03 - Public / Video

[domesheriff]

[Linda is sitting on a bench in the garden when she activates the feed. she's dressed casually in a coat and jeans, though her right hand visibly has a bandage around it. she looks tired, and she's obviously fallen in some mud at some point today as well]

Anybody else having trouble learning to ride their animals? [there's weariness in her tone. but a thought occurs to her then, and she adds:] Are many people going to be in the race? I know it's optional.

[while the mud is a result of her rocky attempts to learn to ride a "yoshi," her burned hand isn't. it's been a busy day, starting with testing forcefields with Agent K to try to find one like the dome followed by her riding session on the farm. needless to say, relaxing for a bit chatting with friends strikes her as a good way to end an exhausting day]

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[domesheriff]

[Linda moves closer to Grainne on the bench, putting her bandaged hand over one of Grainne's. her voice is quiet when she asks her next question] What happened?

[neverarightstep]

[Grainne looks down, wondering. What did happen? Sometimes, thinking back to those times she wonders if her memory is still remembering things right. Or is she speaking about the more recent happenings? Her words could apply to so many things, she doesn't know how to answer Linda's question right away.]

What always happens when you betray someone, Linda. You can spend the rest of your life trying to make up for it, and still it will not be enough.

[domesheriff]

[Linda's voice gains strength as she probes further, determined not to let Grainne just sit here and talk ill of herself] But you said whatever you did, you did it to save them. Don't they realize that?

[neverarightstep]

[She shakes her head, frowning a little.]

No. It was necessary to keep the reasons to myself, otherwise it would not work. They stayed true to their father.

[domesheriff]

That's so sad... [the response is a kneejerk reaction. after that, she's quiet for a moment, taking in what she's been told and struggling to make sense of it]

[when she speaks again, her words start out hesitant but gain strength as she goes] But...even if they'll never know, that doesn't change what you sacrificed for them. You saved them. Right?

[neverarightstep]

I wonder. The path I set them on may have led to their death, but when I averted it, it only set them on another that definitely led them to it. It took a bit longer, but the end, still the same. They died and that time there was nothing I could do about it, because it was a matter of politics and several clans going to war.

[domesheriff]

[at Grainne's response, she's quick to add:] But intentions are important. We can't know what our actions will bring, not really. You did what you did to save them--no matter what happened after.

[but she frowns, not really sure what else to say without a better understanding of what happened to Grainne and her family] Could you...tell me about it? If it's not...you know, too much to talk about.

[impossibilities]

[The words linger in her ears for a moment or two, stirring memories she would rather have buried and forgotten again. When is the last time she spoke about it?

Back there, with him?

She sighs, feeling that emptiness again.]

Wait here.

[Standing without waiting for an answer, she leaves swiftly, heading into the resort. After what seems like far too short a time, she is back, holding a thin pamphlet that might have been a book once, labeled The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne.

Grainne sits in her place again, and holds out the book for her to take.]

Here. This tells the entire story. It is not one I will tell myself.

[domesheriff]

[Linda isn't expecting Grainne to leave suddenly, but she stays where she is, waiting as instructed. and when Grainne returns, she's surprised to be offered a written version of her story. she takes the pamphlet carefully, her words earnest:] I'll read and give it back soon.

[after a pause, she adds:] Thank you. I'm sorry, Grainne.

[neverarightstep]

[Grainne smiles sadly, but thankfully Ian't tearing up.] You have done no wrong, Linda. There is only one person that owes an apology for what happened, and he is long dead.