Office Hours - We Could Be

[shieldof]

[Faith's door remains closed, the brass "PRIVATE" plaque silent and unyielding. Trying to force the door yields no results, but- she said you could contact her here, so just go ahead and knock. Worst case scenario, you're no worse off than before, right?]

((OOC: Please tag your top-levels with the appropriate week and day.))

Comments

[reflectsdargent]

[ She enters slowly, arms wrapped around herself. There's...this air of embarrassment around her, shame, but it's not the driving factor behind her visit today. ]

I'm not trashed this time, you don't have to get up.

[ She closes the door behind her. ]

We need to talk.

[shieldof]

I- believe we do, yes.

[She sits carefully at her desk.]

...I wish to apologize.

[reflectsdargent]

[ Shannon approaches slowly, taking a seat in the chair across from her. ]

For what part?

[shieldof]

You've a great many questions, as you should. And I'm unable to provide the kind of answers you deserve.

[reflectsdargent]

...You're not going to like that I have another one, then.

[shieldof]

Likely not. But it remains my duty to at least attempt an answer.

[reflectsdargent]

[ ... ]

First, I'm sorry too. For...all of that, before. It was a bad idea.

[ She leans forward a little. ]

But you need to tell me. Was I just injured? Or was I dead?

[shieldof]

[blink]

What..?

[reflectsdargent]

There was something in one of the capsules that damn clown has. It was a cross, like...a grave marker. It had my name on it.

Do you know about those things? The ones that we get from him?

[shieldof]

I do not.

[Her face is a little pale, actually.]

Are you certain it could not just be-

[Maybe some kind of cruel, strange prank? That seems fitting, for the clown. But Shannon seems so certain-]

I- you were terribly wounded, I know. How much do you actually remember?

[reflectsdargent]

[ Her jaw tightens for a moment. Then, stilted... ]

I...was running through the jungle. I was trying to...catch up with Walt, or...at least a vision of him.

I reached a clearing, and there were people. [ Michael, Jin, Sawyer—was it them, or was it just...her wishful thinking? ] I couldn't get a very good look at most of them. One of them.... She shot me.

[ And her hand finds its way to her stomach, upper right side. ]

It felt... [ Shannon shakes her head. ] I think I was in shock. I stumbled back through the trees, to-

[ Ah. Now she has to look away. ]

Sayid.

[ She is. SO incredibly embarrassed about her last visit here. ]

I remember... [ She closes her eyes. ] He caught me...when I started to fall, and...he tried to hold me up. I remember, there was- so much blood, and I felt like...like I was on fire, all over.

I remember trying to say something, but, I couldn't...

[ ... ]

I saw the light behind him, but...I wasn't really focusing on it. Or...anything. It was hot, but...it was cold, and...

[ Shannon takes a deep breath to center herself. She opens her eyes, and they're steely. ]

Then I woke up here.

[shieldof]

...I see.

[She chews her lip for a moment.]

It is- recovering someone from. Revival after death is possible, especially if it happens immediately. But- time between realms is inherently disconnected. In the circumstances, it is equally possible that you were healed before dying, and this- artifact if from a possibility that no longer is.

[reflectsdargent]

...I would've died. Just- if you hadn't... If I didn't end up here, I really...

[ She knows Jack would've tried to fix her up if he could. But she also knows the look on Sayid's face said a lot about her chances. Faith's god is the only reason she's alive, and that really sets in, just now. ]

[shieldof]

I'm- sorry. Do you, ah. Need. A moment. ...Or anything more material.

[reflectsdargent]

[ She rests her elbows on the arms of the chair and settles her head into her hands. ]

No. I... I don't know. I've never had to... I don't know.

[shieldof]

[Faith sits for a moment in awkward silence, then reaches into a drawer and pulls out a small mug and metal bottle. Opening the bottle, she pours some steaming coffee into the mug before quietly sliding it across the desk to Shannon.]

[reflectsdargent]

[ Shannon doesn't move or look up while Faith is preparing the mug, though when it's practically in front of her eyes, they raise slowly.

Without a word, she takes the mug. It's hot against her hands, but that's what she needs right now. ]

[shieldof]

[There's a long moment of silence, before Faith speaks very hesitantly, quietly.]

For. Whatever it is worth. Even if I am sorry it was for a purpose such as this. I am glad you have been given a second chance at life.

[Literally or not.]

1/2

[reflectsdargent]

[ ... ]

A third chance.

My second was on the island.

[ And, while she's not about to fall into a sobbing mess over it again, it still hurts to think about leaving it behind. ]

2/2

[reflectsdargent]

...Thanks.

I guess I'm glad to be alive.

[ Even though it feels...empty. Raw. ]