, but there's a sheen of warmth there too, a puff of pride, a sprinkling of acknowledgement. "Well now, today isn't Goldie Appreciation Day, as much as I want everyday t'be. Why don't'cha come on in, make yourself at home, yeah?"