Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[thetalavega]

[Nods. It is a rarity, really, seeing Tala this serious.]

I made sure that I had time to do this. Besides... you might just need the company.

[therealbrianna]

[ She nods and checks her tablet, opening the file. ]

Well, here goes nothing. [ Already preparing for the worst? But Brianna has no idea what to expect, really. ]

[thetalavega]

[She's giving Brianna one last smile before she's leaning back and looking down at her own copy.

It's a good thing that she brought a lot of cigarettes.]

[therealbrianna]

[ She cycles between states of confusion, sadness, anger and bitterness. Generally, she's stressed as fuck. While she knows a bit about Hikaru, enough to know what not to talk about, she admits that she does know only about half of what his life really is like.

In this reading though, she's realizing that she barely even knows half of it; more like just 1/32th. This makes her feel bad.

She occasionally bites her lower lip, clears her throat when she's on the verge of tearing up, wipes away at the tears that do manage to get past and smokes a stick.

By the time she's done, she's silently staring at her tablet. ]

[thetalavega]

[She watches all of this quietly throughout Brianna's read; she finished quickly enough, because she is familiar with it now. It's a reminder, after all, of what she has to do if things fall apart.

As such, by the time Brianna is done, she is still watching, still smoking. A heartbeat later, she's moving to sit at Brianna's side, and looking at her. The hand follows later, with a pack of tissue.]

[therealbrianna]

[ She is about to politely wave a hand at Tala as if to say that she doesn't need the tissue, but she hesitates. That brief hesitation is when she caves and takes it with a thankful smile.

Her face turns sour and she feels like she had to literally swallow a bitter pill; immediately regretting the initial impact, but knowing that in the long run, it'll be good for her.

It hurts knowing that her daddy had to go through all that.

Looking up at Tala expectedly, because she is surprisingly at a loss for words. ]

[thetalavega]

It's a lot to take in, isn't it?

[In that same quiet tone that she used earlier. It might be a little scary to see Tala looking so settled, so calm, so not like how she usually is.]

[therealbrianna]

It's... Yeah... [ Her voice is quivering as she's trying her best to keep it still.

She covers her face with both her hands and hunches over, inhaling and exhaling deeply. ]

[thetalavega]

Talk to me. You don't have to make sense yet.

[She'd like to think that even if you don't realize, you NEED to talk it out.]

[therealbrianna]

I don't... This is all...

[ Inhale. Exhale. ]

I... had no idea all of that happened.

[thetalavega]

I'm not too surprised. Most of the people around here already know, so it doesn't often become a point of discussion.

[Taking a drag from her cigarette now.]

It's not like Daddy can just tell people either, so.

[therealbrianna]

[ It's a bit of a surprise for Brianna, the fact that most people already know. Then again, most of them have known Hikaru for a while now. ]

Yeah, I guess. Just didn't expect this. I think I'm just shocked.

[thetalavega]

That's fair. I am wondering what will happen, though, once the shock's gone.

[A bit of a smile at that.]

[therealbrianna]

I should probably go talk to him, huh?

[ Twisting her lips to the side at the thought. ]

[thetalavega]

If it's for your own peace of mind, why not?

[Because she is pretty sure that Brianna needs the conversation more than the Blade King does.]

[therealbrianna]

Yeah I... I think I will.

[ Looking at her phone now, wondering if she should give him a heads up or not. ]

[thetalavega]

[Lifting an eyebrow at that.]

Thinking of calling him? He might just end up telling you that it's okay, he's fine with it, blah blah blah.

[therealbrianna]

[ Putting her phone away now, stashing it in her pocket. ]

Yeah, you're right. I'm not sure where he is right now though. [ She purses her lips as she's thinking. ]

[thetalavega]

I can check for you, if you like.

[She's already lifting one hand, and rubbing her fingers together as though she has something thin between them. It's one of her Things.]

[therealbrianna]

That would be super awesome.

[ She's watching Tala as she's doing that. It never ceases to amaze her how much capabilities her BFF possesses. ]

[thetalavega]

Give me a bit.

[She's shutting her eyes, and rubbing her fingers together. It takes less than a minute.]

He's in his room right now. Just went up from dinner... he's going to go out on duty soon.

[therealbrianna]

[ Duty?!

Deep inhale, followed by a deep exhale, then a nod. ]

I'll run there. [ She says that as she's standing up. ]

[thetalavega]

Okay. I'll walk out with you, then head home.

[Tilts her head at the other as she's standing as well.]

Good luck. Tell me how it goes.

[therealbrianna]

[ Nodding at Tala and smiling, but her jaw is slightly clenched. ]

I will, I promise.