i know it's everybody's sin. you got to lose to know how to win.

[tempered_scars]

[ooc: open to everyone for forever. I'm probably crazy for including all my characters but what the heck. Have at 'em. Gimme your tags. I want them. All of them. :D]

Wes Gannon is at a bar. Pick a bar, any bar, and he's there. The events of the past few weeks have finally caught up with him and boy needs to drink... and maybe shoot some pool while

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[knownallbyheart]

There's a grateful smile when Rachel laughs, and once all the books are picked up and carefully placed on the table, she finally breathes properly.

She's relieved the woman doesn't seem upset, and also relieved there doesn't seem to be any damage to anything (that she can see immediately, of course!).

Hermione is always happy to share, and particularly with someone who is so kind after they had their books and notes knocked about.

"Oh, it's wonderful," she says agreeably. "To Kill A Mockingbird." Hermione holds up her copy. "I've not read it for so long, and it's one of my favorites, honestly. I'd originally came to the library hoping to find something by Dumas or Austen, or perhaps an autobiography I haven't read before, but this ended up catching my eye and I simply couldn't help but reach for it. Before I knew it, I was caught up."

Hermione stops, momentarily, to take a breath. "You look like you're doing a bit of light reading yourself." It's said with a smile, and then a sheepish little laugh. "I'm Hermione, and thank you for not being upset."

[wearsnomask]

Were Rachel in a poor mood, she might have taken it out even on poor Hermione. At it is, there's coffee and research and an actual good night's sleep.

Rachel is set to go. Her face brightens considerably once Hermione has revealed what she's reading.

"...That was one of my favorite books growing up," Rachel tells her, smile softening at the reminder. Courage isn't a man with a gun. Isn't that one of Rachel's defining moments with her oldest friend?

Yes, that book strikes a chord for her the way it does many, she assumes. "I'm doing a bit of research," Rachel says. A bit is somewhat of an understatement. "Hermione, it's nice to meet you. I'm Rachel Dawes. As I said, it's fine. Happens to the best of us."

The name is familiar to her for some reason. It'll come to her.

[knownallbyheart]

'...That was one of my favorite books growing up.'

"It's an important book, I think," Hermione says, pleased. "It's been important to me. Tolerance, courage, compassion, and justice, yes?"

For so many reasons, it has been. Books are precious to Hermione. They come alive for her, and teach her anything she wishes to know. They take her places and they're something to depend on. Regardless of time passing, or how people change...how their views or natures can change, one can look back on a certain time or place, and find what meaning was there.

One can find new meaning and share it, and that's exciting to her, too.

Research, naturally, perks Hermione's interest, and she's ready to ask what the woman is researching when Rachel tells her her name.

"Rachel Dawes," Hermione repeats, then she smiles brightly. "It's so nice to meet you, too. I remember seeing your journal entry after the initial bombing. I found what you wrote to be both valid and inspirational." She's so pleased, now. "You're a lawyer, yes? I think I remember you writing that."

[wearsnomask]

It's everything she stands for, really. Courage, compassion, justice. Truth. To wear no mask and to do things honorably. It's a difficult world to live in, but in the eyes of an idealist, that doesn't matter as much as the world that could be if one fights for it.

And Rachel does believe in fighting the good fight. "Exactly," is all she says instead.

Much as she likes getting on her soapbox, there are times she can refrain. Not to mention, it seems this young woman already understands everything Rachel could possibly way.

"I knew your name sounded familiar," she says with a brightening smile of her own. "Hermione Granger, yes? You helped Martha with...protection spells."

It's completely bizarre to her, to even say those words, considering how much of a pragmatic she is at heart. This is Chicago. There are things such as wizards and rifts and alternate universes.

"I am a lawyer. A criminal prosecutor where I'm from, actually," she says, sitting back down at her table. "Would you like to join me?"

[knownallbyheart]

Hermione is pleased that Rachel remembers her, as well.

"Yes, I put up the wards," she agrees, and while she wishes there was more that could have been done to protect those at the hotel, Hermione is not one to dwell on could-have-beens if she can absolutely help it.

She much prefers to look toward what can be done from this point onward. The belief that there is much to do is one of the things that keeps Hermione going, after all.

'Would you like to join me?'

Hermione nods and sits down, smiling all the while. "Thank you so much; I would." She places her book down next to her on the table and gives Rachel her full attention.

