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. ]

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[ She shifts, ever so slightly, and adjusts her weight, moving so she can lean against him gently. Eyes closed, Hermione just... Breathes. ]

Hey. I... [ What does she say? Her mouth shuts and she just... Wilts a little. ]

It's okay.

[He rubs her shoulder, his grip shifting along with the adjustment she made, just to make it more comfortable for her.]

You don't have to say anything. I'm here.

[ She nods her head, resting against him for a moment. She doesn't have to say anything, he tells her, and it makes the lump in her throat relax ever so slightly, makes her relax against him just the same. When she speaks, her voice is hoarse. ]

It'll be okay. In a few days.

I know. You're tough.

[It hurts, knowing that his crew, his little family, is hurting this way. And it hurts to know the reason, a loved one leaving. It just reminds him how, well, fleeting life here is. Allen could disappear the next day, or... he himself.

But no, this is about Hermione. Briefly, his hand moves to give her hair a little ruffle before moving back to her shoulder.]

Take your time, alright? I'll cook you something later. What's your favorite?

[ The problem is, of course, that she doesn't want to be tough. She's tired of being strong, tired of standing up and facing the world with a broken heart, tired of all of it - but she doesn't have a choice. She's a leader and she's working to fix her mistakes and she's fighting for a world she loves and believes in, and she doesn't get time to be anything other than though.

What she wants is to cry, but her energy is completely drained and, so, she just sits, nodding her head. ]

I... I just miss pumpkin pasties, but I don't think we have any of those here. I haven't even looked at the planet properly either...

I'll try to see what I can find. Sometimes I can find similar things, even if they're not the same thing... but pumpkin sounds really good.

[Really, he's just waiting for her to cry, to let it out. She's tough, yes, but nobody can be tough all the time. No one can be completely strong, not at times like this. After a pause, he looks down at her.]

Hey... if you need to let it out, you can. That's what I'm here for.

It's not something you imagine would be very nice, but the House Elves were always very good.

[ But... She glances up at him and she does her best to keep it together, to stay strict and stern, even as her eyes fill with tears. She's not let herself cry very much since she's lived in the Drabwurld, but with Clay at her side... The tears prickle.

I - I don't want to cry. It's not his fault. It's just not fair.

( #004 )

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