driftfleet | ( #003 )

Entry tags:

( #003 )

Who: Hermione Granger and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the Vanquish
When: 30/11 onwards

I think it might be time for me to ask for a little bit of advice.

I've been here a while, now, and I'm normally very good at not missing people. I used to give people tips on how to feel better about it, and it used to work for me, too, back when I was in the Drabwurld and there was a war to focus on. I would go and look in the library, but I can't imagine there's much of a help section there - dreadful, honestly - so.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to cheer yourself up, I'd be glad to hear it.

(Also: I have potions for all the ships on the fleet, now. If you'd like a set for your Lab, please let me know and I can bring them over!)

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[ She's a little startled by the knock on her door, but she pushes herself up without much hesitation, shifting to nudge Crookshanks off her lap and go to answer it. If it was someone she didn't wan tot see he'd have warned her, somehow, and for now she's happy to unlock it - and brighten a little when she sees Hawke. ]

Wolfe, hello - and Pounce, too!

I was informed you needed some cheering up.

[He smiles, still in the black vest and dress shirt with rolled up sleeves that constitutes his work attire, though now it's a fair bit more orange thanks to Pounce shedding all over him. Pounce, for his part, starts purring up a storm when he sees Hermione, ears alter and leaning his head forward towards her.]

Anders, right?

[ Reaching up, she strokes her fingers over Pounce's head gently even as Crookshanks perks up, realising that there's another cat nearby. The purring captivates her for a moment before she realises she's being rude. ]

Oh, please, come in.

[At her invitation, Adalwolfe steps inside, unconcerned that she had him standing at the door for a long moment to pet Pounce. Pounce has that effect on people.]

I also brought a little something. I've been keeping these for a rainy day but considering it doesn't rain in space, putting a smile on your face is a better use.

[He reaches into one of the zipper pockets on his coveralls, one that looks suspiciously rectangular and rigid, and produces a small, matte black box with 'ChocoXO' in gloss letters on its surface and wrapped in a thin green ribbon.]

Nothing like alien chocolate to make life a bit brighter, right? Let's split them and you can tell me what's got you so down.

[ Crookshanks hops up and off the bed, curling around Wolfe's feet as he watches, eyes definitely beady. ]

You didn't have to...

[ But she leans over to look at the chocolate, her features softening even as she fights her grin. ]

Come in and sit down, then. I can't promise it'll be that quick.

Who said anything about quick?

[He finds himself a place to sit - the floor, if necessary, as he's not about to sit uninvited on a lady's bed. His mother did teach him manners, after all - and slides the ribbon off of the box to promptly tie around Crookshanks' neck loosely if the cat will sit still long enough. Pounce certainly won't, far more interested in climbing over to Hermione and making a shawl of himself around her neck. All the better to rub his head against her face.]

I'm here as long as you need me to be here. Now have a sweet and tell me who I have to punch for upsetting you.

[He offers the now-open box of chocolates with a soft grin, knowing he's probably not actually going to be sent to beat anyone up for her honor or otherwise, but his friends have always all tended to find it endearing that he's willing to resort to violence so readily for their sakes. He doesn't expect Hermione to be any different.]

You'll fall asleep halfway through.

[ Hermione just shakes her head, tugging at Hawke so he can settle down beside her on the bed. She doesn't care - she's curled up with Dorian and Gilgamesh and John and Mako and all kinds of other people before now and she knows that she can trust Hawke. He's a big brother more than anything else and she knows he's all kinds of taken; definitely not anything like a threat. Crookshanks, meanwhile, protests slightly, rolling around as the ribbon is tied - until Hermione rubs at his head, her other hand stroking Pounce. ]

No one's upset me, really, Hawke, honestly. I think I'm just... Realising how long it's been since I was home, and the last person I knew from the Drabwurld has left the fleet and gone back to her world. I'll never see her again.

[ Looking down at the chocolates, she picks one up and begins to fiddle with it idly before realising it's melting, popping it into her mouth. ]

[He looks mock-affronted at his insinuation that he'd fall asleep in the middle of her baring her soul, then lets himself be tugged up to the bed to promptly throw an arm around her shoulders so she can nestle into his side. For being innately talented with ice and cold, he certainly radiates body heat.]

Ah. Yeah, that's difficult to deal with. But there's nothing that says you'll never see her again, I think that's being maybe a bit hyperbolic.

[He takes one of the chocolates for himself, one of the pink pixelated cubes, and pops it in his mouth.]

[ It's impossible for Hermione not to shift and settle herself against Hawke, closing her eyes and breathing out for a moment. It reminds her of settling down with Dorian or John, the warm comfort of family and friendship that makes some of the sadness melt away from her before she's even started. He has no idea how something as simple as his companionship can heal her. ]

When I leave here I'll end up going back to the Drabwurld, hopefully, and if not then my own world. She doesn't exist in my world, and she's already left the Drabwurld. It feels a little impossible.

[He does, a little. Adalwolfe thrives on companionship and approval. He's not happy unless he's got a wide circle of friends, all ready to get up to wacky hijinks or lay around and do nothing. He craves the approval that comes with having friends; people who choose to be family. He needs to be needed, to have his place in the world validated by those who actually demonstrate they want him around.]

I don't think it's impossible. I mean, we were pulled here and you were dragged to Drabwurld in the first place. It's clearly magic, too. So what's stopping an enterprising mage like yourself from figuring out the spell? I'll even help, if you'd like. I'm not much a fan of space, but now that I've found another little sister it's not as if I'm about to let you away so easily even if we do find ways back to our homes. Traversing universes can't be all that hard if more than one nefarious body from separate realities can do it.

