milliways_bar | (no subject)

(OOM: Somehow the longest day only got longer.)

Rae isn't really dressed for a pseudo-Scottish February as she steps out of the bar, heading for the lake shore. Her loose, scoop-necked t-shirt stays well away from the burns on her neck and on her hands. It keeps from hurting her injuries but it doesn't do much against the cold. Her shorts leave most of her legs bare to the chill, and her sneakers aren't the best for walking in what's left of the winter's snow and mud.

It doesn't matter much, however. The cold is actually rather soothing against the angry red burns, shiny with ointment, even if it makes her shiver. Rae knows the cold is a temporary inconvenience, in any case. She is headed towards the Caribbean inlet, where her attire will be entirely appropriate.

It is absolute coincidence that the sky above the lake, which had been the very picture of a grey, sullen February sky when she stepped out of the door, soon clears into blue wreathed in bright sunlight. It is still a winter's sun, however, and gives more light than warmth, but it is sunlight all the same.

Rae settles on the warm sand, closing her eyes and letting the sun shine down on her, on her burned neck and hands. Helping her heal.

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"Every one you walk away from." Jay nods, settling back to sunbath with her. "Really glad to have you back."

"Still dismantling a triad drug ring. It's taking longer than I'd like but I'm doing my best to make sure they don't spring back up."

"Glad to be back." Rae leans on his shoulder, careful not to move her neck too much to make it protest. Even how much she relaxes when in the zone while baking can't touch how much more she is relaxed when out in the strong sunlight, doing nothing at all.

"Better to go less quickly and more thoroughly than the other way around, I suppose, though I understand wanting to be through with it."

He takes a deep breath, just enjoying her company. "Hey, the little drones were born while you were away."

Her expression brightens into possibly the first full, true smile she's had since she got back. "Oh Jay, that's fantastic! How is everyone? Are they doing well?"

He pulls out his phone to show her photos. "Princess, the alpha female, has some problems but we're working to help her with that. I guess it's the Drone equivalent of a birth defect. Gav and I had to operate in her the day they were born and she'll need more help yet but for now she's taking time to get stronger first."

"The boys are Goggle and Pocket."

"Princess, Goggle and Pocket..." Rae pores over the photos, smiling softly at them though concern lines her face as Jay explains Princess' difficulties. "I hope she grows well. I don't know if there's anything I can do, but if I can help in any way... The other drones must've been fearful, for the female of the trio to be at risk in that way."

Jay gives her another gentle bump. "Thank you. They're going to have more uncles and aunts than they know how to handle."

"It was scary for them. That's why they sent for Gav and I right away. Stock was pretty shaken up."

"I'm glad you and Gavroche were there," she says, leaning on his shoulder as she looks over the photos. Rae still feels keenly the fact that she hasn't been there for her friends of late, even though her absence was out of her control. "They look so different from the other drones, so new. I don't know if there've ever been children born in Milliways before."

"First drones born around humanoids. Apparently they've picked up our shape." He smiles, clearly very fond.

"Kids these days, with their new-fangled opposable thumbs," Rae chuckles - though lightly, to spare her throat.

"How are all the others doing?"

Jay laughs for both of them. "Pleased but worried. And doing everything they can for the little ones. As far as the Hive is concerned, they're all that matter now."

"Of course," Rae says softly, understanding. "Whether the little ones know it yet or not, they're the hive's hope for the future. The proof they can rebuild, and grow, and move forward."

"I know they like the bar but I'd still like to find them a proper home some day. Somewhere they can build and spread."