17 [action/written]

[frost_jewel]

[On the border between afternoon and evening of the 31st, the draft ends for Mia. For a while, all she can do is look around at the village, standing still near where they all arrive. Then she takes what remains of her notes to the battledome. To turn them over to...well, whoever is there to give them to. She doesn't want to talk, at least not for very long.

Then she goes home, House 16, and checks on her housemates before taking what is perhaps the longest shower in her entire life. The water is freezing by the time she's done, and she doesn't care. The next morning, whoever wakes first will find the coffee is ready and there is no Mercury Adept in sight.

She's out for a walk. It's not a long one: back to the battledome, to check on people. Any people, but especially those she knows well. If there are questions she has to answer - and she doubts very much there won't be questions - then she will, as polite and quiet as she ever is. When she's through there, she'll head for nearby houses and apartments, without going too far. She knows her limits and is waiting to meet up with them.

That autopilot carries her until midafternoon. What follows isn't exactly a crash. It's a slow spiral, one that finds her walking back to the house at a glacial pace, as though she might find somewhere to hide instead. But she can't. Instead she huddles into a chair in the living room, finally opening the journal to write something.]

Thank you to everyone who was there to help us. [She doesn't feel the need to specify where. The next several things she tries are crossed out, until:] I'm sorry we couldn't do more, sooner.

[[ooc: Whew look at all that action! She's mostly bouncing from house to battledome, and if you want to run into her while she's walking or standing and staring off into space, that's great too!]]

Comments

[frost_jewel]

I was going to...well, to check on people. [It started with the house, but the other two were asleep so that...took very little time. Explaining her feelings about why she must go do something would be difficult.]

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo nods, understanding.] I'm not sure if there will be too many awake at this hour. A cup of tea won't set you back too much, surely?

[frost_jewel]

Not at all. It's earlier than I thought it might be. [The question of whether or not she really slept is still up in the air.]

[calmbeforethe]

[That's something Ororo is realizing, pretty much.]

Did you not sleep well, last night?

[frost_jewel]

Sleeping the night after a draft is never easy.

[She doesn't look tired though. Occasionally her thoughts wander and her eyes go with them.]

[calmbeforethe]

I can't imagine how it would be anything but difficult. But it's been an exhausting week, are you sure you aren't tired still?

[Ororo leads Mia into the kitchen and takes the kettle out from the cabinets, a tin of tea from the cupboard. Perhaps she should make some breakfast as well, though she isn't sure anyone even has an appetite after everything.]

[frost_jewel]

I don't feel tired. [It's like a fifth or sixth wind by now.] I should be asking the same of you. ...Have you looked in on Logan?

[calmbeforethe]

[Every hour that she's awake, certainly. But she just nods.]

Still asleep. His body has been through a tremendous strain; I'm not sure when we can expect him to wake.

[frost_jewel]

Even when he does, it would be best for him to stay in bed. [She felt the strain, in her one and only attempt to heal him in their entire acquaintance. It was...unspeakably bad, really.]

Not that I believe we will be able to convince him.

[calmbeforethe]

He's a stubborn man. One of his sterling qualities, really.

[She puts the kettle on the stove, then turns to face Mia with a little smile.] He will be all right, don't worry.

[frost_jewel]

[Sitting down, Mia wonders whether she appears to be suffering excessive worry.

...Probably. So she tries to smile instead.]

I'm afraid I must worry even though I believe that, too.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo moves to take the seat next to Mia's.]

Well, there's no harm in worrying. So long as you do not forget to worry about yourself, as well.

[frost_jewel]

I'm fine. [Just tired, like the rest of them. It's impossible to be less than tired.]

[calmbeforethe]

[If she's as fine as she says she is, Ororo might really worry. After the week they'd had, it would be hard to not be even a little affected.

Still, Ororo isn't one to pry.]

All right. But I hope you know that you are more than welcome to speak to me about anything, Mia. [She smiles kindly.]

[frost_jewel]

Thank you. I think I...need time to find the proper words.

[That's her being kind. She doesn't want to share these thoughts with anyone right now, because finding understanding feels impossible.]