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[regeneracy]

[The tops of buildings are so nice at night, aren't they? Here, gentle viewer, share Claire's pretty view of the city lit up at night. She's currently leaning over the edge of the rooftop of the X-baby apartment, enjoying the chilly night air. This should probably be backdated a day or two.]

Catty's right. It's been a whole year.

[But she's not

Comments

[these_fish]

[Action, Alex feel free to come up after him?]

[Because did you really think he'd use the thing when he can come up? He'll stay away from the edge, though.]

Huh?

[Eloquent. And he knows it.]

[regeneracy]

[Hearing him, she spins around to face him, and offers him a smile.]

You're fast.

[Which is good, really.]

[these_fish]

Sometimes. [Yeah, he just couldn't resist the clarification. And then he smiles back, coming over to stand beside her.]

Lonely, eh?

[regeneracy]

[She blushes, nodding. She turns back to look out at the night sky.]

I had a boyfriend here, for a long time. He was sent back home a couple of months ago, and I just realized how lonely I am without him.

[these_fish]

... oh.

I, er. Didn't. [Sean will just. Step forward to her. And very cautiously offer an arm around her shoulders.] Girlfriend, I mean. Things were moving kind of fast, and what with secrecy being strongly suggested...

[Beat. And then the honest admission.] Not that I was ever that successful in getting one even before that. [Not for lack of trying.]

[regeneracy]

[She glances up at him, a grateful smile on her face. She already knew why Alex seems to trust him so much, and she realizes it will be easy for her to trust him, too.]

Lucky for the both of us, there's tons of people here. It should be easy for you to find a girl, at least. You're a really good guy.

[She brings a hand up to touch at his arm that's around her shoulder.]

And hey, secrecy isn't that important here, so you have that going for you.

[these_fish]

[Oh, good, she didn't push him off the roof for the liberty... Sean smiles back a bit.]

I kind of noticed, actually. Although I think if I start showing off all over the place, Charles and Erik will both be kind of unhappy.

[And small shrug.] I'm not sure if we won't be a little busy to go out of my way to look for... somebody. But that doesn't mean that any of us are alone, right? Not exactly.

[regeneracy]

Actually, I want to talk to you about the being busy part. You and Alex, but we can just catch him up on it later.

[She fidgets, frowning a little.]

Have you been paying attention to the draft and the military stuff on the holonet? I know there's going to be a fight in the next couple of days, and I want to sneak on board one of the Republic ships and help.

[Clearly, this is the best idea!]

[these_fish]

Wait, what?

[Sean thinks that over for a moment, then shifts, moving so that he's facing Claire, holding both her shoulders with hands, gently.]

Why on... wherever we are do you think that is in any way a good idea? Why would you want to be a part of the war? Listen, it's a bad thing, why would you want to make it worse? Please don't tell me you find the idea of people hurting each other actually a good one?

[regeneracy]

Hurting innocent people? No.

[Okay, maybe she's a little offended, and she looks close to exploding in a pouty fit of anger.]

But things like Revan and the Sith? They deserve whatever happens to them, Sean. And we can't just sit by and watch people we know and care about be forced to fight, not when we can help them and make sure they stay safe!

[these_fish]

I didn't say anything about innocent anybody, did I? People are people, and a lot of the ones up there are only there because they didn't have any plausible chance. They needed to feed their children, that kind of thing. Sure, some are different. But you don't know which ones. The only one I know who might? Is Charles. And he isn't perfect - not that his ability isn't good enough, he just... sometimes doesn't focus on what is at hand.

And anyway, going up there without assignment or training? If you think that will keep anybody safer, you have no idea how much worse that actually will be.

[regeneracy]

[What, what, WHAT is this? IS HE LECTURING HER?? She just looks so butthurt and offended right now, she can't even stop her eyes from tearing up and her hands from shaking as she balls them into fists and stands perfectly rigid, arms at her side.]

You haven't been here as long as I have, you don't know what it's like to be forced to sit by and repeatedly watch people you care about die or get hurt because everyone was too busy protecting you to let you help. Whether you like it or not, I'm helping.

[And now there are tears falling down her face, and she glares up at him.]

You can hate me for it if you want, but you aren't going to talk me out of it.

[these_fish]

[OH MY GOODNESS CRYING WAT DO]

I c-- I don't hate you, all right? I don't! I just want you to think it through. What would happen if somebody you know is fighting and all of a sudden you're standing there and he is distracted? Because you would be way more of a distraction to people you know than to the other side.

Can't... can't we just... talk about... [One hand reaching up to her cheek, then dropping down to her shoulder again.] Please, don't cry, all right? Maybe they aren't really going to be in very dangerous places, they just need the people to fill in those spots, and and and... something.

[regeneracy]

[Yeah, sorry. Crying is happening. She at least is nice enough to reach up to wipe away her tears, but she can't bring herself to look up at him.]

I have to go, Sean. And if you don't want to go, that's okay. But I'm going to ask Alex. We could all keep each other safe, and get to be useful at the same time. That's not a bad thing, is it?

[these_fish]

I am not going to--

Useful how?

[regeneracy]

I don't know.

[She doesn't want to admit that she just wants a chance to kill Revan, that it's about revenge for her. Sean's too nice of a person to understand whay she'd ever want to do that.]

I just -

[She pauses, still wiping away tears. Her lower lip trembles, and she pulls away from him, spinning around.]

You wouldn't understand, you'd think I'm some kind of monster.