→ 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

[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.

[logistical]

[He regards her curiosity: the posture is withdrawn. Defensiveness? Or some attempt to be more stoic than the emotional reaction the situation demands? Either way, Spock sympathises with it, and that makes it all the more clear to follow her statement... you know. Except for the luck bit. Jim hadn't made him believe in it that much.]

You were close.

[It's clear, from the way she talks about it, making it seem not as weighted as it is, but he speaks in subtleties, in between the lines, and he sees it clear as day.]

[hexuality]

He was my boyfriend.

[The past tense doesn't bother her anymore, not after a year and a war, but she still misses him deeply. All of them, really. Ginny smiles a little sheepishly, looking at him.]

Sorry, a little personal for a perfect stranger, maybe. Hi, I'm Ginny.

[logistical]

[HA HA FEELINGS LAND LET'S AVOID IT FOREVER.]

I am not offended.

[A beat.]

Spock. It is a pleasure to meet you. Have you no last name?

[hexuality]

Weasley. Ginny Weasley.

[She raises her brows at him.]

Do you have one?

[logistical]

No. My culture does not have last names.

[He inclines his head.]

Pleased to meet you, Ms. Weasley.

[hexuality]

So if you don't have last names, why do you want to call me by mine?

[logistical]

It is polite.

[DUH.]

[hexuality]

I don't mind if you call me Ginny.

[She looks out to the Hall, lips tugged in a smile.]

What kind of world do you come from?

[logistical]

[Well, he minds, given as he calls a seventeen year old Mr. Chekov on a regular basis.]

Please specify. You are requesting information on its physics, or its cultures?

[hexuality]

[YES BUT REGULATION =/= GINNY.]

Cultures, of course. [Yeah, no idea that this is the guy she spoke to about species in her own world.] You don't have to answer, of course. Just a question. You hang around a place like this Hall, you're bound to wonder about worlds.

[logistical]

[Hm, how much can he bend the Prime Directive? This place is already rife full of aliens. Ah, well.]

The Federation has approximately one hundred and fifty member planets. You will have to specify further which ones you are interested in.

[hexuality]

[Okay, Spock. She sees how this is going to be. Ginny huffs out a breath of laughter, pressing her fingertips to her lips as if to curb a smile but can't quite manage it.]

That's incredible. Loads of different worlds in one, then? So this can't be all too odd for you.

[logistical]

It is not too dissimilar from the usual, no.

[He frowns, thoughtfully.]

However, this is my first time in what appears to be a sentient City.

[hexuality]

You mean the clock and the carousel and all? Yeah, most I've heard are rumours, but Anonymous' been confirming a few theories since they've started poking round the place.

What've you heard?

[logistical]

Nothing substantial. I require more evidence before I am able to provide you with an accurate judgement.

[Beat.]

How long have you been here, that there are only rumours, still?

[hexuality]

You'll find the City's never very straightforward about answers. Or, rather, the deities were. The Anonymous are probably just as lost as we are but they're trying to get a grasp on things, I think.

[She cocks her head at him.]

I've been here four years. Five in December, if I'm still around.

[logistical]

[He notes all these people down carefully, for later research.]

Has anyone stayed longer than that?

I NEVER SAW THIS NOTIF i am so sorry

[hexuality]

Princess Rosella's been here longer than me, and Cain, too. About five years, I think.

[She doesn't know Rosella's anniversary here but she knows it should be soon.]

YOU DON'T LOVE ME >:|

[logistical]

[That's a very, very long time.]

Noted.

[A pause, as he fetches McCoy's photograph.]

Are you familiar with this individual?

SHH I DO

[hexuality]

[She pauses, mildly surprised, then smiles.]

Yeah, Dr McCoy. I knew him when he was first here a few years ago and I met him again this time round. Helped me out during the essence rites thing, too; I like him.

<3

[logistical]

He is a valued colleague.

[Spock doesn't really do "friends".]

How long was he here previously?

[hexuality]

Maybe a little under a year? I didn't know him that well, then.

[She looks interested now, though.]

You're from the same world.