driftfleet | Video; always something that needs doing

Who: Anders and Open
Broadcast: Yes
Action: On the Bishop, if desired
When: Thirty seconds after being shuffled onto the ship

[The feed turns on and it's clear Anders has barely just arrived on his new ship as there's still some confetti in his hair he has yet to brush off or pick out. He's clearly on the move, however, as the hallways of the Bishop move behind him on his way to the Med Lab.]

Right, I need to take some inventory: there was a greenhouse on the Iskaulit that held some medicinal herbs, if anyone knows, has it been maintained? [Maker knew if Hermione were still around, he'd really had yet to even check who was still around.] And, similarly, there was a smaller herb garden in the cargo bay of the Twin Roses, is that still there?

[He pauses as something occurs to him and he gives a wry smirk.] And, in my haste, I shouldn't be so rude, my apologies. I am Anders, a healer from Thedas. I imagine my store of potions from before is long gone, I intend to get started on more. If anyone has need of any potion in particular, please feel free to speak up, I'm more than willing to make whatever it might be.

[Assuming he knew how to make it or something like it, but his skill with herbalism wasn't something he took lightly.]

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[He couldn't even have the decency of telling her he'd missed her too, he hadn't had the chance to. So he just holds her tighter before finally giving her enough space to breath again and give her a tiny smile.]

I couldn't possibly leave you if you needed me. Besides, there's far too much still to do here.

[ She can't stop holding on to him, and when she leans back the expression on her face is gentler, her eyes drinking him in. ]

There's lots of things to do, but we've still got our garden. [ Her hand lifts, touching his cheek gently. ] Are you okay?

[His hand covered and wrapped around hers to give it a squeeze.] I wouldn't have it any other way.

[That he could say with certainty, he'd long since made amends with wanting to stay on the fleet rather than return to Thedas.]

I feel a little sheepish that I seem to have missed quite a bit of time without even realizing it, to me we only just spoke the other day. Otherwise, I simply have to recover again from the less-than-great state I'd been in back home.

[His expression turns to one of concern and a touch of guilt that he couldn't simply know the answer to his question.]

But what about you? It's been much longer, how're you? What's changed?

I'm glad to hear it.

[ Sometimes, people change. Sometimes, things happen and they become different people - Hermione was used to that. A big part of her was just glad she didn't have to lose the Anders she loved so dearly, that had claimed a place in her too big heart. ]

It's not exactly your fault, you know. You didn't ask to leave.

[ Shaking her head, she leans close, not quite ready to let him slip out of her fingertips just yet, her expression softening as she shakes her head. ]

Not too much. I'm first mate of my ship now, and a few people that were here a while have left... We've been to a few planets, most of them quite calm, and we all had the fun experience of sharing our memories with people, quite unwillingly.

[He didn't ask to leave, he'd never likely ask to leave if he had a choice in the matter, but being who he was meant he still felt guilt for it, like there might have been something more he could have done to stay.

But it was past now and he had a second chance.

Although, what she said last had him pulling back enough to fix her with a look that clearly held confusion, intrest and horror all neatly tied into one.]

I...think I was with you until that last one; what about memories?

[ It had to come eventually, and while she might have darted around the topic with Wolfe there's no way for her to avoid it now. Shifting, just enough to show her awkwardness, Hermione breathes out with a frown. ]

We were all trapped on the Marsiva, and there were... Rooms. Our rooms. Inside them were... Places, I suppose? Places that were important to us, or home, or something. If you stayed in someone's room for too long you started to see their memories.

[ It's hard not to move away from him, the nausea of having to share awful, intimate things still making her uncomfortable. ]

We didn't get to choose what people saw. It just happened. I still don't understand how.

[He can feel her unease in that way that something shifts in the air. He could only imagine what might be causing it, between unease at the memory of the event, the memories themselves or simply the fact it could happen to them here. That last one was giving him plenty of unease on it's own.

Some of his own worst memories were things he could and would share if prompted, each for different reasons, but there were others that were so far buried the were practically lost to himself and he didn't like the idea of just any person being able to wonder through.]

You don't have to tell me about them or the event, I imagine it was hard enough as it was. I'm sorry that happened.

[Even while, selfishly, part of him wasn't sorry at all to have missed it himself.]

[ It's not bad for him to be relieved that he didn't have to go through it; Hermione's sure she would've felt the same. The things she shared with strangers and people she knew were things that she kept to herself for good reason - the depth of her own guilt and self-loathing was thrust to the surface and there was nothing she could do to contest it other than try with all her might.

It wasn't enough, and she knows how much work she has to do. She has to push and push and push until there's nothing left. She feels desperately old all of a sudden despite how young she is, and she has to shake her head, breathing out softly before she turns back to look at Anders with a small smile. ]

It's alright. Honestly. I think you know most of it already - you and Wolfe... I told you things, before you left.

[ Her arms cross over her chest, though, and she shakes her head. ]

It's over now, so it doesn't matter.

I remember.

[The similarities they shared were both good and bad and, unfortunately, the bad ones were really bad. He could imagine at least a fraction of what she felt and he wished she didn't have to feel it. But none of that could be changed, living with it all was the best any of them could do.]

It matters because it still affects you.

[He held his hand out between them and smiled.]

So why don't we go hug that precious cat of yours?

[ Her nose wrinkles a little, but her expression gentles. She reaches out and takes his hand, and it's warm and familiar and comfortable in a way she could never really put into words. It's Anders, and her chest feels warm and thick with her emotions.

She's just so glad he's back, and he's here, and she can lean against him. ]

It does. But that's okay.

[ Closing her eyes, she breathes out. ]

You're right. I bet Crooks missed you.

[He groans in an over-dramatic huff that he doesn't feel at all, but puts on the act to make her smile.]

Oh probably not, but I missed him! I need decent company, I've only had a dog lover with me the last few days and no cats in sight! It's been awful.

Video; always something that needs doing

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