IC contact for lastvoyages

[tucky]

[If I don't have an active post up, feel free to use this post to have your character call, videochat, text, or knock on Tiffany's door.]

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[tucky]

"You don't have to be sorry." She'll miss having a female roommate, but she'd also never really assumed that Nina would stay forever. "Do you need help packing?" She doesn't move to help, and won't without permission; she's not sure what's wrong with Nina right now, and she wants to tread carefully. "Or-- if you wanna talk, I'll listen. But I won't ask you to if you don't want to."

[utselet]

"It's nothing important," she demurs. There are two truths here, and the first is likely to make her sound like a simpering idiot; the second is just as likely to hurt Tiffany's feelings. What else can come out of admitting that she was stung by men yet again, and in the stinging, she's realized what a terrible idea it is to try being real friends, much less anything more, with the wardens here?

"I know you say it's okay," she says instead, "but I can't help feeling as though I'm taking advantage. It's not right. Besides, I'm a grown woman -- I should be acting like one."

[tucky]

"Well, you're not taking advantage. I said it before and I'm gonna say it again now. But you are a grown woman and it's your choice." She glances towards her room, remembering something. "Can I give you your Christmas present before you go?"

[utselet]

"Christmas," she echoes, looking up in mid-fold with a slightly dismayed expression, as though she'd completely forgotten about it -- which is more or less true -- and isn't especially happy to remember it now -- which is definitely true. She mutters something unhappily in Russian. Christmas itself is meaningless to her, of course, but this mysterious holiday spirit she keeps hearing about has managed to infect her anyway, if for New Year's instead. The upshot is that she has her own list, one actually already written, but the idea of having to rewrite it fills her with the kind of dread she's been managing to stave off until now. It's one minor detail in the middle of everything else, but it feels momentarily insurmountable.

She sighs a little shakily, her voice and her expression both wavering. "Do you think we could do it later? Maybe when yours is ready? It's just... it's been a very long day."

[tucky]

Tiffany frowns, not feeling hurt but definitely feeling guilty and a little confused. "Yeah. Yeah, of course. Shit Nina, I'm sorry, I thought maybe it'd make you feel better - that's all. I wasn't trying to make your day longer. Maybe-- you want me to just leave you alone right now? 'Cause I can do that if that's what you need."

[utselet]

Something tightens in her stomach, and she takes a deep breath and makes herself nod when she doesn't actually want to. She wants to apologize and give Tiffany a hug, tell her to go get the gift... but this is the instinct that keeps getting her into trouble, she realizes. She can't keep letting herself fall for people. Not even for Tiffany, whose only crimes are those she hasn't yet and may never commit.

"Sorry," she offers instead, affecting a wince. "I didn't grow up with Christmas; I'm still wrapping my head around it. We didn't do much with presents when I was little. And... I think I really just need to go and lie down." Or to have some quiet in her cell, anyway, to think, to regroup.

[tucky]

"It's okay, Nina. You don't have to be sorry." She moves to sit on the couch. "I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, okay?"

[utselet]

"I know, Tiffya," she says gently, trying to soften things with the use of the diminutive. She spreads out a large silk scarf and starts setting her clothes on it, turning it functionally into a bundle. "You've always been very considerate."

[tucky]

"Well, I try. It don't always work. You can tell me if it doesn't."

[utselet]

She shakes her head. "It's nothing to do with you, I promise." It's true, really; she's paying the price for other people's sins.

[tucky]

"I believe you. And I will leave you alone about it, but if you want my help ever I'll be here for you."