driftfleet | Missing Home

Who: open to all
Broadcast: no
Action: Iskaulit
When: Jan 12 or whenever...time doesn't matter

Veronica has been rather absent this holiday season. While she's made an appearance at the festivities, she hasn't really seemed all there, and has left early from most of them without talking much. For a girl whose life has changed so much so fast, even before the Fleet, one might think it would be easy for her to roll with the punches, but eventually, Veronica tires out, and she's hit that point.

She misses home. She's lonely. Sure, she has Lance here, but much of his time is dedicated to Keith and his team, and Veronica isn't about to take that away from him. He's happy. She isn't going to get in the way of that. While she's befriended people here, it just isn't the same, and she finds herself growing homesick and depressed.

She's spending a lot of time these days just sitting by the bay windows of the Iskaulit, looking out into the deep abyss of space. It's beautiful, and she really does love it, but...it's so cold and isolating. It makes her think of everything that she's lost, all the people who have died for a war that they were never even meant to be a part of... Veronica hugs her knees to her chest and just watches.

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Okay, so...dollar for it? C'mon, don't make me barter to get you to talk to me.

[He pokes her arm.]

[Veronica rolls her eyes half-heartedly and pokes him back. She pats the ground beside her, gesturing for Lance to join her.]

It's nothing, really. I think I'm just tired.

I know you when you're tired, Vero. It's more than that, isn't it?

[He frowns a little. She may be able to read him like a book, but he's not too shabby at it the other way around after growing up with her.]

[Dammit. She should know better than try to pull one past Lance. She gives him a sheepish smile, caught in her half-truth, and lets out a soft sigh, looking back into space.

She's quiet for a few moments, searching for words.]

...I miss Mama. And everyone.

[Just saying it makes her words stick in her throat, her eyes burning a bit. Keep it together, Veronica she tells herself sternly.]

[There's a few moments pause before he reaches out and takes her hand.]

I miss her too. Her, and all the others...more than anything. Sure, it helps to know everyone's fine--

[Except their grandparents, he realizes with a pang of sorrow, but this isn't the time to dwell on that loss.]

--but even if I saw them again, it doesn't make up for all these years.

[Veronica swallows hard, squeezing his hand gently. She shifts closer to him, leaning in to rest her head on his shoulder and doing her best to keep calm. Taking a long, deep breath, she nods against him.]

I...I'm sorry, Lance.

[She's trying to verbalize how she's feeling, but it isn't really something she knows how to say, and she frowns.]

I feel like...I should have been there for you. Taking care of you is my job.

No apologies, Veronica. You did everything you could. It wasn't your fault that I got launched into space, way far away from where you could reach me. If anything, it's mine for activating Blue to begin with.

[He bites his lip.]

You've done so much since I've been gone, too. I heard from the rest of the family, and from the MFE pilots. I'm proud of you.

[Veronica sighs softly, leaning against Lance and holding his hand with both of hers. She squeezes gently and manages a weak smile at his words, finally looking back up at him.

She really does look like she hasn't slept. There are lines on her face that aren't usually there.]

...Really?

Really. I never stopped looking up to you, and I'm never going to stop.

[Lance gives her a little smile back. He sees those lines, lines that shouldn't be there, and vows to do everything he can to get them to disappear.]

What else is on your mind?

[Veronica chuckles weakly.]

Planning on sitting here with me all day?

Sounds like my idea of an awesome day.

[He nudges her.]

[That makes her smile.] I'll be okay. Don't let me keep you from your lover boy.

Eh, Keith can handle himself for a little while. I don't always have to keep an eye on him.

[He laughs.]

Let's hope today isn't the day he makes you regret that. [She sits up and nudges Lance lightly.]

You know every day's a risk when it comes to that. Keith gonna Keith.

[Lance waves his hand. No point in being babysitter to his boyfriend most of the time, honestly.]