[Which is a very glib way to approach the topic but there's a sort of logic to it.]

[ The worlds settle down in Hermione's mind and she breathes out for a moment, quiet and thoughtful. She lets herself think and wonder and she gives herself the time to wrap her mind around it all, the different worlds and the magic and her part in it, the knowledge of little sister and the ache it brings to her head, the way she wants to reach out and take his hand and not let go for fear of losing him. ]

It was my Shard. That's what brought me to the Drabwurld - it was part of a great big gem that was broken, and each little Shard went out and made it's own little world, and people in those worlds were born with a part of it inside them. There was a chance, when we freed a lot of gems and made a wish, to go home - and my friend, Remus, he did go home. He had a son and a wife and family to go back to, but I chose to stay in the Drabwurld. I couldn't go back, not... Not as I was.

[ Scarred and different and changed. Hermione thinks a lot on the person she had been when she first woke up in the Drabwurld and the person she is now; she touches the scar on her face, on her neck, traces the marks until her fingers dig into her forearm, the familiar mudblood still heavy on her consciousness. ]

Maybe it's not the same for Katsa, and - I want to see her again. I want to see her, and John, and Nico, and Dorian. I even want to see Gilgamesh again, and he was a complete nightmare. I want to figure it out, but right now I don't... I don't feel strong enough.

[He watches her, watches her fingers move, gouging even with their gentle touch, not physically but mentally. Emotionally. He knows what this is, he's done it himself. Apostate. Malificar. Mages aren't people...

Adalwolfe slips his hand under hers as she curls her fingers into her forearm, protecting her from herself, interposing himself as a shield. Protection. He closes his fingers around hers, just holding them steadily.]

You have time. If you want it, you'll find the strength when you're ready. Until then, for as much good as it will do, you have me. You have us, here, in the Fleet.

[He pulls her into him a little, pressing a soft, fraternal kiss to the side of her head.]

We'll be strong for you when you can't be. I have some practice at that.

[He laughs softly at his private little joke.]

[ She didn't even realise what she was doing, not really, so the hand in her own startles her for a moment before she lets herself grasp his, relaxing for a brief second. It's enough, she thinks; it's enough, enough, more than enough because he's here and everything else can just fade away for a moment.

Tilting her head up, she watches Hawke, a small smile appearing on her lips before she nods her head. ]

You're too good to me, really. Far too kind.

[ There are cats around her and her big brother at her side and she can't quite imagine anything else that's quite this comforting, other than her father's arms. ]

I can be strong for you, too, you know.

It's less than you deserve.

[He pops another chocolate in his mouth then raises an eyebrow at her. It takes him a moment to chew and swallow before he can actually respond.]

I know.

[Adalwolfe smiles softly, touched that she'd even offer; he knows these things go both ways but it always melts his already soft heart to hear it said aloud.]

But I get the feeling you've been strong for a lot of people for a long time. Let yourself get taken care of for a change, alright? It does wonders. I've got Anders to take care of me, I'm alright. I promise you that.

[His smile turns a bit more into a grin.]

And you've got Cisco from what I hear. Is that right?

You're just flattering me again.

[ But Hermione says it fondly, leaning close and resting against him without pause. There's a softness that settles around her that she can't escape and it makes her happy.

Tilting her head up, though, she watches, hesitant. ]

Maybe. I'm not unhappy all the time, though. Not really.

[ And then she flushes. ]

Something like that.

You do realize that you now have to tell me everything, don't you?

[His grin grows wider, taking the blush across her face to mean this is certainly something that makes her happy and therefore something to dwell on.]

About me and - why?

[ Why would a big brother want to know? ]

Because it's my duty to pass judgement on anyone who wants your hand, obviously.

[That's entirely a joke. Maybe. Possibly.]

He's not asking for my hand!

It's just an expression! And besides, you don't know if he might later. As your big brother it is my solemn duty to know everything so I can step in if necessary.

[There's a twinkle in his eye despite the very serious tone he's adopted. Clearly he is having the most fun teasing her.]

I don't think we're even going to consider that sort of thing, especially since the last time I was proposed to it was a complete nightmare!

[ Uhm. ]

The last time?

[Ok, there's some explaining to do. Adalwolfe was just teasing, not actually saying that Cisco should propose. If anything, because of what they'd been talking about, it may not be a good idea to get that far in general with someone not from your world, but the amount of near-panic in her demeanor has him putting on a more serious face.]

Is this something I should know about?

I, um.

[ Her hand twitches and then, unconsciously, goes to the ring around her neck before she breathes out. ]

A man named Gilgamesh proposed to me in the Drabwurld, a few years ago.

Oh.

[Because really, what else do you say to that?]

Did, uh... well you have a ring, but...

[He had no idea you were married, Hermione. Although, considering her calling it a nightmare and being in a relationship with Cisco now, that can't have been good. But she's holding onto the ring? It is a very nice ring, of course, but Adalwolfe never pegged her as keeping things because of their monetary value...]

I think you might need to start at the beginning.

I didn't say yes, of course, he was a complete prat.

[ She sours a little, but... But. All the things she's learned about Gilgamesh here - from Caster, from Katsa - doesn't make all the things she felt for him before just disappear. ]

He was a type of being called a Servant, and Servants need a Master to be able to survive properly most of the time. This wasn't true in the Drabwurld, the monarchs helped them out with that, but Gilgamesh still wanted a strong Master to help him fight someone called Saber who had been poisoned from the Holy Grail War. He wanted to marry me so that he would have the power to fight Saber.

[ She twists her fingers around the ring before she drops it completely. ]

I would never have said yes, no matter how much he asked. I'd like to marry someone who really loved me, not someone who played at it.

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