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[God this is heartbreaking and Beverly can't help but feel a little guilty at how she's acted towards Nightingale in the past. Even if she can't tell all of Natasha's secrets, the poor girl deserves some explanation. She takes Nightingale's hands in hers and looks at her with firm compassion.]

Listen to me Nightingale. It's not you. It's nothing you did and it's not your fault. In her world, she's made a lot of enemies, people who won't hesitate to hurt or even kill those she loves to get to her. She's had to learn to keep people at a distance, never let anyone know how much she cares, in order to protect them... And to protect herself too. Losing people that way - it's nearly impossible not to blame yourself for those deaths. I don't think she could quite ever convince herself that the same thing wasn't going to happen here with Atroma.

For what it's worth, I don't think she was right, I only know why she did it, and I do understand it.

I'm already dead, so what does it even matter...

[She is aware she's acting childish, though, and she rubs her face to try to compose herself, looking back and finally making eye contact with Beverly... and flinching and looking away again. She tried, at least?]

Sorry. I- I do understand what you mean, and... I know what it's like to be in that position.

And I know you didn't have to tell me any of this, but you are anyway, so... Thank you.

Of course I had to. You deserved to know.

[She studies Nightingale's face for a moment, wondering at that flinch, at her inability to maintain eye contact.]

I'm sorry, that people keep leaving you. It's not fair.

[she shakes her head. her face is... well, a mess of complicated emotions, but mostly just grief and loneliness.]

... At least she left a note. Most of the my team never managed even that much. The ones who did are the ones who left me willingly. But once they were gone, we lost six people in twelve days, because... I'm just not someone people would stay for, I guess.

I'm so tired of being left alone.

[Okay that's it. Beverly can't stop herself any longer: Nightingale is getting a hug. A good solid one too, though she's careful not to hold too tightly.]

[She goes very tense and still for a minute, like she's not entirely sure what's going on- Like she's expecting this to hurt her somehow.

But after a slight moment, she manages to relax, and even try to hug back, though she's really awkward and stiff about it.

It's about like this, honestly.]

[Okay. Not so used to hugs. They'll get there. After a moment, she pulls away, enough to look at Nightingale again.]

I know we didn't exactly get off on the best foot when we met and I can't promise I won't leave - I can't make that promise to anyone as long as Atroma is in control. But as long as I am here if you can always call me or come for a visit or anything if you're starting to feel too lonely. No one should be alone, especially not here.

[Yep. You're adopted now, it's official. Who would have thought they'd get to this point?]

Edited 2016-03-26 15:49 (UTC)

[Not her, as she is about to make obvious.]

... Is that really okay? After all, you don't even like me, and I've given you no reason to... I'm not even useful here.

[The pieces are probably starting to come together a bit for Beverly, at least, with how Nightingale works. Obviously, no one could like her if she's not useful.]

[Beverly sighs, mentally kicking herself for how things have gone between them in the past.]

You're right, that it will take some time to build trust between us, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends. I want to help and I know you do too.

[Pause.]

But I want you to know usefulness has nothing to do with how I feel about you or anybody else.

I... If it's okay, I would like to be friends, but... I don't understand. How can being useless not matter?

[Considering she frames her self-worth in terms of being useful, that original conversation about murdering the Atroma probably takes a much different light.]

[It is starting to make more sense… in fact, many of her actions are. She was trying to prove herself - with neither her or Beverly understanding the cultural divide between them.]

You’re a person, not a tool or a means to an end. I don’t pick my friends based on what they can do for me, but because we can trust each other and like spending time together and care about one another.

Besides, I don’t believe anyone is useless. Everybody has a talent or something they enjoy doing, even if they haven’t discovered that something yet.

[She can't even respond immediately. What can she even say to that?]

I'm sorry. I'm... not good at being friends. I don't know how, or what I'm supposed to do, or say or not say. So...

I'll help you. We'll figure this out together, okay? I used to have a hard time making friends too, when I was your age. Always managed to put my foot in my mouth and upset someone.

[That gets some very obvious surprise, at least.]

You did? But you're... I mean, I thought everyone around here likes you. You're good with people.

[She gives a rueful laugh.]

Trust me, not everyone here likes me.

That's hard to imagine... Even I think you're cool, and I thought you hated me.

[She gestures towards her eye, which, while not as noticeable as it was for the first couple days after her encounter with Max, is still clearly bruised.]

Somehow I don't think the person who gave me this is my number one fan right now.

[Sure he didn't do it out of maliciousness but he does keep running away from her so.]

... Good point.

[Her first reflex is to offer to hint down whoever did it, but she can tell that would not end how she wanted it to.]

Are you sure you don't want it healed? I'm still low-level as a healer, but I get fifteen casts of Cure, and those regenerate every time I sleep, so...

[Good choice there Nightingale - though you'd probably have to get in line for the number of people willing to fight for her.

She squints in confusion.]

I don't... really know what any of that means.

... Oh. Um. Cure is the first healing spell people learn, it is... pretty good, even if it's less effective when I use it. It's still definitely enough for a black eye. Low-level means... Low-level? I'm not good at healing magic, I'm not suited to it, but it still works, just... less effectively.

I have sixty MP as a healer and one cast of Cure costs four, and rest recovers MP just like physical stamina. It just means I can cast it a lot, even if one cast should be enough for a black eye.

[Beverly nods slowly... She still doesn't completely understand - what's MP? - but even if she doesn't have all the details, the basics seem simple enough - Nightingale's magic isn't inexhaustible and she has to ration how and when she uses it.

There's still some hesitation on Beverly's part to accept the offer. Magic, after all, is not something she's used to. But if they're going to start showing trust for one another, where better to start?]

Do you need me to do anything, to prepare?

Not at all.

[Where she was wearing her normal purple magical girl costume, without any apparent movement, suddenly her clothes are different- a blue and white robe, and holding a wooden staff with one end branching out into a cloud of twigs.

And then she waves the staff, and Beverly is covered for a moment in green sparkles that restore her HP and then vanish.]

See?

[It all happens too quickly and Beverly stands stunned for a moment, less at the result and more of the spectacle of it all. Instant healing she has had experience with - thanks to John, she's died and come back to life - but that was a much quieter thing.

As the sparkles settle, she reaches up a hand to her face, gently probing the area around her formerly injured eye.]

Thank you.

No problem. Magic is pretty great, huh?

[she sounds so proud of herself, honestly.]

I suppose... It's something I'm still trying to get used to.

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