→ come on skinny love just last the year

[hexuality]

When; 31 July, late afternoon.
Rating; PG-13 for... idk swearing and thoughts of ~war.
Characters; Ginny Weasley [hexuality] and whoever wanders in!
Summary; It's Harry Potter's birthday and his ex-girlfriend feels like visiting the Hall of the Missing to say hello.

Log;

[She's got too much time to think and that's what Ginny Weasley dislikes about being on holiday for a month. Not that she minds taking the time off, Merlin knows she needs it despite all her refusal to admit it, but she's felt rattled for weeks and she doesn't know how to settle, especially since her talk with Bucky. Flying has always been her solace but today, it isn't the sky she needs to feel closer to; today is for being a little more earthbound, a little more nostalgic.

Today is Harry's birthday. She can't think of how old he'd be because the City's mucked up her sense of time—had he stayed, he'd be... nineteen? Were they at home, he'd be eighteen and she'd be seventeen a few weeks later. The war would be over, they'd be at The Burrow, they'd be trying to fall back into some sense of normalcy with an empty seat at the table. Would they be together? Would she want to try so soon after?

The Hall of the Missing is right by her building so she walks there, not stopping until her footsteps echo and she's blinking the summer sun from her eyes in the sudden cool darkness. She finds the section of wall that holds the portraits from her world without difficulty; she's been there to look up at them so often that it's muscle memory by now, and her eyes seek out Harry's green ones. Next to him are everyone else she's said goodbye to over the years... Neville, there he is, his birthday was yesterday.

Ginny settles on the floor, knees drawn to her chest and arms looped around them. Next to her is little box of cupcakes she thought to bring along. Because why not? She hides a smile as she bites into one, licking the frosting from her lips.

Happy Birthday to her two favourite boys.]

Comments

[studmuffin]

[ Stiles is mostly trying to jog the rest of the sickness out when he runs past her in the City. He doesn't have Scott with him, but that's only because Scott is a freaking werewolf and he doesn't really want to start cataloging their differences when he's already feeling like crap. She doesn't see him though and there's a moment where he sort of runs on the spot before shaking his head and pushing his way into the Hall after her. They haven't met in person after all, and he figures if they're going to hang out ( and they are going to hang out, he'll make sure of it ) that they should maybe fix that.

Of course by the time he finds her he realises this might be a ... moment and he turns but ends up kicking the wall and -. ] Ow, freaking -. [ Guiltily whipping his head around to see if she noticed him.

She ... did. ] Oops?

[hexuality]

[Ginny hears someone in the Hall but it's a big place with thousands of portraits, it isn't anything unusual. But then she hears the sound of foot vs wall and a familiar voice and she turns, a hand resting against the floor as she glances over her shoulder.

And then, through a mouthful of cupcake,]

Stiles? [Chewing, hurriedly swallowing, grinning a bit.] That is you, isn't it? Wow, hi.

[studmuffin]

[ Busted.

He turns around slowly, a hand coming up to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. But the smile he offers up is genuine. ] I saw you come in - not that I was stalking you I've just never been in here before and we've never met and - and now I know what this place is so I should totally go and leave you to your ... [ Cupcake. ] Um.

[hexuality]

It's alright.

[She gets up, but not before setting the cupcake down on the floor, brushing off her hands and then offering one to shake.]

Nice to meet you, officially. [Ginny glances up to the portraits then back to Stiles, shaking her head.] I was just... It's Harry's birthday. Did you—er, want a cupcake?

[studmuffin]

[ July 31st. Oh. He knew there was some nerdy thing tickling at the back of his head but it didn't really compute. But that's cute, actually. Something Scott would probably do on Allison's birthday. If he and Ginny become friends Stiles might have to rip out his own eyes to avoid the shower of sparkly hearts. ]

Oh no, I'm good. [ HE'S NOT HERE TO STEAL YOUR CUPCAKES. ] Are you okay? With the whole separation thing.

[thenormalsquint]

[Ginny said she would come with Angela to the Hall and show her what Cinna looked like, but with her being sick, Angela knew better than to bother her. Even if she's well now, there's still a some time Angela wants to give her before barging into her routine.

So she goes to the Hall by herself. There's too many faces, too many corners to turn, halls to go down. There's no way she'll find this guy's portrait and try to make sense of all the things she still can't remember. But she does remember that silly stubborn redhead sitting on the floor, shoving a cupcake in her face by herself. And who is Angela to leave her well enough alone?]

The first rule of Cupcake Club is you gotta share.

[hexuality]

I am sharing. [Ginny doesn't need to look around to know who's speaking to her, just smiles and ducks her head.] I had one for Harry up there. I know he'd prefer treacle tart, but I didn't think to make one and I'm not sure I could handle eating a whole one by myself.