"A criminal prosecutor," she says after a moment. "How fascinating!" Admittedly, though Hermione has always been a part of the Magical and Muggle worlds, she's immersed herself in the world she feels most at home at. However, she is well aware of the criminal justice system.

There are marked differences, of course, between her country's system and America's, but those are only things Hermione is interested in learning more about.

"Is that what your research is pertaining to?" The question is given with pure curiosity, but Hermione reaches up and rubs her temple a bit. "I'm terribly nosy, I'm sorry. My curiosity knows no bounds, it seems, even with those I've just met after having tossed their books to the floor."

[wearsnomask]

Realistically speaking, there wasn't much to be done once the Riftquake took over Chicago. Rachel could also indulge in everything she could have done to help, but it's pointless.

Look onward and move forward.

"It was pretty fascinating," Rachel agrees. From the moment she was a young girl, she'd known it was all she wanted to be. Violence filtered through every crack in her city and she'd been determined to wield the weapon of the law to strike against it. "My world and this one isn't very different, from a strictly jurisdictional point of view."

It's been a while since she's actually been able to do what she does best.

Already a self-assured and confident person, she never feels more sure of herself than she does within a courtroom.

Rachel smiles again, then. Much more real this time. "It's the only way to learn. To ask questions. I don't mind them at all." She doesn't, Hermione, which is why Rachel will now give an expose on what she was researching.

It has to do with Chicagoan law, immigration in particular.

She's trying to find how to tie it to Wanderers so they too, can have rights.

[knownallbyheart]

In truth, Hermione could not agree more. Questions are amazing. They're wonderful and they're how one learns things. That doesn't mean that everyone always agrees with her. She's known a great many people who would appreciate it very much if Hermione Granger would have kept her hundreds of questions to herself.

It's very nice to meet someone who doesn't mind them, and who, in fact, seems to welcome them.

Hermione listens closely as Rachel speaks.

She thinks it's absolutely wonderful. To be honest, Hermione thinks back to S.P.E.W. and her attempts to get some level of equality for the house elves of the world. It had often felt like battling uphill, and Hermione never would have given up on it. Never.

Hermione thinks of how there are those who think that Muggle-borns shouldn't allowed to practice magic...or exist.

She thinks of the violence here, and the intolerance. She thinks of all those who were hurt or lost, of those who lost those they cared for. There's a glance over at the book she's currently reading, then a look back up at Rachel.

"Do you need any help?"

[wearsnomask]

Rachel would love to hear the S.P.E.W. story some time, as she would also commend Hermione for seeking equality for everyone regardless of their origin. She knows a thing or two about fighting what many others would claim is a lost cause and never giving up on it.

There's something to be said for sheer human resilience in that way. Chicago is filled with people that refuse to give up. There's something inside of them that refuses to be killed.

As long as that's true, there's always hope.

"I certainly don't mind it," Rachel tells her honestly. Cheerfully, even. She isn't the most social of butterflies, but she loves meeting new people who have her same thirst for knowledge and the need to help.

"Are you settling well at the Kashtta? I believe you and your friend moved there alone with the rest of us, if I'm not mistaken."

[knownallbyheart]

If Rachel is cheerful about meeting new people with a thirst for knowledge, Hermione is equally cheerful for the same reason.

She also nods, glad when Rachel says she wouldn't mind the help. "Wonderful," she replies. "I'd love to help any way I can."

Especially if it involves research. Naturally.

It will be good to help, to have something potentially useful to do.

At the question, she nods. "It's very pleasant, certainly, and I'm grateful there were those kind enough to open the doors to us. Harry and I are doing all right there."

This is actually one of the first times she's managed to tear herself away, and even now, it's somewhat difficult. It helps, however, to have met someone interesting to speak with.

"I feel very lucky to have a place to go," Hermione says thoughtfully.

[wearsnomask]

Rachel definitely knows enough about Hermione to be aware she'd be a wonderful asset to her research. Rachel is methodical and analytical, and they can both appreciate that about the other.

There's nothing like being useful.

Rachel gets restless if she's feeling idle. That just won't do.

She nods thoughtfully. It's not an ideal situation, by any means, but a roof over one's head is a roof. She won't complain about their circumstance when she's keenly aware of how differently it could have been.

Tapping the pen over her notes idly, she nods again. "It's a roof over our heads and that's a lot more than others can say. We're all in the same boat, which helps. If there's anything you ever need, you can come to me, okay?"

Rachel wants to feel like other wanderers can approach her should troubles ever arise.

[knownallbyheart]

'If there's anything you ever need, you can come to me, okay?'

