Out By The Milliways Lake

[argyle_princess]

She's not dressed for it, and it's cold, and she ought to go back to history class, but some days, after some conversations, a girl just has to run. This is one of those days, and that was one of those conversations.

And so Hannah is running. She's running and she's not thinking about anything but running and that suits her just fine.

And if her eyes are watering, it's just from the cold air out around the lake.

Comments

[argyle_princess]

Hannah shakes her head. "No, I . . .

"How are the repairs coming?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"They're coming along well enough." Wellard nods, taking a deep breath, and looking out to the Pearl.

"Some of the work up in the rigging we may have to put off til spring, as we don't think the weather will get any better til then. But we can still work below deck, specially as Captain Sparrow has had a friend of his, Lord Ostium, put some sort of spell on the ship so its quite warmer inside."

[argyle_princess]

"Warmer is good," says Hannah. "Especially if you go around giving away your coat."

Still not quite looking up.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Jack's used to being in the West Indies, more." Wellard shrugs.

He takes a deep breath, looking over at her.

"... Are you alright, Hannah? Is there anything I can do to help?"

[argyle_princess]

Sometimes, in the end, it's the kindness that undoes you, in ways that cruelty can't.

Hannah stops walking, turns away to brush tears from both eyes almost fiercely, and shakes her head again.

"I'm . . ."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

... quite obviously not alright, so that had been a rather pointless question.

Wordlessly, Wellard holds out a hankerchief for Hannah.

[argyle_princess]

Hannah takes the handkerchief, twisting it in her hands, then pulls her hair back from her face with one hand and tries to smile. Not especially successfully.

"Sorry. It's . . . it's just . . ."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Its quite alright." Wellard nods to Hannah.

"Things happen, and... they happen." He bites his lip, and shrugs.

[argyle_princess]

Hannah makes several mostly pointless swipes at her hair, then hugs her arms to herself, hands resting on the opposite shoulders.

She manages a nod and a very weak smile.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He takes another deep breath, glancing down to his hands, then back to Hannah.

[argyle_princess]

Hannah slowly uncurls her arms, fidgeting with her hands for a moment as if uncertain what to do with them, and then drops them to her sides.

"I . . . I am sorry. I didn't mean to go all to pieces there."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head, quietly.

"Hannah, obviously something has happened, and things are not exactly fine- which you do never have to tell me, if you do not wish. But just that they have, and have upset you-"

Wellard smiles sadly.

"If you cannot go to pieces here, where else can you go?"

[argyle_princess]

"I can't. Someday. Maybe. But not right now . . . I just can't talk about it," she says miserably. "I'm sorry."

A moment, and then she says more firmly. "I don't like going to pieces."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard starts to raise one hand- then lets it drop back to his side as he bites his lip.

"And if it ends up being never, that's quite alright." Softly.

"I don't think anyone does."

[argyle_princess]

"I'm not sure it is quite all right," she says. "I just know I can't get into it now."

She looks over at him and there's a smile -- small but real.

"Thank you. I think you're the kindest person I know."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard blinks, and chuckles quietly. "If you do say so, Hannah. But it is just what anyone really should do."

[argyle_princess]

"Maybe," she says quietly. "But I don't think it's what most people would do."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"... Perhaps. But a good portion of the world..." Wellard bites his lip.

"A good portion of the world is those sorts of people. That doesn't mean you or I should be them- and I would dare say that most people here are unlike most of the world- worlds, even- either." He takes a deep breath, and gives her a faint smile.

"So, that is what we do then, even if most people won't. Because that is who we are."

[argyle_princess]

"I live in a world with very few people like you, Henry. Very few," she says, so quietly that he might have trouble hearing her.

And she's not sure that's she's one of them.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard bites his lip, then reaches over to lightly touch Hannah's arm.

"Mores the pity, then. You certainly deserve someplace better."

[argyle_princess]

A slight shrug. "The world is what it is."

And by "world" she, of course, means "high school."

"Anyway," she says, voice getting a little stronger, "at least I have here, right? To visit."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He nods, smiling faintly. "You do have Milliways, thankfully."

[argyle_princess]

"Yeah," she says.

"You're gonna get cold if we just stand around, you know."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

... Not that he would really admit if he was, but Wellard still nods.

"We could go to the bar, or to the Pearl, if you'd like. Either or."

There are not really a lot of options for places to go, here.

[argyle_princess]

"I don't think I'm ready to go back to the bar," she says. "Sometimes it's a little . . . too much to take in?"

It's sort of like a decision.

Kind of.