Chapter Text
Sabine was heading through Cindersap Forest after a late night fishing bout on the beach. No matter what she did, she couldn’t get that damnable squid. At least Willie was willing to buy her ‘rejects’. She was about ready to give it up and go back to the mines.
She slowed as she saw a light on the dock illuminating a figure. Shane. He’d always been a bit abrasive to her, but as she got closer she saw what looked like sadness.
“Hey there!” Sabine called out. Shane startled, nearly dropping his beer.
“Sabine?” he asked, peering out into the darkness.
“Yeah.” The purple-haired girl smiled as she approached the dock. “Guess you can’t be that peeved at me; you remember my name.”
“Heh. You’re up late. In winter even.”
“I’m always up late,” she admitted, taking a seat on the edge of the docks. “Lots of stuff to do, people to see. Could say the same about you, by the way.”
Shane nodded, taking another sip of beer. “Here. Have one.” He tossed a can over to her which she caught easily. “Helps take the edge off of the cold.”
They sat there for a little while in silence, Sabine holding her beer, Shane sipping on his. He still had that lonely look on his face that had her wondering what was going on. Finally it became too much for her.
“You okay?” Sabine asked.
He sighed, a wry look climbing over his face. “You ever feel like...no matter what you do, you're always gonna fail?” he asked quietly, thumb stroking the condensation on the beer can. “Like you're stuck in some miserable abyss and you're so deep you can't even see the light of day?”
Sabine thought for a few moments. “Yeah. I’ve been there,” she replied, looking over at him.
Shane swallowed. “"I just feel like no matter how hard I try... I'm not strong enough to climb out of that hole."
“Sometimes you need help,” Sabine said before downing the beer in one go. “Sometimes you can’t do it alone.”
“Heh. You make it sound easy.”
She shook her head. “Not easy at all. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Still doing, in fact,” she admitted.
“You? Ms. Watch-Me-Sweep-The-Fall-Festival, Ice Fisher Extraordinaire?” he asked.
She smiled, starting to feel the alcohol take effect.
“Yeah. Me. Me who got turned down at the Spring Festival for dancing because no one knew me. Me who spends time in the mines because it’s easier to deal with the loneliness down in the dark and the monsters than it is to try to talk to people some days. Less likely to run into folks too.”
“Huh.” Shane shook his head. “Woman after my own heart.”
“You ever want to come with me and explore a bit, let me know.” Sabine stood, wobbling a little unsteadily. “I should get home before I get myself lost and someone has to come tuck me in.”
“Heh.” Shane nodded slightly. “Might take you up on that offer one of these days. Have a good night, Sabine.”
“You too, Shane. You too.”