driftfleet | ( #004 )

Who: Hermione Granger and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Vanquish
When: Today!

[ The feed starts out with Hermione sitting on her bed, looking absolutely miserable. It's obvious that she hasn't slept, not really, and when she speaks her voice is quiet and, more than anything, sad. ]

Cisco isn't here anymore. [ She's lost people before, but she never gets used to it. It's never fair, and it's not right. It's not right that you get to be this close to people and then they get taken away from you. ] I don't think he's the only one that's gone this time, but it's - I don't think it's my place to talk about anyone else.

[ She's doing this because Cisco was her partner, after all. Her boyfriend. She'd been so happy.

I'm not sure what's left in his lab, but - I didn't want to touch anything. I'm sorry for anyone that knew him, but... He's probably happier at home, so it's okay in the end.

[ The feed cuts off, abruptly, because she didn't want to think about it anymore - it was easier to just turn it off and put the device to one side and pretend for a little while. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He didn't know Cisco, but he can see this is hurting Hermione, and she's Good People. If he can do anything at all to ease that hurt, he will. His tone is a little more gentle than his usual exuberance. ]

I am sorry for his leaving, ma cherie. Is there anything I can do to help you? Company? A listening ear? A naughty limerick?

[ Hermione's voice is soft and quiet, but she does manage to reply and try her best at a smile. ]

It's alright. I think he'd be happy to be home. [ All the same... It still hurts. ] I don't think there's much that can be done. I just... Need time?

[It breaks his heart, it really does. She doesn't deserve this. ]

Does he at least have good things to go back to? Some happiness in his life? Not that it makes your hurt any less, of course.

Time heals all, they say.

[He doesn't sound convinced by that. ]

I think so. He had some very good friends and something he was passionate about. He'll be happier at home than he was here.

[ But... She does her best to smile, and holds up her book. ]

I'm reading to... Pass the time.

Then that is something at least- to know he is going back to something that will make him happy. There is a little less weight to it, no?

[Aw, he returns the smile. Belle really would like her a lot.]

That is a good idea. A little escape into another world for a while.

It makes it easier, definitely. I want him to be happy, more than anything else.

[ Which soothes her hurt, but doesn't make it disappear - what would? ]

If only there were more books here.

That is a healthy attitude to take. I am sure he would appreciate it.

[It sure doesn't take away the hurt, nothing does. Loss is a horrible beast. ]

Do you come across them in other worlds? Or are other planets not as fond of the written word?

I'd like to think so. He wouldn't want me to be miserable.

[ But she'll learn to live with it. She'll move on, even if she'll never forget him; she's had to do it before, after all. ]

I've had some that I've taken from the library and some from other planets, but I go through them quite quickly.

Of course he wouldn't. And you never know, you might see him again. The world works in mysterious ways. Worlds?

[He'll just throw his ceaseless optimism at her, that'll help, right? ]

You're very much a bookworm, then. Well, perhaps we will be fortunate and find a planet full of books for you to bring with you.

...We have a library here?

Maybe if I end up back in the Drabwurld he could show up there... Or maybe not. Winn said he was working on a way to help us all find each other.

[ But he's gone, too, and who knows if he'll even remember this place at home? She has no idea if it works like that. ]

It's very small, but there's one on the Iskaulit. I'm doing my best to help make it bigger.

That is no surprise. Winn is a very determined fellow. He has a very sharp mind. I would put good money on him finding a way to rescue us.

[Like seriously, Lumiére understood about 10% of what the guy was talking about at any one time. Still, hope is something Lumiére could give away in spades. It's a necessity. ]

Merveilleux! We have an enormous library back in the castle. The mademoiselle loves it a lot. I will have to pay this one a visit.

He is. I wouldn't be at all surprised if I went back to the Drabwurld and he turned up to drag me away to where he's from.

[ Which she would be hesitant to accept, but... If she could go between them would she? She considers it - but it's not a reality yet. She can't dwell on it. ]

Oh, she does? I'm jealous! I want the one on the Iskaulit to get bigger but it's so hard when there's only a few of us.

Once you know how to break into one world, the others should be a piece of cake, no?

[Lumiére knows for sure he wants to get the heck back home. But if he could bring a cure for the curse back with him, something obtained from anywhere else, he would do it in a heartbeat. ]

Well, if I come across any books on my travels, I will send them your way.

It doesn't matter if it's science or magic. I'd like to think we're going to be able to figure it out somehow.

[ But it's not... Easy. It's not just going to be magically okay, and... It's painful. But she's trying. ]

That's - thank you. It means a lot to me.

It is a case of learning how to outsmart out captors, I would imagine.

[Be smarter than them. Trick them, if needed. ]

Think nothing of it, ma cherie. If it brings a smile to your face, I would do it every time.

Exactly. I think we'd all enjoy a little more of that knowledge.

[ But, aw. She softens, leaning closer to the camera. ]

Then it means even more to me, Lumiére. Thank you.

Even a few answers would be nice to have, no?

[Not that Lumiére is particularly unhappy about being here. After so long of being cooped up in the castle, being able to talk to people from the outside world again is like a breath of fresh air. But, ultimately, he knows he needs to get back home, face whatever fate has in store for him. They can only do that by figuring out what the Atroma are up to.

He gives her a little wink.]

You are very welcome, mon trésor.

Exactly. Just... Something.

[ There are definitely perks to being part of the fleet, of course, and she'd never have met half of her friends if she hadn't turned up here, but at the same time... ]

I wish there was more.

A little fruit for all your labour.

Perhaps one day, we will find more answers. It stands to reason they have to be around somewhere.

At least someone understands. [ But... He's right. ] We just have to try and be subtle about it.

[Wow, he has the subtlety of a flung housebrick. This is absolutely not something he can help in. ]

Be careful of their prying ears, no?

Something like that. I'm not an expert on all this science, though, so there's not much I can do about it other than not shout it out loud.

You and me both! I wouldn't be able to understand it even if I wanted to.

( #004 )

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