voice; @elena » open

[otrazhenie]

Has anyone found a way to burn things yet?

[ The voice that comes over the network is clearly exhausted, an almost husky rasp to the words that are slightly muffled, as if her mouth might be covered by a layer of fabric. ]

Because I'd love to get rid of these damn flowers and burning them sounds really cathartic right now.

[ She sounds weary, frustrated, and a little bit sick. And for good reason: one of the perks of being a vampire is an enhanced sense of smell. ]

Alternatively, are there any magic users out there who could set up a ward or something to keep this smell out?

Comments

[worthallthis]

[The look it gives her is, for once, entirely clear and readable, and that look is "are you crazy".]

Yes.

[It not only failed the mission, it hurt a bunch of other people in the process, and lost some of their supplies. Of course it feels guilty.]

I should be getting punished for this. But no one seems to want to.

[Frankly, that almost makes it feel worse.]

[otrazhenie]

[ Hey, it doesn't hurt to check. She's known plenty of people who made disastrous mistakes and never felt guilty for them. ]

Well, of course not. You were trying to do a good thing and just... went about it the wrong way. We've all been there.

[ And really, the idea of punishing him for it makes her want to be physically ill in a way that even the flowers haven't managed. Because from what little she knows about him, she's fairly certain that whatever 'punishments' he might have received in the past have bordered on the inhumane. ]

But if you feel guilty about it and like you need to atone for that, then why not help fix what you broke?

[worthallthis]

I'm going to. Robin suggested I help rebuild the docks, and I spent all day after it sank trying to get as much out as possible. And Misty is making a garden to grow more food. I'm helping with that.

[It's trying, it really is. Doesn't feel like enough when it knows it should be getting punished... but it's at least something. (And she's right about the punishment, though the Soldier doesn't really realize it. Electrocution is normal, right?)]

[otrazhenie]

That's good, then. You're doing good.

[ She feels like it's important to impress that upon him, that's he's doing the right thing by trying to help fix the situation he helped to create. ]

I'm hoping to be able to help too when these flowers go away. [ If they go away. ]

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier ducks its head a little at the praise, as if unsure how to really respond. It finally settles on,]

I'm trying. It's hard when I don't have a lot of instruction.

[otrazhenie]

[ She tilts her head to try meeting his gaze, or at least keep an eye on his expression as she makes her offer. ]

If you ever need anyone to help with that, or to weigh in on whether something might be a bad idea, I'd be glad to help. I'm not the best judge of things sometimes myself, but I'd do my best.

[worthallthis]

[And that's why she'd been a handler, before the blood-drawing. Even a technician could give instructions. It doesn't quite meet her eyes, but does focus on her face a little. Try to smile.]

Okay. I'll remember that. Thank you.