Hermione nods, smiling at Rachel's thoughtfulness. "Thank you. I appreciate that, and I will."

Hermione is a very thorough young lady. She looks through every avenue she can, researching and seeks out each and every available resource to solve a problem.

She's not, nor has she ever been afraid, of asking for help if the need be.

It's gotten her into trouble a time or two with her friends, of course, but she stands by her decisions! Doing the right thing and ensuring the safety of all is the most important thing. In general, of course.

Even Hermione Granger has one exception. She will not allow the narration to speak of it at this present time, however. Ahem.

She looks at the notes and the pen tapping at them. "Is there a hotline set up for wanderers? I know there are the journals, of course, but I imagine more people might ask for help if they were able to do so anonymously."

[wearsnomask]

Rachel doesn't press further. If Hermione says she will then Rachel will trust her word. That's good enough for her.

She looks down at the notes and the open books sprawled in front of her. There's so much that needs doing, and as terrible as this has all been, Rachel is grateful there's something that she can do.

It doesn't diminish at all the devastation.

Rachel tilts her head, studying Hermione. It's a brilliant idea. "I don't believe there is, no. Hermione, that's a wonderful idea. A tipline of sorts as well, too, should they want to give out information and fear retribution."

She's thinking of the CLF, of course. There has been anti-wanderer sentiment rising once again, and it has been ever since the bombing at the hotel.

The latest Rift disturbance might have quieted them down, but Rachel doesn't think for a moment it's the last they've seen of them. And so many people are feared into silence.

[knownallbyheart]

Hermione nods when Rachel brings up the tipline. "That's excellent, yes. If even one person can be helped by that, it's certainly going to help. Also, I completely agree. I think people are more likely to come forward if there's no worry they'll be blamed for the passing along of such information."

Leaning over, Hermione reaches into her sock and pulls out a handmade scroll, a quill, and a pot of ink. Old habits... She begins taking notes at length, all the while looking directly at Rachel.

She's thinking much like Rachel. However quiet things might have been of late, she has no doubt that there will eventually be more trouble.

Unfortunately, hate doesn't die easily.

She takes a short breath, then tilts her head to the side. "I can do some research on what setting one up would entail? The sooner the better, I would think."

Hermione wasn't kidding. She absolutely wants to help and she's ready to dive right on in.

[wearsnomask]

Rachel laughs a little dazedly when the various items are pulled out of a sock. It's hard to throw Rachel off balance, and this does the trick. It's not a bad sort of shock, but she hasn't been privy to magic at all before coming to Chicago.

Even now, seeing it with her very own eyes, it's hard to wrap her brain around. To comprehend that things like these exist outside the realm of her cool logic and facts.

"Now if I could do that, I'd be much more successful at being time efficient," she says brightly. It's meant to be a joke, but Rachel's not one with the best sense of humor. Basically, she's admiring the nifty little trick.

She gets over her initial surprise soon, because there are more important matters at hand. Rachel goes over the sort of research it would entail, the contacts they already have, the contacts they'd need to make, and everything in between.

Oh, Hermione. She knew she liked you. "Definitely no time to waste," Rachel says, scribbling into her own notepad. "I'll be speaking of this to Martha the minute we return to the Kashtta."

[knownallbyheart]

Hermione blinks at the time efficient statement, and then laughs. Things are so remarkably different here, and she's very accustomed to doing little things like this now around the other wanderers.

It's different, yes, and it's also something of a relief.

Hermione has never been one ashamed of who or what she is. She understood the need to keep things private, certainly, and up until this past year, she was...fairly good at keeping to the rules.

There were exceptions, of course, but Hermione is, by nature, one who appreciates the need for rules.

Once the laughter has died away and Rachel goes over the pertinent details, Hermione nods in agreement. "Brilliant." Hermione also perks up a bit at the mention of Martha. Hermione likes the woman very much.

"I feel very good about this." She does. It's not just the idea, either. It's the momentum of action.

[wearsnomask]

Rachel has never been consistently around a wanderer that could do magic. She sees that this is about to change considerably, of course, and doesn't mind.

Rachel is also more than fond of Martha. She'd hate to bog the woman down with more work, considering everything she has to deal with. She'll simply alert her of their suggestions and work on it herself with Hermione.

They've all got their work cut out for them.

I feel very good about this.

Rachel looks up, smiling at her. There's gentility and there's also steel. Steel that comes with resolve, with idealism, and with yes, action. "You and me both."