driftfleet | ( #004 )

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( #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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Miss Granger?

Would you like some company, perhaps?

[Dad country mode is go.]

Or some tea?

[She never chooses text. Doesn't like text at all. It's so devoid of any kind of emotional clues to read. And usually she doesn't care if hers are being read. She tends to be honest to a fault. Almost aggressively honest in some cases. But she could use some of that pretending today too.]

You're not wrong. [She didn't know about Cisco and she doesn't know about the others yet, but she knows about Winn, and she's not making one of these posts. He deserves it. His friends deserve it. But she deserved a life with him so no one gets what they deserve today.]

[It's a few minutes after Hermione's post when there's a few knocks on the door. He doesn't push it open yet though, just in case she doesn't want to talk to anyone, but...]

Can I come in?

[Al sees the message and drifts to Hermione's room, knocking softly.]

Mr. Kirkland. [ She does her best to smile, but it's... Faltering. ] I'm not sure that I'd be good company right now.

[ Sometimes it's just easier. Sometimes text makes it... Better, just a little, because there's no facing the emotions or the hurt or - any of it, really. ]

It's not okay, but I'm sure he's happy. [ She hopes the same is true for the others - Hermione knows about Winn, too, and she's careful and uncertain. ] I wish it was easier for the people left behind, though.

[ She doesn't really want to answer, not at first, but soon enough she's rubbing her eyes and pushing herself up. ]

Of course. Come in, Clay.

[ She pushes herself to her feet, slowly, and goes to answer the door, trying her best to put on a smile. ]

Hi, Al.

[Ignis is an eloquent man. He's dealt with words his entire life. And he's had to deal with diplomacy and politics and everything since he was a child.

However, talking to a woman that he barely knows is difficult when it is obvious that she has lost someone important to her. Not contacting her, on the other hand, is unacceptable, considering how much he has come to respect her and her abilities in the short time he's known her. So, while he would rather do this in person, he cannot trust himself to be as comforting to Hermione as he was to Noctis.

Text will have to do for now.]

I'm sorry to hear that you've lost someone, Hermione.
I cannot guarantee that I am the right person to offer you comfort, but should you like some distraction, I'm sure that I can come up with some ideas.

Perhaps, when you're ready, you can come over to the First Breath and I can have you try some of the desserts I've been working on lately.

Maybe not, but could you use some half decent?

[Doesn't like seeing his citizens hurting.]

[ It makes her soften, and she hesitates a little before she nods. ]

I... I think I'd like that.

[ They might not be close, but Hermione appreciates it all the same. She learned years ago that you can't just shrug things off just because you don't know someone as well as you'd like; you never know how much time you have to actually get to know someone. Learning as much as you can, speaking as much as you can, doesn't soften the blow, but...

The kindness is something she appreciates. She had done the same to people before, as an ally and as a Marchioness, and she understands where he's coming from even if she's shaky in her acceptance of it. She'd lost someone special and it's going to take time for her to be okay with it. ]

Thank you, Ignis. I appreciate it.

Have you had any luck setting up your garden yet? What sort of desserts have you worked on?

[Al smiles back, wanly.]

I'm not going to ask if you're OK, because obviously you're not, but... is there anything I can do?

He was happy with you too. [She's glad she didn't try voice or video. She's already not holding it together. She used to be so stoic and now it's like the tears don't stop. It may be healthier, but it goes through a lot of tissues and kind of sucks.]

There are messages on the network that Winn left for people. You probably know, but just in case. I'm sorry about Cisco.

[After her confirmation, Clay makes his way inside. He stops for a second, taking in her appearance, feeling a pang of sadness in his own chest even though he never knew Cisco. But he moves after that, to sit beside her and wrap an arm around her shoulders.]

Hey.

[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?

I'll be over shortly then.

[Offers her a gentle smile before hanging up to head over. Bearing a thermos of tea and one of the many Paddingtons he got the other week. Something to help cheer a young lady up, he hoped.]

[There is something to be said for having manners and reaching out to others when they need company. Even if you're turned down, others will remember the effort. It works in your favor should the need arise.

But mainly it shows that you have basic human decency.

And Ignis has that in spades, especially when it comes to those he happens to like.]

Think nothing of it.

My project requires the help of my friend. I'm waiting on a good day for the both of us so that we might pick a good spot. As for the desserts, it's mainly fruit pastries. The asteroids we're on have a sort of sweet yam and something that looks like elderberries. So, I've been experimenting with those to try and find something that everyone enjoys.

I'm coming over in fifteen minutes.

[It's enough of a warning for her to tell him not to if that's what she prefers.]

[ When he arrives Hermione is up and she goes to answer the door; she's not crying but it's clear she's not happy, despite trying to put on a smile for Arthur. ]

Hi. Please, come in.

I saw there was one for me. I'm not sure if I'm ready to look at it yet.

[ There's only so much you can take in a day, really, and facing Winn saying goodbye when she can't do anything in return isn't fair. ]

I'm sorry too. About Winn.

[ 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. ]

I don't think there's anything we can do, is there? They've gone home.

[ She appreciates the offer, though, and does her best to give him a smile. ]

I'll probably just need some time and then to do some work.

[ It's nice, really, to know that people care even if she struggles with handling it all. Hermione has gotten used to internalising her own sadness, so having people offer, to let it actually be drawn out... She's still struggling with it.

She trusts Ignis to listen and not judge, at least for now. ]

Oh, fruit pastries! It's been a long time since I had anything like that. Feasts in the Seelie Court were lovely, of course, but it wasn't quite the same. It was a lot more medieval.

[ Thinking of home doesn't help, but... ]

I'd be happy to taste-test.

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

He's gone home.

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( #004 )

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video | poor barry....