"Better." 

Eva reaches up with her less-injured right hand and squeezes Sable's arm.

"I want to remember this. Promise you'll tell me if the stars don't work?"

She nods softly, resting her hand atop Eva's. "Will do. I'll try to level us out gentle when we get to the surface, make it easy on you back here. You just hang on, stick it out a couple minutes longer."

"Mhm."

She doesn't say anything else.

Sable dashes back to the cockpit, hops into the seat, and watches anxiously for the surface. A minute or two later, the ship breaches the waves, rolling ahead into the sky. Sable's already dialing the throttle back, though, and pitching the attitude control back down, easing out to level as smoothly as she can, before finally parking in the sky. She locks the parking brakes, gets up, and sprints for the lounge.

"Eva?"

She has her eyes closed and is still lying on the couch. Her breathing is hitched and shallow, and sounds wrong, like there's fluid in her lungs. 

She opens her eyes and meets Sable's gaze, but seems too out of it to speak. 

Sable's not thrilled with that, but at least she's conscious. Ish. "Just hold on, sweetie." She gently scoops Eva up into another princess carry, and carefully carries her to the door, then steps out onto the balcony. There's a clear view of the sky.

She sighs softly as the light hits her. 

It feels comforting. 

The pain is less. 

"Thank you."

It's a beautiful starry night. Dark and sweet and gentle. 

There don't seem to be sirens nearby.

"Gladly," Sable murmurs back. "Gladly, Eva. Lemme know if you wanna stand, but otherwise I'm content to just hold you here as long as you like."

"... feel safer being held." 

She leans into Sable, trying to be a lighter burden to her.

"Glad to hear it." She smiles softly, blushing a bit.

She's helping. And making her new friend feel safe.

You've totally got a crush, Hailey teases her.

It certainly does look that way, Maya adds.

Ruby can't help but chime in as well. Mhm!

Neo as well.

As if y'all don't, Sable jabs back.

They all just settle for holding Eva close, cheeks flushed.

Eventually, Eva's thoughts get less jumbled, and she's able to focus and think...

"— Sable?"

She nuzzles in.

"I think I have something for this in the stone cavern place. It'd be safer. For the longer term recovery. I'm pretty sure I won't die now."