stormandwind | INBOX: lastvoyages

Even though Steve's managed to convince Iris to take Libby somewhere safe (at least for the duration of whatever's going to happen, if something does), it doesn't mean he stops patrolling with Tris. There are certainly mornings when Steve would like to avoid doing much at all, but he nonetheless keeps showing up at the correct cabin door at the appointed time, simply because sticking to what routine he has seems like as good an anchor as any. Besides, Tris is his friend, and if she wants to patrol, then he'd like her to have a partner while she does it.

Tris doesn't summon up a smile for Steve, just nods a greeting and lets Gealach give him a much more enthusiastic one. The puppy rears up on her hind paws to fling herself at Steve's legs. "I'm glad you're here. I need to tell you something. Would you rather come in or talk while we're moving?"

There's no sense wasting time getting to the point. Tris is still sorting through her conflicted feelings, but Steve deserves to know.

Steve admittedly frowns a little, but he's always at least appreciated Tris' straightfoward nature. He's the kind of rather get the bad news - or any news - upfront, rather than beating around the bush about it. And he has a feeling, based on her expression and what she says, that it's bad news.

He does, nonetheless, reach down to scratch Gealach obligingly, even as he says - "We can walk and talk, as long as it's not something you need to keep private." The fact that Tris didn't immediate invite him inside makes him think it's not, but it's best to be sure. And since Tris is over the death toll, they might as well stretch their legs.

She nods and leashes Gealach, looping that over her arm and heading down the hall. Chime and Zeph scramble to catch up, the latter landing on Tris's head. She smiles. It's good having the monkey back, both for his own sake and because it means the scouting party survived their expedition.

Walking a little more slowly, Tris makes sure to watch Steve's face as she tells him, "Daja's gone. I've told Rosethorn already. I wanted to make sure you and she heard it directly rather than stumbling over a missing door."

Steve blinks, caught off guard for a second - but after that second, he looks less surprised and more resigned, letting out a breath and staying silent for the space of a few more. "I don't go looking for her door often," he admits quietly, which he assumes is obvious, given that he hadn't known, "but I appreciate your telling me."

And, "I'm sorry. It's never a good feeling to lose family without warning." He knows what that feels like. Bucky was sent home twice - and so, now, was Daja.

It makes a guy wonder if it has anything to do with him, but he doesn't really think that factors much into the Admiral's actions, if anything does.

She shakes her head at the apology. "I wanted her home." Enough to cause tensions between them. But that still doesn't mean she's alright with the loss.

"The door was only confirmation for me. We're magically connected. There are parts of the ship where I can't sense her, but she was missing for too long to be in one of those." Tris started for Daja's cabin knowing what she'd find there.

"If you need anything, I want you to come to me. If you don't like asking for things, offer me a trade. I'm a merchant house's daughter, even if I was disowned."

"Guess it's not so bad, then," he says - not to mock her or make her feel bad, just being honest, admitting, in a way, that maybe Daja was better off home than here. If she'd had the type of deal the Admiral had never needed to grant, then why put her through this place, after all?

"I guess that probably comes in handy," he has to admit, too, because he honestly guesses it does. Although maybe it's worse, too, knowing the instant something is wrong, someone is gone.

The rest of what she says, though... he hesitates, because she's hit the nail on the head - he doesn't like asking for things. He likes it even less now than he did before, when he was at least willing to ask things of his friends. Now, he's not - not unless it isn't for him. She even couches it in terms of a trade, and for that, he's grateful, but even at the same time, he's got little that anyone else can use, even if he'd give it up in a heartbeat if it's needed. "I haven't needed anything," is all he says, carefully, after a minute - he doesn't want to throw her offer back in her face, after all. That's unkind, and he doesn't like being unkind to Tris. "I can get by on my own. But thanks."

If... if something comes up, with Libby, maybe, after Iris brings her back (he wishes she wouldn't, but he knows she will). He doesn't want to burn that bridge. "Just - take care of yourself. And your ma."

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