[Voice]

[mostly_spice]

Simon, I found one of those syringes. It's probably a moot point by now, but if it does come up, at least we have it.

There were some other things. I don't know if they're cleaning supplies or medicine, but I left them outside your door.

Maybe they'll help.

Comments

[voice]

[staticnotsound]

Hey. Ashelin.

...Thanks for your help.

[mostly_spice]

[There's a faint echo to his comment and she clicks the com off, sticking her head inside the door.]

Lugging you here was a chore. You sound better.

[staticnotsound]

[He looks a little better. A bit more rested, anyway.]

Funny. I still feel like crap.

Sorry for the trouble, though.

[mostly_spice]

[Lets herself in. She's dirty and scratched up from the hospital, but nothing major. She's taken to wearing Torn's dagger on her hip.]

It wasn't any. A lot of people here worried about you.

[staticnotsound]

[He tilts his head, noting the dagger; at least, he knows that wasn't Ashelin's.]

...I know. I didn't. I honestly didn't meant to worry any of them.

[he frowns.]

Guess I really can't do anything right around here.

[mostly_spice]

[Leans against the wall]

That's two of us. Stan's been locked up, from what I hear. No one's said how, yet.

[Looks down at the spike on her boot.]

What happened? Heard she fell.

[staticnotsound]

[he sits back in his bed, leaning against the headboard.]

...I went in after Stan and Jenny. I didn't tell Jackie specifically where to go, because I thought he'd get in the way or do something dumb to endanger the whole thing.

I confronted Stan upstairs. We agreed to fight afterward. So he shoved Jenny away. She went out the window. Stan... I guess he didn't mean to, but... I didn't care. I was angry. I shot him in the foot, knocked him down, and went downstairs to check on Jenny outside...

Jackie was there. She was dead, from the fall. When Shinji showed up, I thought it was best to leave. So I did.

That's pretty much it.

[mostly_spice]

[Listens, studying him]

Jackie's a red eco powder keg looking for an excuse to blow up. Tell me the part you'd have done differently.

[staticnotsound]

[He lowers his head.]

I don't know. Maybe I should have shot Stan first? Wasn't there... a better solution?

[mostly_spice]

I'm not the one to ask.

[She shifts a little, then shrugs.]

Sometimes there isn't. You just do what you have to and- find out the world's a different place than you thought.

[staticnotsound]

[He frowns and nods.]

...I guess. You learned that yourself. Right?

[mostly_spice]

I guess.

[Looks at him.]

This city used to work, Harry. Before us, it worked. When I was here the last time, it wasn't like this... when did it stop? Torn-- he said I can't sit on the sidelines, that I'm not made for it. He's right.

I'm a sucker for a lost cause. But I did it my way, and people-- [Waves a hand.] And you did it your way, and it went sour. What's the answer?

[staticnotsound]

[He shakes his head.]

This city only worked for about two months.

[He gives her a bit of a flat look.]

I've been here longer, Ashelin. I've seen it what it was like with its natives, when it was just a small group of us, and afterward -- the more people, the more chaos. The more crowded.

...I guess. Honestly, the only answer I have is that we don't give it up. I tried to sit back and not look outside my own walls, and I couldn't do it. I know you can't just sit back, either.

[mostly_spice]

[Shakes her head.]

Before that, Harry. This isn't a big city, but it's not a town. Before you, before it went to hell, this city was alive. It had citizens, rulers. Trying to make it a better place. Again.

[Passes a hand before her eyes, tired.]

I should have backed you up when you went after him. I can't fix that any more than you can go back and save her. But I'll do it next time.