Alone in the library
Title: Alone in the library
Author: elemental-light
Characters: Ruby, Mina.
Rating: G
Spoilers: Episode 4
Summary: Ruby comes across Mina after the end of the Episode 4.
Ruby stopped at the top of the aisle, shocked to see Mina slumped on the floor, resting her head on her knees with her arms wrapped around it. Her shoulders were quivering. A box lay on the floor, with its contents scattered across the floor.
Ruby stepped forward slowly, not quite sure how to react. "Mina?" Her voice came out as a thin squeak.
The reaction was immediate. Mina sat up straight and looked wildly to the left. Her eyes were bloodshot. "Ruby? What are you doing here?" She clambered to her feet, rapidly schooling her features to appear unmoved. "I thought you had left with the others."
"I was, er, doing some homework. It's a bit quieter here in the Stacks than at home." Ruby paused. "Are you, er, okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you." The reply was automatic, as was the motion of Mina's hands to smooth back her hair and straighten her blouse. "Are you planning to stay long? I didn't think Luke or Rupert were planning to come back. I'll give you a lift home."
"Thanks." Ruby took a step back.
Mina sank graciously to the ground, casting her arms out feeling for the box.
"Do you need a hand?"
Mina looked up, this time her eyes slightly off. Her reply was hesitant. "That would be most kind, Ruby."
Ruby walked over and gathered up the bits and pieces on the floor, a mixture of tokens, jewellery, photos and other remembrances. Mina said, "Please, can you put them all close by, and then I can sort them out."
Ruby did so, hesitating as she turned over a black and white photograph of the vampire who had recently held her prisoner. There were some odd notches in the side. "Do you want to talk about it, Mina?" She was not sure that she wanted to hear, but felt that she ought to offer.
The answer was swift, and chilly. "No." A beat later, Mina spoke again, her voice softened. "I'm sorry, Ruby. That was uncalled for. Please excuse me. I am somewhat out of sorts after the day's events. I'm truly sorry for everything that you suffered at the hands of my son."
"It wasn't your fault, Mina."
Mina smiled faintly. "I might beg to differ, Ruby." She finished putting the objects into the box and then closed it firmly, latching it shut. Then she stood again, placing it carefully on one of the shelves. "Are you ready to go, or do you still have work to do?"
"No, I'm ready to go, Mina."
A quick phone call and a short walk later, they were in Mina's limousine. Ruby hoped that none of the neighbours would be awake to see her arriving in such fancy transport. They sat in silence for a moment.
Ruby wasn't particularly good at silence. "So, I read Dracula." Mina maintained her impassive stare. "Is it true?"
Mina's voice was calm and cold. "In parts."
"What was he like?"
"I don't think you really want to know, Ruby."
Ruby wasn't quite sure how to reply to that. She thought about the drink she had shared with Quincey. He had been utterly charming, if you ignored some of his more offensive opinions about humans. She shivered, and stayed silent until they arrived at her block of flats.
Author: elemental-light
Characters: Ruby, Mina.
Rating: G
Spoilers: Episode 4
Summary: Ruby comes across Mina after the end of the Episode 4.
Ruby stopped at the top of the aisle, shocked to see Mina slumped on the floor, resting her head on her knees with her arms wrapped around it. Her shoulders were quivering. A box lay on the floor, with its contents scattered across the floor.
Ruby stepped forward slowly, not quite sure how to react. "Mina?" Her voice came out as a thin squeak.
The reaction was immediate. Mina sat up straight and looked wildly to the left. Her eyes were bloodshot. "Ruby? What are you doing here?" She clambered to her feet, rapidly schooling her features to appear unmoved. "I thought you had left with the others."
"I was, er, doing some homework. It's a bit quieter here in the Stacks than at home." Ruby paused. "Are you, er, okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you." The reply was automatic, as was the motion of Mina's hands to smooth back her hair and straighten her blouse. "Are you planning to stay long? I didn't think Luke or Rupert were planning to come back. I'll give you a lift home."
"Thanks." Ruby took a step back.
Mina sank graciously to the ground, casting her arms out feeling for the box.
"Do you need a hand?"
Mina looked up, this time her eyes slightly off. Her reply was hesitant. "That would be most kind, Ruby."
Ruby walked over and gathered up the bits and pieces on the floor, a mixture of tokens, jewellery, photos and other remembrances. Mina said, "Please, can you put them all close by, and then I can sort them out."
Ruby did so, hesitating as she turned over a black and white photograph of the vampire who had recently held her prisoner. There were some odd notches in the side. "Do you want to talk about it, Mina?" She was not sure that she wanted to hear, but felt that she ought to offer.
The answer was swift, and chilly. "No." A beat later, Mina spoke again, her voice softened. "I'm sorry, Ruby. That was uncalled for. Please excuse me. I am somewhat out of sorts after the day's events. I'm truly sorry for everything that you suffered at the hands of my son."
"It wasn't your fault, Mina."
Mina smiled faintly. "I might beg to differ, Ruby." She finished putting the objects into the box and then closed it firmly, latching it shut. Then she stood again, placing it carefully on one of the shelves. "Are you ready to go, or do you still have work to do?"
"No, I'm ready to go, Mina."
A quick phone call and a short walk later, they were in Mina's limousine. Ruby hoped that none of the neighbours would be awake to see her arriving in such fancy transport. They sat in silence for a moment.
Ruby wasn't particularly good at silence. "So, I read Dracula." Mina maintained her impassive stare. "Is it true?"
Mina's voice was calm and cold. "In parts."
"What was he like?"
"I don't think you really want to know, Ruby."
Ruby wasn't quite sure how to reply to that. She thought about the drink she had shared with Quincey. He had been utterly charming, if you ignored some of his more offensive opinions about humans. She shivered, and stayed silent until they arrived at her block of flats.