[It's so gentle. Even at her best, determination makes Erika cold and sharp and wistful. She enjoys this attention, though she feels sometimes like it's wasted on her.]
Yeah, I've...considered the odds. Even one percent isn't zero. [a very Erika way of agreeing.] If it were, I wouldn't have taken the Director's hand to begin with. Or stuck it out for this last mission. [She shrugs again, a hrrm noise catching in her throat and trailing off.
Her pace slows, because she abruptly looks up over her shoulder at Mia, just...staring at her for a moment, in thought.]
[Erika's pause causes Mia to slow in turn, eyes a bit wide in puzzlement. As much as she doesn't show other emotions very candidly, curiosity is one thing Mia never hides.
There are things she could press about Erika's other comments, but it's really the hesitation that's caught her attention.]
It's basically Christmas. [They're nearly to the tavern. It's late enough in the afternoon that there's a light haze of activity on the street, patches of sound filling up silences with warmth.] Last year we'd just come back from a mission. It was a success in every way. People on base were generous.
[So...lots of gifts. It was a happy time. Erika looks puzzled for a moment as something comes to mind, vaguely self-conscious about sharing it.] ...Maya made me this...party hat. With a spider. I didn't know what to think about it.
[Is that the kind of good story you tell someone?? Is it revealing of anything, she really has no idea.]
[The puzzlement hangs there for a moment. Then drops, rushing out of Erika like air from a balloon as she chuckles too, looking unused to making sounds like that. She folds her arms against the sudden aura of fluster about her, which mostly just makes her look even more flustered.]
I - guess. [She guesses. Is that really how that works?] I mean - yeah. She always takes new things in stride. That's what I've seen.
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Yeah, I've...considered the odds. Even one percent isn't zero. [a very Erika way of agreeing.] If it were, I wouldn't have taken the Director's hand to begin with. Or stuck it out for this last mission. [She shrugs again, a hrrm noise catching in her throat and trailing off.
Her pace slows, because she abruptly looks up over her shoulder at Mia, just...staring at her for a moment, in thought.]
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There are things she could press about Erika's other comments, but it's really the hesitation that's caught her attention.]
What's on your mind?
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...Gifts. [That's not what's actually on her mind.] Last year you weren't here yet.
[But thinking about whether Mia owns nice slippers or not is preferable to heading down that particular thought spiral.]
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['Last year, I was dead,' is a thought that Mia doesn't voice. She lets it pass, looking back up at the road they're on.]
Is it much like Christmas? I'm not as familiar, but I know Maya's all about it this year.
[Perhaps for the fun of it, but she suspects it's also for the chance to cheer everyone up.]
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[So...lots of gifts. It was a happy time. Erika looks puzzled for a moment as something comes to mind, vaguely self-conscious about sharing it.] ...Maya made me this...party hat. With a spider. I didn't know what to think about it.
[Is that the kind of good story you tell someone?? Is it revealing of anything, she really has no idea.]
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Is that right? Sounds like her, enough.
[Another little chuckle.]
We didn't really have chances to celebrate Christmas much, back home. I guess the spiders just add to the appeal of celebrating something new...
[She doesn't sound TOO convinced, but it's not like she hates bugs herself.
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I - guess. [She guesses. Is that really how that works?] I mean - yeah. She always takes new things in stride. That's what I've seen.
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[Admits Mia, looking ahead]
She's... inspiring.
[Is what Mia settles on, it would seem.]
She's unstoppable, even when she's afraid. Or... when things are very, very strange.