driftfleet | the veil is thin . . .

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he's been wearing himself thin, too. steve is not so easily recognizable with his stealth suit dyed black in place of the stripes and the stars and the colors of the american flag. he carried children in his arms, carries heavy belongings people refused to leave behind.

he's as tired, as restless and as stubborn as her. but he does stop to help. once she's done with a pile of portkeys, he picks it up and starts handing them out as well, repeating her instructions word by word.

he places a hand at her shoulder after that. ]

here.

[ he places a bottle of water in her hands. ]

take a moment.

[ It's not like she's going out of her way to push herself to her limits - it's just happening because it's what she does, now, naturally, and it comes without her even thinking about it. It is, after all, easy to get lost in the moment, to focus so intensely on your work that hours go by without you realising.

It's only when Steve comes over, looking different from how she remembers, that she blinks and seems to come awake, suddenly aware of the aches in her muscles and the heaviness of her eyes. Her smile is soft and grateful as she reaches to take the bottle, nodding her head. ]

Just for a moment.

[ There's still so much to do and she just... Can't stop.

People could die. ]

Are you okay?

[ the funny thing is, for someone who does the exact same thing without noticing, steve can so easily see the signs on hermione while also not seeing them on himself.

pot and kettle, probably. ]

I'm fine. It seems like we're really making progress. None of them will be left behind, that's the only good thing about this whole thing.

[ the fact that most of the people he talked to remained optimistic about the strength of their planet helps, too. ]

you?

[ She's tired, but not so tired that she's completely brainless, and her attention settles on Steve as she moves to make herself a little more comfortable. Her muscles protest and her mind is beginning to whine of a headache, but she pushes through.

The drink helps. Maybe she was dehydrating. ]

At least we have that. I hope that they'll be able to find another place to live, though. I'm not sure how many planets there are nearby that might be able to home an entire population.

[ She frowns, even as her nose wrinkles. ]

I'm... Tired. I can do a few more hours, though, I think.

They seem to hold on to hope. That helps. That's the one thing that always kept me going when things looked bleak.

[ he takes out another water can, takes a long sip. ]

I'll help you, whatever you need. I can give these out, you don't need to get up.

[ he points to the pile of random objects. ]

It's amazing how strong people are as soon as they realise how much hope they have. It's wonderful.

[ Hermione relaxes a little, breathing out. ]

It's alright, I don't mind - [ But he's already going.

It makes her smile; this is the man she'd known, after all. ]

Thank you, Steve.

It's the one thing that keeps me going after all this time.

[ in the end, it's exactly as he wrote in his letter to one tony stark; steve's faith, even after the war, even after everything else, rests in people, in the human nature, in their inclination for good and hope. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ he says as he goes along, calling back to her. ]

you keep making him, I'll deliver.

You don't have to tell me twice.

[ Clinging to hope has been a key motivator for her for years, now, and she allows it because otherwise she would completely lose her mind. She's sure of it.

At least this is easier for her, and being able to put herself forward and help is good - it's better than good. It's wonderful. ]

Are you sure? I don't -

[ And there she goes again, and she laughs a quiet noise. ]

I think I only need to make a handful more. Can you wait that long?

I'll wait with you.

[ he says, at once. there's no argument or discussion to be had about it. steve's duty is to help to help these people but also to reinforce his team and hermione is a part of it even if the matter was never said or handled officially. ]

It's not a problem. I'd offer to help but -

[ a small smile - no magic, alas. ]

[ She doesn't tell him that he doesn't have to because he's already aware of that - he doesn't have to do anything, but he's offering. Hermione goes back to her work, making herself a little more comfortable as she grabs some more random, every day items and starts to enchant them. ]

It's not your area?

[ Her expression softens and she nods. ]

I wish it was more exciting to watch. This sort of enchantment isn't particularly flashy.

Magic?

[ he asks as he hands out the one she already made and all the while helping people with their heavier objects. he has an idea that those people were lucky enough never to have been evacuated before. the things they're trying to carry with them, honestly. ]

-- I can do card tricks?

[ he dares to smile, even now. ]

I'm not sure that's going to be as helpful in this situation as it could be.

[ She appreciates the lightheartedness, though, and she finishes up the last set of portkeys before she flicks her wand - and she can't help herself, her smile widening as she leans back. ]

There's something behind your ear.

[ She'd definitely just conjured a bird to hover behind him. ]

There's -

[ oh! oh! he smiles, scooping the little thing into his palm and letting it flap its wings. it's such a precious little moment, a proof of life in the middle of impending doom. ]

Hermione, I don't know if it's the time to tell you this, but you're brilliant.

[ Hermione laughs - it's so achingly familiar that she feels a pull of nostalgia that might be enough to shatter her if she hadn't been working hard to get stronger. ]

You're not the first person to tell me that.

I can believe that.

[ a moment passes and when steve bends over to pick a few more portkeys, he places his hand over hers and gives it a soft squeeze. ]

It's gonna be alright, Hermione.

[ That makes her stop, and glancing up... She softens, reaching out to squeeze his hand. ]

I know. We've got this, right?

the veil is thin . . .

Evacuation

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