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

Comments

[minorbeat]

(Seiren is there and is trying to help Laura the best she can. Seiren isn't the best at this kind of thing but she is willing to be there as long as it takes. Seiren softly puts her hand on Laura's shoulder as she herself doesn't really know what to say.)

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's unresponsive for several minutes. It seems as though she's aware Seiren's there, but doesn't know how to react or doesn't have the energy to. Eventually she gives the smallest turn of her head toward the hand on her shoulder, not enough to actually look directly at Seiren.]

You shouldn't be in here.

I don't know if... if I'm safe.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren squeezes Laura's shoulder gently to show that she isn't going anywhere.)

I don't care. You are my friend Laura. I want to be here for you, as long as it takes. And nothing you say is going to make me change my decision.

[emorangerpink]

[At that Laura does look at Seiren. Her eyes are bloodshot and red-rimmed, and she looks... tired, drained, wrung out. But she also looks grateful.]

...Thank you.

[She covers the hand on her shoulder with her own and lets her gaze drop. She has nothing to say... she just sits, holding on to the contact.]

[minorbeat]

(Seiren smiles softly.)

Whenever you are ready to talk, I'll be here to listen. Remember that okay?

(Just then Laura hears tiny footsteps and HUMMY comes in with a cup.)

Thank you HUMMY. I'm sorry I asked you to do this yourself.

It's okay Seiren! I'm happy to help!

(Seiren takes the cup from HUMMY and sets it down for Laura. As she does this HUMMY curls up next to Laura to give her something to cuddle if she wished.)

I thought you'd be thirsty so I asked HUMMY to get this. It is jasmine tea. I hope that is okay.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura stares at the cup. It's a little while before her one hand leaves Seiren's to hold HUMMY close to her as the other goes to pick it up.]

I suppose I'd be a real hypocrite if I said you shouldn't be doing this for me.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren opens her mouth to say something but quickly closes it. Seiren thinks for a second before dropping her head and sighing as she can't think of what to say that will help Laura.)

Sorry, I'm not good at cheering people up...I wish that I was so I could help you...But let me at least tell you this. Even if you said that I would stay because you mean a lot to me Laura. You are the first friend I've had in over nine years...You are my only friend and I want to help you through this no matter what it takes.

[emorangerpink]

You are helping, Seiren. You're being a better friend than I deserve.

[She drinks, carefully. Her hands still shake, after all.]

[minorbeat]

(Seiren looks a little sad at that.)

That's not true Laura. You deserve more than you think you do. You are a very good person. You helped someone as broken as me. You locked yourself in here because you were afraid you might hurt someone. You look out for people and you care deeply. You more than deserve a friend right now to stay with you.

[emorangerpink]

I'm not sure I agree. But... thank you for saying it.

And I'm sorry I couldn't be the... the stability you needed.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren looks Laura straight in the eyes. Laura can see she is serious.)

I mean it Laura. I'm not one to say things like this so know when I do say them I wholeheartedly believe it. You are a good person. Don't let anyone, including yourself, tell you otherwise.

What do you mean? You have helped me a lot. Why are talking like you failed?

[emorangerpink]

I was afraid I'd... that you'd need me and I couldn't be there. That I'd be overwhelmed by my own... problems.

I didn't expect it to happen quite like... like this.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren continues to look into Laura's eyes and has a small but genuine smile on her.)

Laura. If you need someone to lean on then you don't have to look further. I will be there for you whenever you need me. Maybe together, we can help each other with our problems. I'll help you bare your pain and vise versa. Does that sound good?

[emorangerpink]

[Laura wipes at her eyes and returns the smile, albeit weakly.]

All right. We can try.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren stands up and extends her hand for Laura.)

Why don't we get out of here? You didn't do anything wrong so you don't need to hold yourself in here any longer. Plus I think a change of scenery will help.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura shakes her head.]

No. I... not until they've done their checks. But after that...

Yes. Let's get out of here, then.