#IlynaApartment – October 19, 2017

Ilyna is wearing her thick hooded jacket over her dress, but despite that she is quick to cross the short distance between the shuttle and the door to her apartment. She presses the interface to open the door, unlocking it if necessary.

Halisi is sitting in the couch when Ilyna enters the apartment, watching an Earth news broadcast on the TV. A corporate scandal, a rogue militia in a country that never reaped the benefits of first contact, a storm battering a coastal town, Thanksgiving celebrations in the UNAS. A planet's worth of events condensed and sent across the galaxy. Li is asleep on the couch in her dinosaur-print pyjamas, her head resting in Halisi's

Ilyna closes the door behind her, looking down at the hologram to make sure that it locks automatically. She's out of view of the couch as she tries to hang up her jacket quietly. Ilyna stifles a yawn before making her way into the living room, her attention towards the couch immediately due to the flicker of the TV screen. "Sorry for keeping you up," she says in a loud whisper, having spotted the sleeping girl.

Halisi offers a small smile and a shake of her head. "It's quite alright." she responds, keeping her voice down. "Li has been good company. I've learned a great deal about dinosaurs." she says with a quiet chuckle, glancing down at Li before looking back at Ilyna. "How was the party?"

Ilyna returns the smile. "That's good to hear," she says, matching her voice's volume. "It was fun." She walks over to the kitchen, where she grabs a glass and slowly pours some water from the tap. "I... had no idea how much I needed this," she says. "To just drink, dance, and... not worry about anything but my dance partner's toes." She chuckles and turns around. "You should have been there."

Halisi smirks slightly. "I wouldn't have wanted to impose on Jason's evening. I... did recieve a rather interesting video though. A... fascinating display, truly." she says, seeming rather amused. Her focus turns to Li as the girl stirs, perhaps from their chatting. "Suppose it's time to get you back to bed." she murmurs, scooping the girl up in her arms and carrying her off towards the bedroom.

Ilyna raises an eyebrow at the mention of a video. "Video?" she asks. She does check her omni-tool to see if she had received it as well, and she has received. Ilyna had missed the notification among the chatter of the fellow shuttle passengers. The thumbnail is enough for her to scoff, and she does not play it back.

Halisi returns after putting Li to bed, snickering as Ilyna checks for the video. "It certainy looks like you all had fun." she comments, returning to the couch. "That's good. You deserve a chance to relax, let loose a little."

Ilyna shuts off her omni-tool. "Mhm," she says as she sits down in the couch, glass of water in hand. "I... I really hope you don't have work in the morning, though."

Halisi shakes her head, smirking slightly again. "No, not tomorrow. I made sure to clear my schedule around the wedding." she explains, before glancing back towards the bedroom, her smile fading. "I put her to bed earlier, but she came back out. She said she had a nightmare, so I let her stay up with me until she fell asleep. I hope that's alright."

Ilyna smiles at first, but she follows her gaze and it fades in turn. "Oh, did... she say what it was about?" she asks, still keeping her voice low. She then nods and adds, "Yeah, that's fine."

Halisi shakes her head slightly. "I... didn't want to make her linger on it. It's fortunate she's young enough that much of what's happened doesn't trouble her so much, but I wonder how her dreams might reflect all the horror she's been through..." she contemplates, pulling her hands into her lap as her gaze falls to the table in front of them.

Ilyna shifts closer and – after a second's hesitation – wraps an arm over her shoulders. "Sorry," she says. "I... didn't mean to...." She can't quite find the right words, however, so she settles for trailing off.

Halisi lets out a heavy sigh as it becomes obvious that Ilyna realizes she isn't just dwelling on what Li has been through. She looks briefly embarassed, but her composure has been eroded by a lack of sleep and a little too much silent reflection. She hesitates for just a moment before leaning her head against Ilyna's shoulder, her gaze wandering back to the screen, which is still reporting on various events on Earth. "It's

Ilyna lets out a sigh. "I... I don't know," she mutters. She turns her attention to the TV screen, content to watch it in silence for now; aside from a quiet yawn escaping her.

Halisi seems to relax a little after getting used to leaning against Ilyna. A quiet sigh escapes her. The broadcast is currently reporting on an election in the EU. It's little more than white noise to Halisi. "I wonder, sometimes... if I made a mistake. Leaving Earth. It would have been an easier life, to stay. But... I can do more good out here. At least... I hope so." Her exhaustion is quite obvious from her slow, slightly

Ilyna chuckles faintly, not looking away from the TV screen. "I've thought that too about leaving Thessia," she says. "So... much bad has happened, but... there's also the good things." She gives her far shoulder a gentle rub. "That... makes it worth it." Maybe she could have articulated this better without the brandy in her system, but if her last visit is anything to go by....

Halisi lifts her head, sitting back up properly and looking over at Ilyna. "I'm sure Li is glad you came out here. I am too, for what it's worth." She gives a small shrug at the last comment, a faint smirk tugging briefly at the corner of her lips. "There's not a soul out here that doesn't have their own problems to worry about. It feels wrong to bother someone else with my problems... but I'd be lying if I said I didn't

Ilyna takes back her arm as Halisi sits up. "It... it's fine," she says. "I would probably... explode from stress if I didn't have anyone to hear my problems." She takes a long sip of her glass of water, and sighs. "Don't forget how much you've helped me."

Halisi smiles slightly. "You know I'm happy to." assures, briefly placing her hand over Ilyna's and giving it a pat. A brief, quiet chuckle escapes her, and she adds: "Wouldn't want you exploding, would we?"

Ilyna chuckles, and gives a small nod, looking down at her hand. "Yeah, that... would be bad," she says, sounding a little bit distant. She doesn't say anything more, even when she looks up at Halisi again.

Halisi takes Ilyna's silent distance as a sign that it's probably time for her to leave before she makes her uncomfortable again. She pulls back her hand and offers a faint smile and a nod. "Well, I... won't keep you from your rest any longer. I imagine you're quite tired after the party." she says with another small chuckle, but there's a faint hint of discomfort to it.

Ilyna is quiet for almost five seconds before nodding. "Yeah, we can talk another day, when... we're not tired," she says. She downs the glass of water and stands up from the couch.

Halisi nods, propping her smile back up as she stands from the couch. "Sounds like a plan." she says. "I'll see you at the wedding." she adds, briefly furrowing her eyebrows before settling on a light hug, slightly awkward hug to say goodbye to Ilyna.

Ilyna pats her back awkwardly with her free hand, deciding against tightening the hug this time. "I'll see you there," she says with a small smile. "And, thank you... for looking after Li tonight."

Halisi nods. "Anytime." she says, flashing a brief smile and making her way towards the hall, where she collects her outerwear before stepping out into the dark.

Ilyna walks over to the kitchen to put the glass in the sink, before turning towards Halisi as she gets ready to leave. She lets out a sigh once the door closes behind her.