[thenormalsquint]

Liar. [She means that lovingly, only because sharing doesn't count unless it's being done with her. And she really wants that chocolate one with the most frosting on it.] My hands and mouth are still empty.

[hexuality]

[She holds out the box, brows raised.]

Then help yourself. I'm not about to try and make myself throw up again. [And it's so cheerfully said, too.] So there you are. Chocolate.

[chakotay]

[ chakotay has decided to take the time to look around the city. he knows very little about it and would like to at least learn the layout. he's dressed in civilian clothing, all traces of his federation and future technology gone, hidden. the last thing any of them needs is to have a certain someone notice them. the only strange thing about him might be the tattoo on his face, but that will never change. its significance should not be hidden, nor would he ever want to.

he makes his way into the hall of the missing, pure curiosity having brought him here. it's an impressive place, to say the least. the halls remind him of ancient earth, a period long before chakotay could claim life. it's fascinating and makes him wonder about the rest of the city. and of ancient earth.

the term "hall of the missing" brings to mind too many thoughts. it's obviously a place where the people who were once here but are no longer are remembered. but it could also be a place to remember the ones lost from other places, lost to those who remain, regardless of their past or current presence here. that brings to mind his father, tilting his mood and expression to one of fondness with a tinge of sorrow.

hall of the missing indeed.

he wanders the hallway, looking through the faces, taking in their features as he goes. he takes note of the young girl on the floor, the red hair and freckles standing out, but he doesn't interrupt her. she appears deep in thought and were their roles reversed, he wouldn't want to be interrupted. so he simply walks on, waiting for a time in which she seems less occupied or she herself comes to find him. ]

[hexuality]

[She doesn't mean to spend her afternoon here, but she finds she relishes the silence and relative comfort of the Hall when she once found it stifling. But it seems like in the years she's spent in the City, this place has been one of her constants and there was a time she used to drop by once a month out of worry more than nostalgia. But today, it's the latter, and she's grateful for it—maybe it's a bad thing, that she's come to terms with her place in this other world, but that doesn't mean she ought to stop living her life just because this isn't the one's she's meant to have. It doesn't mean she should ignore pieces of home when they call to her because it's too painful; if anything, being here is kind of a release, the privacy allowing her to just be, for a bit.

A few friends have stopped by in here, marking the time with each visit, and finally Ginny checks her watch and decides she ought to get up and go. She collects her things and stands, stretching when she gets to her feet. Then she takes a few steps towards the portraits of her friends and family, rests a hand briefly on Harry's, and turns—

And sees that someone's joined her. The young woman pauses then smiles.]

Hullo. Sorry, am I standing in front of someone you know? [She begins to move away from the wall, polite and obliging.] You can go ahead.

[chakotay]

[ chakotay has moved on a little ways by the time she addresses him, but he smiles when she does, turning to face her. his eyes take in her bright red hair and all of those freckles and he wonders if this is his city guide. his smile is calm, his body language relaxed, though upright. ]

Not at all. I haven't been here long enough to have lost anyone.

[ oh he's lost plenty of people, just none of them from this particular city. ]

My name is Chakotay. You wouldn't happen to be Ginny, would you?

[hexuality]

[She hopes that no one is here long enough to lose anyone, but it's a wish that none of them are capable of granting. It all boils down to so much luck in the end. She's been here too long to know so many faces on these walls, but her mind isn't on that right now.

Her eyes light up when he introduces himself, recognising his voice just as he says his name, and she breaks into a broader smile that is more familiar than cordial.]

Hi. I mean, yeah, I'm Ginny— [She breaks into a laugh, soft but echoing in the space, as she steps towards him to extend a hand.] You're as tall as you sound. Lovely to meet you.

[logistical]

[Spock is dressed discreetly - or as discreetly as he can possibly be - in dark colours, wearing a beanie hat to cover his ears (he's learnt his lesson). He's found a picture of McCoy and after regarding it thoughtfully he examines the rest of the portraits, coming over to where Ginny's seated. He steps around her politely.]

Have you found who you are looking for?

[Since... sitting in the middle of nowhere eating a cupcake doesn't exactly scream "I'm looking for someone".]

[hexuality]

[She's on a beanbag she's conjured out of thin air from when Stiles was around and she's decided to keep it for now. She's polishing off the cupcake when she hears someone step around her and she looks up at him, not recognising him as anyone she may have encountered on the network or outside; just a curious passerby, then.

Ginny smiles, then nods, gesturing to the portraits in front of her.]

This lot right here. [Pointing to Harry.] It's his birthday today. And it was his— [Pointing at Neville.] —yesterday. Figured I'd make a little afternoon of it. What about you? [Glancing back up at the rather tall gentleman.] It's a big place; did you find who you were looking for?

[logistical]

[He recognises her voice instantly from the network. She'd been ill, and coughing, but his hearing's sharp. He gives no indication of recognition. Hopefully she'll stop talking about that magic nonsense.]

