[ The problem is that Hermione truly believes that she should have known. She should have been there for Katsa, should never have argued with her, should have been at her side to learn about Gilgamesh and come face to face with him for what he'd done and threatened, but she hadn't been. Instead, she'd believed him, and her own heart, and she'd loved and cherished him despite all her own failures. It hurts to think about and, now, she has to force herself to calm down.
She's weak to him, and she'd known it. She was a fool for him and all she can do now is try her best to make it better. To try and undo the damage someone she cared about had done, to try and readdress the balance of it all. She knew, quietly, in the back of her mind, that it wasn't her job, but... She felt as though it was her duty.
(She was Gilgamesh's queen, in his eyes; she had been his proxy Master, his Marchioness, his ruler. He followed her. She should repair what was broken in his name).
She has to try her best to reply and make it seem normal, easy... And that isn't as simple as it sounds. ]
Maybe. But that's in the past now, I can't undo it. All we can do is try and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
[ It's a good thing this conversation has been through script rather than spoken word. Katsa doesn't know if she could have held herself together had she had to face Hermione throughout it, and she probably would have gotten out her words in some sort of regrettable fashion. Even better, she can't see Hermione's face, and Hermione can't see hers.
She can take time to reply. And Katsa takes it: minutes, far more than needed, to send back one word. ]
I've been here... Almost six months, perhaps? Maybe a little longer. I wasn't in the Drabwurld for too long after you left; I was brought here. I've been making and practicing potions using the foreign ingredients here and trying to branch out and actually meet some people.
The potion making, or the meeting people? I wouldn't know where to start with strange plants or herbs. And you can hardly explore here, most of the time.
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She's weak to him, and she'd known it. She was a fool for him and all she can do now is try her best to make it better. To try and undo the damage someone she cared about had done, to try and readdress the balance of it all. She knew, quietly, in the back of her mind, that it wasn't her job, but... She felt as though it was her duty.
(She was Gilgamesh's queen, in his eyes; she had been his proxy Master, his Marchioness, his ruler. He followed her. She should repair what was broken in his name).
She has to try her best to reply and make it seem normal, easy... And that isn't as simple as it sounds. ]
Maybe. But that's in the past now, I can't undo it. All we can do is try and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
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She can take time to reply. And Katsa takes it: minutes, far more than needed, to send back one word. ]
Yes.
[ And then, even longer following: ]
You've strange choices in companions, you know.
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[ Hermione can't help but huff a laugh to herself, shaking her head and staring at her device. ]
They were all wonderful, though.
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I didn't enjoy the thought of never seeing anyone again. There was so much I had left to do. Even you, we hardly had the time.
[ After... well, everything. ]
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We have the time now, you know.
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[ Hermione has succeeded in making Katsa smile. She likes the thought. ]
I want to hear everything. I want to know everything.
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Everything? You're going to have to give me somewhere to start.
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I've been here... Almost six months, perhaps? Maybe a little longer. I wasn't in the Drabwurld for too long after you left; I was brought here. I've been making and practicing potions using the foreign ingredients here and trying to branch out and actually meet some people.
It's harder than it sounds.
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But when we stop at planets I gather herbs and seeds and I have a greenhouse and potion workshop on the Iskaulit that I use to make everything.
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