[accidental video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[The feed cuts in mid-shriek, Sam’s drone apparently having interpreted the start of the sound as its cue to begin broadcasting. It shows the adept pushing herself to her feet, having been knocked to her hands and knees by---what? Water. She’s drenched to dripping, and the street she stands on is wet for several metres all around.]

Calvaire de crisse...!

[It’s no more than a mutter as she straightens and immediately starts for the shelter of the closest building, casting an anxious glance up as she goes. She’s through a doorway in a matter of moments due to making haste, and relaxes---marginally---as she moves further away from the entrance.]

Comments

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[You go ahead and you pick at that pant leg as she shakes out her still-damp hair. This is a serious conversation, but it doesn't need to be all stiff and stilted---not between the two of them, anyway.]

Thanks. I try. Cause you should have someone looking out for you. Not just because you're a kid, but you're a good kid, and yeah, do deserve that.

[Sam stills to listen a little more attentively and nods once. She considers... and slides over to sit beside Hiro. That's better. Now, it's easier to talk without looking at him as much, (good, because this isn't the kind of conversation one wants to be watched in) and the nearness seems to be what should be.]

If that wasn't a thing bothering you, I think I might worry more. This ghost thing...

[She opens and closes her hands.]

Has it eased up since it first started, is it ongoing, or...?

Re: [action]

[diagnosispuberty]

[Ew, damp hair, gross (yes, that's a go-ahead to do the shake-out thing again once you're next to him, Sam, just to make him irritated). Hiro hesitates for about three seconds, then slowly leans against Sam's side, tucked up on himself, quietly enjoying the closeness. It's...weird, how much he misses that, especially after one of his self-imposed lonesome periods.

The question gets a shrug.] I...see or hear him all the time. It was just extra vivid this past week. Which, yeah, super creepy, but...

...but now I miss it.

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Rather than shake her hair out a second time, Sam wraps an arm around Hiro.]

Y'know, that actually makes perfect sense to me.

[action]

[diagnosispuberty]

[Hiro starts to say something, probably something cool and offhand and careless, like he isn't still upset. But what comes out instead is a sound somewhere between a squeak and a sob, so he just turns and tucks himself against Sam's side instead.]

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[One arm about the shoulders just isn't enough---Sam turns, too, and pulls Hiro into a proper hug. As an only child, it's hard for her to imagine what it would be like to lose an older sibling. How it would be to have a sibling, though...? That's easier.]

[Much easier than it once would've been.]

Re: [action]

[diagnosispuberty]

[It's definitely a start, but Hiro still doesn't allow himself more than a couple small, soft, hitchy-with-tears sounds before he's pulling back a little and wiping at his eyes with his sleeves and mumbling:] Sorry, s-sorry, I'm...I'm okay.

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam allows him to pull away enough (and long enough) to wipe his eyes, but by that second 'sorry,' has him in a hug again.]

You've got nothing to say sorry for. And it's my line, anyway.

Re: [action]

[diagnosispuberty]

[Hiro lets out a very soft squeak when he's pulled into another hug, but he eventually relaxes and hugs her back.]

What are you sorry for, then?

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Not having this out earlier...? And I'll find some other stuff to say sorry for. [She'll subject him to a light squeeze before letting go... and letting her little wiseass smile surface, to show things really can be okay-ish.] Canadian, remember? Means I got my quota to meet.