eiattu_pride | (no subject)

(no subject)

Rial's working.

Not like that's a big surprise, because honesty, when is he not? The work keeps coming.

So he doesn't even look up when he hears Plourr, just sets a datapad and stylus aside.

"I'm going to need your help on this."

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She keeps reading for another stubborn, proud moment. But really, what's the point? He's apologizing. They're both tired. She looks over at him. "It's okay," she says quietly.

"I was out of line."

Rubs the bridge of his nose, "I'm tired, you're tired - look, you go back to bed. This can wait."

She shakes her head, glancing back at the 'pad again. "I was getting up to help anyway, and there's perfectly good caf brewing now. Can't let that go to waste." She shoots him a look. "You, though, should go sleep. I've had a few hours; I'm fine. There are still--" She checks the chrono on the wall. "Four hours yet til this meeting. I can finish it on my own."

"Four hours?"

Oh, gods no.

"Not sleeping. This is useless. Where's the caf?"

She points. "It'll be another minute or so before it's ready. And you're going to pass out on me during the meeting if you don't sleep, Rial. Really, four hours is plenty of time."

"If you say so."

Yawns and stretches.

"Do you even know the material?"

She shoots him a cutting look and recites, " 'It is the law of the land that the Priamsta are the superior in every way of the commoners. The lords Priamsta hold right of life, right of pass, right of death'-- I would offer to go on, but I think I might throw up." She shakes her head, leaning over and turning off the caf. "We have to get that changed."

"We will, no worries."

Eyes the datapad.

"Hopefully."

She pours herself a mug of caf. "We will," she says, eyes flinty, because there's no other option. This can't go on for her people. "I don't give a damn what the Priamsta try to do to stop it."

"Short of asassination."

Vaguely.

A moment's slightly unsettled pause. "Well, yes, that would be a problem."

"I - oh. Sorry."

Long, uncomfortable pause.

She shrugs, taking a sip of caf, and says with some forced bravado, "I'd like to see them try."

"Yeah."

Looks away.

"You miss them, don't you?"

She drops her eyes, watches her caf swirl. "I was too young to know them well," she says quietly.

"Doesn't mean you can't miss them."

Softly.

She shrugs wordlessly, pulling her knees up and glancing out the window, where the sun is beginning to peer over the horizon.

"Let's both take a break."

Stands, stretches.

"This stuff is pretty dull."

Still curled up on the counter, she asks, "What happened to Mr. We've Only Got Four Hours?"

"He stepped aside for Mr. I've Not Slept In Way Too Long."

Dryly.

She smiles faintly into her caf and waves a hand at him. "Go on. I'll finish looking over the human rights material."

"Okay."

Wanders in the direction of the door.

"Um - there's the next fourth of that on my desk."

She nods, resigned, leaning back against the windowsill and picking up the datapad. "Alright."

"Wake me in an hour."

She tips two fingers to her forehead in a highly informal salute.

And he wanders back to the couch in the main room.

That's not exactly going to bed, but it's close enough.

When he's gone, Plourr stares at the datapad a moment, then goes back to reading its mind-numbingly dull, confusing legal documents.

She just wants to fly.

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