driftfleet | the veil is thin . . .

Entry tags:

the veil is thin . . .

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He finds her just as she's leaving another group. He'd seen her here and there, but there was too much to do and too many people to try and say anything. They each had their work to do.

He wasn't long for the surface, more and more people were coming to the station and a lot of them were injured in some way. He'd already handed out all of the provisions he'd managed to make and store up in the meager time he'd been back, but it would be enough to keep people alive until they were actually tended to.

But a lot of his friends and loved ones were helping with the evacuation and he had to do his part to help them too. If he didn't and something went wrong...well, he'd still probably blame himself even now, but he had to try.

Besides, the citizens weren't the only ones who could get hurt. He knew her and he knew her work ethic was practically a match to his own, she'd be exhausting herself to shreds for certain. They both already were.]

Hermione! A moment.

[He approached her, all business and that furrow between his brows that said he was more concerned than he was allowing himself to show.]

How're you holding up?

[ Hermione is busy, swept off her feet with it, mostly because she demanded it of herself. She was used to working in cases of extremity and emergency and she knows what to do to handle herself - she knows what to do to make sure that she can do the best to help people. What's important is that she can do something, and that means her own tiredness means nothing. It's better that she can help people.

Still, she is tired, and it's starting to show. She's wearing thin, she's feeling down, and there are circles under her eyes. What she needs is a break, just for half an hour or so, but she can't quite find the will to do it. She can't find the strength to stop herself from pushing just a little more - just another ten minutes, time and time again.

Still, there's no way she can ignore Anders when he's right there and she beams, turning her head up to look at him, expression gentling into something fond and soft. ]

I'm alright. There's still so many people to get out, though, and I'm not sure how many more portkeys I can make.

[ Reaching out, she touches her hand to his arm. ]

And you? Are you okay?

[She reaches out to him his expression softens for a moment, the 'mission' face falling for a moment when it was just the two of them. He's already scrapped the bottom of his mana pool more than once, jumping back into the work as soon as he'd rejuvenated enough to use without passing out. He'd pass out by the end, he was sure of it, this was the kind of exaustion like after a plague swept through Lowtown and Darktown or when one of the sewer tunnels collapsed and injured so many of Darktown's populace, he'd been up to his elbows in blood for a week and had nearly slept the entirety of the next one. This would be like that. They would all need the rest afterwards.]

I'll live.

[But, for now, they needed to keep going, as much as he wished he could tell her she'd done enough, these people needed her gifts and they both knew it.

His hand came up to her forehead, the gentle blue glow surrounding his hand a moment later as is magic rushed through her. Healing for the aches and pains and exhaustion, his ever-constant Panacea aura to calm and a touch of Haste to pick her up again.]

We're not nearly done, these people need everything we can give them.

[ The two of them together are softer, she thinks, than when they're in their helping mode. It's hard not to put on a tough face and press on when the rest of the world is singing around you, desperate for help and support, and Hermione knows well enough just how much a confident figure can help people in the midst of panic. It makes her feel even more exhausted when she relaxes, though, leaning against him and breathing out, feeling a weight in her chest. She needs to stop soon, she thinks, but she can't, not when people still need her. ]

That's not the sort of optimism I was hoping for.

[ It makes her smile, though, as does the gentle warmth of his magic. Reaching properly, Hermione moves to thread her fingers with his, anxious for the comfort of being close to someone she trusts and knows will keep her safe if she collapses under herself. ]

I'm going to make some more portkeys and then make sure they have enough food and water. I can duplicate that and it should last for a while.

[He chuckles and pets her hair as the glow fades.]

My apologies.

[Her fingers curl in his and he clutches back, more than willing to give her every ounce of support she needs.]

That sounds like a good plan. I'll be heading up to the station soon, there are injured up there who will need healing as well.

We'll get through this, I promise. It's just likely to get worse before it gets better. Promise me you'll think of yourself as well, I don't want to see you hurt.

I think I can forgive you.

[ Which is true; she has no end to her patience when it comes to Anders and she's more than happy to forgive him for something silly. At least it means she can cuddle close and hold onto him, and when she tilts her head up she looks a little less exhausted. ]

I can come with you and help, if you like, or I can give you some of my potions to take with you. I'm not sure how much they'll trust my magic.

[ But, ah. Her nose wrinkles and she raises an eyebrow. ]

Will you be thinking about yourself too, Anders?

You can come, if you'd like. They'll have to get over whatever fears or prejudices they might have if they want our help, I'm not going to let some civilian's superstitions waste mine or anyone else's time.

[At least, if she were up there with him, he'd know she was safe and within reach, unlike so many others he cared for still corralling natives.

But her question has him casting his eyes to the side; a tell he couldn't shake when it came to lying directly to someone whose feelings and opinions he held in high regard.]

I will. After it's all done.

[His eyes found hers again and he smiled.]

I'll need all my time to think about my patients until then.

How about you finish what you were doing, the 'portkeys?' Then come up with me to help with supplies and injuries.

I think I'm finished here, so I'd be happy to go with you, Anders. I think people learn to adjust their priorities when it comes to situations like this, so maybe it won't be as bad as I'm expecting.

[ She's used to some wariness when it comes to her magic, but most people had come to accept it. There were very few people in the world that were completely against her being a witch now, and she tended to play nice with most of those.

Still, she gives him a look, shaking her head and moving to squeeze his hand. ]

I'll be keeping an eye on you, you know.

[ But they're both grown ups, she thinks, and they can survive this. So, for now - ]

I need to do about four more and then I'll be done. Shall I just come and find you?

I suppose I can't stop you.

[He couldn't decide if he felt better for the thought she'd be keeping an eye on him or if he rather wished he could simply vanish off her radar entirely. With exception to Hawke, he was still getting used to the idea of having people around who cared about him these days. Not that he hadn't done it to himself, but it was still an open wound.

But he smiled at her all the same, tired and grateful and full of affection.]

Sounds good. I'll be at the landing zone for the shuttles, there's still a couple more people I need to check in with before we head up.

You can always message me through the devices if we miss each other or you need something.

[ It's easy to focus on caring for other people, and Hermione thinks that she and Anders have that in common, among all the other things. The deep fondness she feels for him is obvious on her face as she reaches up to touch his shoulder, just letting herself look at him for a moment.

He really is back, isn't he? Hermione still can't quite wrap her mind around the fact that he remembered her. ]

I'll see you back on the main shuttle. Be safe, okay?

[His affection is clear on his face as well as he takes her hand and squeezes it tight. Maker, she meant a lot to him, to both he and Wolfe, he knew. He couldn't even begin to explain how grateful he'd been to see she was still here and still herself.

He hoped she knew, at least a bit.]

You too. I'll see you later.

[Right now, they needed to keep working. They were both good at that.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

the veil is thin . . .

Evacuation

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject