I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Who: Nita and YOU. Preferably close CR, but anyone can stop by.
Where: Quiet Car, second floor, a room near the front of the carriage.
When: Middle half of Grasshopper; post-platform, pre-event.
What: A(n ex-) wizard retreats. Some may come to reprimand, some to console, some just to find out WTF happened.
Warnings: ... Discussion of what's basically psychic assault in this log, folks. Mind your headspace!


After the platform, Nita retreated into herself. That was the best way to describe it; she could not be 'booked' in one of these rooms the same way she could have been in the Medical Car, but she spent as much time as she could in just the one room, not speaking unless spoken to, not leaving except to go to the restroom or fetch another journal.

No matter when one arrived to check on her, she would be either resting - staring off into space more than actually sleeping - or writing.

Some of the words were crossed out, as if she had had a tough time finding the right ones, but the writing looked to be formal in nature. A report. And, most notably, it was in English, not the alien curves of the Speech.

If she had to live with her actions, Nita figured, the least she could do was explain them - and explain why they were wrong.

Mostly, though, what encompassed her mind was the emptiness of it all. She couldn't even be angry now.

Fitting.

Comments

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita sucks in a breath; how Bobo is doing is one of those things she's deliberately trying to not consider right now. Not when the guilt and grief would make things so much worse-]

I don't know.

[At least she's still honest.

Something entirely unrelated to that morning's events finally occurs to her, and her eyes open wide.]

Wait, the packages-! Kaiba, you have my permission to go through every one of the ones addressed to me. Add the books to the library.

[A pause.]

And Roland Crane gets half of the journals; not sure how many of those there are.

[She'd promised, and there are suddenly tears in her eyes because she's broken a promise, hasn't she? A much bigger one than that-]

[blue_ice]

I will.

[ He takes a quick note of what he should grab, then turns back to her. ]

Is there anything else I can do for you?

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita pauses, opening her mouth before aborting whatever thought was about to come out of her mouth.]

No, but... thank you, Kaiba.

[Then she finally eyes the dragon.]

That's for Yugi, then? ... Or from him?

[blue_ice]

...from him. He was worried I was getting lonely at night, and needed a companion.

[ He looks a little awkward, embarrassed, but swallows it. ]

You can pet her, if you want.

[unfavorableinstigation]

[It provokes, of all things, a small smile from Nita.]

... No, but, thank you for the offer.

[She knows Blue Eyes means a LOT more to Kaiba than it ever could to her.]

[blue_ice]

[ He gently scoops up the dragon. She's big, so it's a little awkward, but he manages. ]

Look...you don't have to enter this kind of fight alone. I understand why you might've. But the train holds all the cards, and that means an uphill battle.

Just tell us, next time?

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita actually makes eye contact with him, for the first time that day. And while there's still something missing in her eyes... she's touched, by his words.]

I will.

[Another promise. Maybe this one, she'll get to keep too.]

... I don't know how this is going to impact the council, but I know it's going to come up. Don't-

[She pauses.]

Don't try to get me any special favors, okay?

[blue_ice]

[ And he knows it too. He takes a deep breath. ]

I won't. But don't underestimate how many people care about you either. Use that support network.

Wrap here, if that's alright?

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita's expression turns grim.]

... I'll remember that.

[But, uh, how should she use it? It wasn't as if having everyone power the sort of spell she used would somehow make it a better idea.]

sure

[blue_ice]

I'll take care of the books, then. Take care, Nita.

[ He gives her one last look...briefly gets stuck trying to get the dragon through the door...and then he's off. What a mess. ]