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

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Quite better now, thankfully." Wellard nods. "There were quite a lot of people making sure I'll be alright." He smiles.

[argyle_princess]

"That's good," she say.

She looks down at her hands and then back up at him.

"I've really missed you."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"I- I missed you too, Hannah." His cheeks flush slightly, but Wellard does also smile.

"I'm glad you're back."

[argyle_princess]

"I'm glad to be back."

A moment.

"Do you mind if we walk? It's kinda cold to just stand."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Oh- of course not. And here, my apologies." Wellard slips off his coat. It is not his uniform coat- stopped wearing his uniform for the most part after coming back to Milliways from the trip with Jack on the Pearl. This coat is grey, a bit longer, and quite suited for winters in London- it can handle late fall in Scotland.

"It tends to be warmer in California, I gather?"

[argyle_princess]

"Just a bit," she says, in an understatement sort of tone. "At least, in my part of California. It's kind of a big state."

She shrugs into the coat. "Thank you. But won't you get cold now?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"I'm used to cool weather- I'll be alright for the most part." Wellard nods, motioning along the shore line.

"London and Kent were cool enough in the wintertime, though not as much as Scotland, thankfully."

[argyle_princess]

"Hmmmmm," says Hannah, noncommittally, starting forward.

And then, with a smile and a bit of a sideways glance at him, "We're talking about the weather, aren't we?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He blinks, then laughs quietly. "That we are. Though it does tend to be a safe subject."

Wellard raises an eyebrow, and glances over at Hannah. "Unless you can think of a more adventurous subject?"

[argyle_princess]

"I don't know," she says. "I feel like I should--that there kinda ought to be something--I . . ." she stops, and shrugs.


"I've really missed you," she says again, looking over quickly and then down, letting her hair fall to cover her face.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

... Maybe the weather really was a safer topic.

Wellard bites his lip, reaching over to carefully touch Hannah's arm. "I have miss you as well. I- Um. Did you want to go somewhere? Or certainly talk about... anything else?"

He is only mentally flailing at this moment.

[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."