Ruby takes a moment to just stare at the pattern Mabel's made and she let's herself make the smallest hints of a smile. Honestly she was just glad she hadn't completely shattered Mabel in any way with what she had to witness. Ruby knew she was safe and alive, but she wanted to be sure that she was still Mabel at the end of the day. Seeing that gave her a bit of reassurance despite how awful she felt.

She sees the sadness in her eyes and that does make the fain smile falter a touch and she moves to plop down on the ground beside her younger friend. Her hands find the ground behind her as she sits back.

"That's good. Just- Take it a day at a time." She pauses briefly as the question is tossed back her way. Normally she might put on a brave face and try to smile it off. That was the leaders job after all, to carry the burden for those around her. But she didn't want to do that to Mabel- Not when she saw so much of herself in Mabel. That responsibility wasn't hers to bear and Ruby wouldn't want her to take on the trait just because it seemed good.

"Kind of. Not really. It's complicated." She said simply and honestly. "I feel awful about what happened. How you and Oscar were hurt. What happened to Dipper." Her silver eye moves to meet Mabel's after a hesitating pause.

"But... I did what I had to do. I did my job. I protected the people I care about and I'd do it all over again if I had to."