[locked to new hires] post-babadon't

[princesspower]

[ Adora fidgets with her communicator, staring at the screen, her brow furrowed as the video feed starts up. She's in a bed in the infirmary, with some bandaging on her head where she's was previously bleeding from the scalp. She looks tired, mostly. ]

Hey everybody. I just - I guess I wanted to say that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let myself get taken out like that. Everyone had to deal with that because of me. I screwed up. I won't let it happen again. Uh - I guess that's about it.

Comments

[alderaani]

"And when something happens it doesn't matter if it's logical or sensical it's your job to see that it doesn't happen. You are supposed to protect and defend people, and if you can't do that.. what are you?"

You, in this sense very clearly stood in for me.

"For some of us, for some things, there is no absolution."

[princesspower]

Adora's shoulders slump a little, partially relieved that someone else seems to understand what she means. How she views the universe.

"Yeah. Exactly. I can't just... forget about what I need to do. They seem to want me to just - just forget. Or pretend that's not how I feel. Or that feeling this is wrong..."

[alderaani]

"They can't understand because it's not the same for them. It's different for some of us."

She sighed and shook her head.

"The best you can do is keep busy, focus on what you can do now. It can't change what happened but it helps."

[princesspower]

"That's what I'd like to do," Adora replies with a groan, "But everyone seems to think that I shouldn't be feeling any responsibility. That I just... I don't know."

She runs her hands down her face.

"I'm fine. I don't understand why everyone else thinks they need to be so worried..."

[alderaani]

"Because people wouldn't be fine. And they will press you for something until they feel they've had some sort of emotion from you."

As well-meaning as many might be.

"I might suggest letting them think they've gotten something from you. Tell them you see what they mean and that while it is hard you will try to let it go."

She'd had to say that often enough herself.

[princesspower]

"I... could do that," Adora replies, sounding a little miserable.

"It feels a little like lying, though."

[alderaani]

"I know that's not ideal, but it assuages them enough to give you space."

It's a lesser of the possible evils.

[princesspower]

Adora shrugs uncomfortably, "I guess. Maybe I'll try it."

She pauses.

"Does that really work for you?"

(feel free to drop this if it's too old)

[alderaani]

Leia stiffened at the question, did it?

"Some times more than others."

Some people more than others too.