driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Caster, everyone, and one unfortunate victim.
Broadcast: Text! Anonymous text. She's so sneaky.
Action: On the Vanquish!
When: Backdated to yesterday, the 19th!

[Bright and early in the morning, there's an anonymous text post flagged as urgent to the network. Does the network even have urgent flags? It apparently does now. Magic is great.]

ATTENTION, FLEET:
Today is the birthday of an incredibly amazing and talented person! The Vanquish's very own Hermione Granger!
It seems like she's keeping it secret, because she's humble along with everything else, but that won't do at all! People of importance have to be recognized!
So, be sure to shower her plenty of love and praise today, and also gifts! Birthday presents are important too!
All celebrators are to come to the Vanquish immediately!
This is how birthdays work, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Hermione pauses, struck, for a moment, before she breathes out. ]

No. Maybe - maybe you can't. But at least they're here, and not somewhere else where you can't see them or help them.

. . . Is that really better? One's help isn't always necessary. Or needed.

Maybe it's not necessary, and maybe they don't need it, but they might want it all the same. Or... Or maybe they need something to ground them, to make things easier.

[ She shakes her head, pursing her lips as she pots around making tea. ]

It's not the best, being here. But at least they're here with someone that loves them.

[ Is he? Charles wonders. Erik doesn't want to be here. He didn't want that even before they had their comas. Not that it matters. Nothing before or after seems to matter. Except for Erik's well-being. ]

No. We all have to make do.

It's easier for some people more than others.

[ Sitting down for a moment, Hermione just... Stops. ]

I don't really know how to explain it. It's... Not that you choose to accept it, maybe, perhaps it's more that you just... Do? You don't have another option. We can't go home from here, so... We try to manage.

[ He nods. ]

While I agree, I think it's also important that we're conscious of those choices and it's something we believe in more than just something we do.

Oh, yes, of course. Everything we do is a choice. I learned the hard way what consequences choices can bring.

[ Memories of literal starvation and exhaustion to the point of passing out flicker through her mind before she shakes her head. ]

It's just hard to balance being there for someone and smothering them.

[ This, Charles thinks bleakly, is not a conversation I'm prepared for. Still, he remains placid on the topic. ]

It certainly is, but I'm sure you'll manage.

[ Hermione pauses for a moment before she shakes her head, shrugging a shoulder. ]

I will. And - and that's fine. And we're okay, so we don't need to talk about this anymore. I could show you something interesting instead.

[ He smiles. ]

I'd like that.

Okay, watch this.

[ She moves, tugging the screw that Erik had given her months and months ago from around her neck before she shifts, pressing it into the palm of her hand. When she lets go, it stays there, stuck. ]

[ He stares at it. ]

It's . . . magnetized.

A gift from the Atroma.

[ She smiles, definitely shy and uncertain. ]

I already showed Erik. This is nothing compared to him, of course - I'm like... a fridge.

[ He grins back. ]

It's still fascinating. I had no idea you could gain abilities that way.

I have another one, too. I can calm people down - when I'm giving them potions or medicine. I just help them relax.

[ Her fingers wrap around the screw and she holds it gently. It's obviously important to her even if it's tiny and silly. ]

It helps with people who don't like magic.

It sounds like you've chosen useful abilities to keep and hone.

[ He wonders what others are there. ] I didn't know people weren't fond of magic.

I miss my healing magic from the Drabwurld. It was amazing, I could just make a bubble and fix hurts.

[ She pauses, though, before she nods. ]

There was a man who messed around with his augment - he didn't like witches. And... Well, a friend of mine doesn't trust magic.

[ He nods quietly. ]

People are quick to pass judgement. I try not to hold it against them.

No, I know. I don't blame them, really. I just wish it wasn't like this - because I am my magic. Maybe I'm too used to being trusted.

. . . I wish I knew what it was like. To be trusted. Ten years at the school has helped me in that regard. Time here has helped too, a little.

[ She looks over, expression hesitant for a moment before she shifts closer. ]

I trust you. Nothing has changed that.

[ He smiles. ]

I know it hasn't. Otherwise I wouldn't have spoken of it. It's enough that some people do, than it is to look at the ones who don't.

It's hard to remember sometimes. It hurts when people reject you, but... there are going to be people who will.

[ She softens, bowing her head to look at the mess of dog tags and charms around her neck. ]

The people you love and who love you... They're the ones that you should look to.

[ He nods. ]

It will always be hard, but thankfully, we're better than that.

[ Hermione wants to ask and say so many things, but she knows it's not the time. She might be tired of being the one holding things together, the one that has to be better, be good, haunted by her past and her mistakes, but she can't voice it. Instead, she sips her tea and nods her head, looking over at Charles with a fondness she can't hide. ]

... I've missed talking to you, you know. I hope you're a little more settled in now.