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

[Barry would normally be more sympathetic in a situation like this, but he's still reeling from his arrival from the fleet to begin with. So when he sees this message from Hermione, he reacts as Barry reacts to most things.

Not well.]

What do you mean he's not here anymore?

[ Hermione stares into the camera, a blankness on her face, before she breathes out. ]

He's gone home.

[There's a rough exhale as his face falls forward into his hands, trying to just roll with this punch, though that's getting harder by the second.]

They can do that? People can just ... disappear?

We don't decide when we come here or when we go home. It's all about the Atroma. [ But... ] Did - were you close?

[There's a deep breath as he leans back and nods.]

Yeah. He's my best friend. From before here, I mean.

[ Her eyes widen, then - ]

Oh, Barry, right? [ This is the worst way to meet your SO's best friend. ] I'm so sorry.

[Yep, this is definitely the worst.]

I'm sorry too. Were you guys close?

Uh, well. [ Jeez. This is. A thing. ] I am - I mean, I was... He was my boyfriend?

Oh.

[Barry startles for a moment before his eyes widen.]

Oh. Sorry. He didn't tell me before he -

[He pauses before burying his face in his hands.]

I probably seem like an extra special kind of asshole right now.

It's not your fault. You didn't know.

[ It just makes this conversation a little more awkward, that's all. ]

I don't think he had much of a chance to talk about it, if you're new.

Yeah, I just got here.

[And he doesn't want to keep being that jerk, so he'll straighten a bit and wave a hand.]

Can we just ... start over? I mean, I know it's not really starting over but I'd like it if we can get off on a better foot?

[Even if Cisco's not here anymore, Hermione clearly meant something to him, so Barry respects that much at least.]

[ But Hermione just smiles, soft and sure, before she nods her head. ]

Of course we can. [ And then she leans forward. ] Hi. I'm Hermione Granger - it's nice to meet you.

[And there's a smile in return, because good.]

Nice to meet you, Hermione. I'm Barry Allen.

How long have you been here, Barry?

[He takes a deep breath as he considers.]

About two days?

( #004 )

video } (... i'm sorry, hermione)

video | poor barry....

video | also poor hermione (and sorry this is so late)

video | no worries!

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