[week four - wednesday]

[ceded]

[ It hasn't been that long since she woke up from her surgery. Hannibal was the first to speak to, since, obviously, he was there, and from that conversation alone she's feeling kind of drained. She's expecting he won't be the last, though.

But surprise still registers on her face when Chane and Claire walk into the room. Both of them? At the same time?

She'll blink at them for a long moment, opening and closing her mouth, and then ask, very softly: ]

Are you going to yell at me?

[ she's

tired. ]

Comments

[generously]

[ He would be surprised if Chane suddenly got her voice back just to yell at the poor girl. As for Claire, he responds calmly: ]

Yelling isn't gonna change what happened. [ So that's a no! Instead, they come bearing gifts, which he'll let Chane present. ] Aside from that, you didn't do anything that Chane and I wouldn't have.

[ Not that... he knows the full story yet, but he can promise that their lives have been plenty adventurous if not reckless so far. ]

[tightly]

[ It doesn't seem like Chane has any intention of yelling, even if she could. Instead, she gives Xion a cursory appraisal - as always, Dr. Lecter does good work - and offers her a paper bag filled with sundries. The package includes a miniature stuffed version of Pluto (why even was that in the general store?), a change of clothes should Xion want to wear something less tattered and bloody, a few snacks, and a book Chane stole from the library. ]

[ceded]

[ Xion will just kind of keep staring at them, apparently somewhat shocked. It's when Chane offers her the bag - and she gets a glance at what's inside - that she actually starts to react. Which, in this case, means dissolving into tears, though with a deep and steadying breath she manages to keep from shedding more than one or to. ]

I don't-- [ deserve this ] --thank you.

[ She'll rub at her face and pluck out the little stuffed Pluto, a shaky but very real smile blooming across her face. The bag she sets beside herself on the bed and mini-Pluto she hugs to her chest while smiling a little at both of them. ]

... would you two really break into one of the buildings? I'd be worried about you. [ which is hypocritical, but she knows it, at least. Her gaze falls to the stuffed dog in her arms. ]

[generously]

When I was your age, I used to break into all kinds of weird places! I even came back in one piece, so... there's no need to worry about me.

[ As long as he believes that he'll live forever, then that's what it's gonna be. As for Chane, well, he'll let his beautiful wife speak for herself! ]

[tightly]

[ Once Xion takes the bag, Chane settles into one of the spare chairs lingering helpfully in the infirmary. It appears that they don't intend for this to be a brief visit; although Chane is not usually one to meander in a place past her purpose, Claire is a bit more social. It's nice to have that buffer.

Writing, writing, writing... ]

No, we would not. [ AHEM. CLAIRE. ] But, although I do not think you should have either, I understand why you did.

[ceded]

[ Chane's note makes her laugh, somewhat to her own surprise. She's ... not convinced they wouldn't, actually. It would probably be Claire's idea if they did.

But her expression turns into something sort of ... withdrawn after that. ]

I wanted ... to do something. This whole time, I feel like I've just been watching everything happen around me. Watching people I care about get killed. I thought if I could, just once, have control over anything...

[ A sigh. Xion rubs the back of her neck and gives her mini stuffed Pluto a deeply unhappy smile. ]

I know I got hurt, and I know people are going to be mad at me. But ... I don't have any regrets. I just wish Milla hadn't gotten hurt, too.

[generously]

Milla is something more than a human, I truly believe that she will be fine. As for you, don't think of yourself as worthless, okay? That irritates me more than what happened.

[ He pauses to breathe out a sigh. ]

You've tried more than most of us, Xion, and you're alive 'cause you can still do more.

[tightly]

[ Not having her husband's gift with words (tee hee), she sits this round out. ]

[ceded]

[ Something about that startles her, and she stares at Claire openly, visibly befuddled. ]

But I...

[ The defense rises automatically to her lips, until she realizes she's about to actively defend her own worthlessness. The realization just makes her feel awful, and her eyes hood as she sighs and lets it go. ]

... can I really ... do more? Was what I did today enough? I want ... to help send everyone home, where they all belong. I want to protect the people I care about. [ She looks up again, her gaze moving from Claire to Chane and back. ] You guys, too. Everyone's done so much to take care of me, I ... all I want is to make sure I can repay the favor.

[generously]

If you somehow found a way to get us all home safely, we'd just end up owing you again. Who could ever repay you for something like that? No, if you feel like you owe us anything, then be more realistic. Smile if you're happy, but also cry if you're sad. Be yourself, 'cause that's what everyone loves you for.

[ what the hell is he even talking about ]

Most importantly, the responsibility of keeping the town safe falls on all of us together. It's not something you can do alone, so just take it easy!

[tightly]

[ (Gonna do it like we talked about on plurk,) The moment Xion reaches out, well - the moment after, more correctly - Chane accepts her reaching hand, letting their grips fold together and doing her best to hold tight and warm.

Claire is correct, though. So many people have already died. At this point, it's important that no one takes too much on their shoulders singularly.

Chane nods along as he talks. ]

[ceded]

[ It's with a little sigh of relief that Xion curls her hand around Chane's. She knows her friend has a tough time with things like this. Being ... close, and especially staying there. So it's ... really nice that Chane is so willing. She'll give Chane's hand a squeeze, a way of showing her gratitude.

Claire, as usual, manages to surprise her with his bluntness. She ends up staring at him, somewhat baffled, because she always feels a little baffled around him. ]

You really don't think like anyone else I've ever met. [ ... ] But ... I like that about you.

Do you really think ... that all of us can figure it out? We've never even caught a killer.

[generously]

Yeahhh... I've been thinkin' about that. If some killers are aware of each other, they'd be more unified than the rest of us. While we're always yelling at each other and not being decisive about anything, they can always stack the votes on someone innocent. ... Especially if we're the ones who end up pointing at them.

That's probably how they'd do it, right?