Phase Eight: Recrimination

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's in the brig.

It's at her own insistence, as soon as she was awake enough to insist. Once the medics were okay with letting her out of their sight, she went in to a cell. She's staying there until as much has been done to confirm she doesn't have any more surprises buried in the back of her mind as was done for Cheng, and then some. And it's noticeable to anyone who's used to her appearance that her ever-present amplifier is not on her wrist.

If you want to talk to her, it might take a while. Aside from the exhaustion of the fight, she's spending some of her time awake curled up in tears or otherwise unresponsive. Still - if you're patient, or time your visit right, she'll be able to speak, if you have something to say.]

Comments

[emorangerpink]

I know you did. I know. Sometimes it's just too much. It... don't blame yourself. Please. I can't see you going through that.

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

(Yoshika hasn't pulled away, still crying and sniffling but she is listening to what Laura says.)

...B-but I promised I would protect everyone...! I-I couldn't...

[emorangerpink]

Don't. That's not a promise anyone can keep. You'll tear yourself apart if you try.

You did everything you could. Not just now, but training hard, joining the Witches in the first place. There's nothing else you could have done. Yoshika, it's not your fault.

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

(A slight hiccup is heard, Yoshika only realizing she misworded herself in her grief. She'd promised to protect as many people as she could with her powers.)

...Y-you did everything you could too, right...?

(Yoshika didn't blame Laura for anything she might've done, just that she was happy the other girl was still here.)

[emorangerpink]

I...

[Laura looks sick.]

No. I was... I was so scared, and angry, and confused... I attacked that monster, and Frank was... I should have protected him, then.

Afterwards... I did as much as I could to heal him, everything I had left that I could put out, but... it was too late.

Yoshika, you're not like me. You haven't made my mistakes. You won't. Don't do this to yourself.

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

...

(Yoshika presses against Laura for a moment longer, pulling back and sniffling once more while staring at her.)

You're one of my best friends, Laura...

[emorangerpink]

[Laura smiles, bittersweet.]

I couldn't believe I was so lucky as to have the friends I did on my old team. I never imagined I could lose them, and still find people like you, here. Or that you'd call me a friend.

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

(Yoshika nods and smiles back.)

I wish I could've met them...they sound like wonderful people.

[emorangerpink]

They were. They were my family, more than my parents or anyone I grew up with.

I wish... I'm afraid that, if I'd done more, they... they'd still be here. But even if that's true... all I can do now is remember them, and keep going.

There wasn't any more you could have done for Frank, but you know that's he'd want that too, right?

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

...I-I know. I'll miss him a lot, but I'm glad I met him.

[emorangerpink]

He was glad he met you, too. He always talked about looking out for "us kids" who had to fight. I think knowing you and Lynne and everyone were doing okay would make him very happy.

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

...Mmn. Knowing you were doing okay would make him happy, too.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura swallows.]

I know. It's a lot easier to tell someone else, though.

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

(Yoshika bows her head. She feels guiltier knowing that Laura must blame herself in someway.)

...I'm here for you, too...

[emorangerpink]

...I know. Believe me... it helps.

[She hugs Yoshika again.]