[He studies the portraits, memorising their faces, in case they return and he has to tell this young lady about it.]

I have located a [what's McCoy] colleague. [He nods in the general direction of the picture of McCoy.] It appears he was here for some time.

[hexuality]

[They never exchanged names and she never heard his voice, so from her end, this meeting is absolutely new. Not that it matters either way, she's still as polite as can be, and nods at his answer, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them as she glances back down the direction he came, as if she can see what portraits hang there. She can't, of course.]

Yeah, it varies, how long people are stuck. [The corners of her mouth lift in a brief, wry smile.] I've had friends here for just a few months to a few years. Myself included. Reckon it all boils down to luck, really. [Pointing at Harry again.] He's been in and out three times since I've arrived, for example. The last time? I tried to go with him.

[They held hands and stepped through the doorway together and she wanted it to work but she knew it wouldn't, that it couldn't. It opened for him and him alone; Harry was meant to go home. Not her.]

Didn't work. [A breath of laughter.] Obviously.

[directives]

[ captain kathryn janeway, dressed as plainly as her colleagues in this time of "crisis," finds herself standing before a portrait of lieutenant commander data of the version of the enterprise she's more familiar with. in spite of being well acquainted with the android's reputation and various accomplishments, she's only seen him in person once, and she'd been a tiny nine-year-old girl holding tight to her father's hand at the time. she's a bit taken aback by evidence of starfleet officers from her century having been present in the city.

making a note to bring this up to chakotay later, she steps away from the potrait to examine the others. she halts when she comes upon ginny seated on the floor in a beanbag chair of all things. ]

Here for the solitude or the company?

[hexuality]

[It's a busy day in the Hall. Or maybe it just feels that way because it was so quiet during the repairs and restoration and she'd kept her head down and her wand busy, trying to throw herself into rebuilding something in the wake of... well, the closest thing to a war (a coup?), like it would help her feel better about leaving her own rebuilding behind. Ginny looks up, brows raised, and thinks she recognises the woman's voice but can't be certain (maybe in passing on the network?).]

Er, bit of both, maybe. [Which company, the people out in the City or the ones on the walls?] It's rather peaceful in here, I'm fond of it. And it's not like we've got photographs of everyone we know—this is the only place that'll really have that, if that's what you're looking for.

[directives]

I'm afraid I've only recognized one so far, though perhaps that's more of a good thing than it is bad. [ because she would rather no-one she recognizes be present within this city, whether it be starfleet's finest from an alternate version of the 23rd century or picard's second officer. ]

Have you been here for very long? In the City, I mean. [ the only reason she's asking and is planning on asking further questions is because she recognizes this voice, that face. they've never met, but she's been keeping an eye on open conversations between kirk and his people. she wouldn't be a good captain if she didn't, especially with a rogue augment on the loose. ]

[hexuality]

Four and a half years, about.

[She isn't sheepish or sad about it. It's just a hard truth that she's come to accept a long time ago and she hopes no one else has to go through that (there's only a handful of people she can think of who have been here as long). Though it hasn't all been bad, she's made some incredible friends—but most of them are on these walls, now. And then there are the others who she hopes to never see up here, the ones that have come as close as family.

Weasleys are all about family, in the end. That's why she's here.]

But don't worry. Not everyone's got my luck.

i knew i forgot to tap your somewhere

[medicos]

[ a previous conversation with jim about the halls of the missing has got bones curious about the place, though no less cynical about what they do to the mind of someone who goes there often to see who's been lucky enough to get thrown out of the city before anyone else. it's not healthy, nor is it even a productive way of spending the day. there are better things to worry about.

but yes, curiosity. it eats away at a person sometimes, even bones. ]

Got enough for one more, darling?

yessssss

[hexuality]

[Ginny's got her eyes on the floor, one fingertip idly tracing along a crack in it when Bones approaches. Most come here to look at the portraits, but Ginny's got the ones from her world memorised and she can see their faces when she closes her eyes. So she looks up when he speaks and breaks into a quiet grin and pulls herself up to her feet to greet him properly—]

Hey, Dr McCoy. [Yeah, he's getting a hug. It's quick but it's undeniably a hug.] Sure, I've got one left, actually. [And when she bends down to take it from the box, she asks,] Looking for someone?

[medicos]

[ - oomf.

okay, ginny. he's a bit shell-shocked, but he's going to roll with it. ]

No one in particular, but I didn't know you like spending your time here.

[hexuality]

[She is a Weasley and her mother's daughter, of course she gave him a hug. Ginny holds out the last cupcake as she replies with a bit of a shrug.]

I don't spend my time here most days. But it's a special occasion, so I thought, why not? Besides, I helped restore the place after the rebellion. It's nice to sit back and admire my wandwork.