video;

[asoothingvoice]

[This was, unfortunately, something she had experienced before, and even with that, it still took her a couple days before she was able to make this announcement. Even with knowing that it meant that he was hopefully home. She wasn't willing to break down where everyone could see it.]

Jaime, my son, is no longer here.

Tony, Miles, if you could come over to the clinic at some point, I'd be grateful. He left some instructions for where a few things should go, in case... this happened.

[Still hard to say.]

That's all. Thank you.

Comments

video;

[werethatgood]

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Reyes. I hope he's safe and okay, back home.

[ Cassie is quiet, there, but she's very, very sincere. ]

video;

[asoothingvoice]

I hope so too.

[He has to be. Her son told her he came from a point from before her, and he had been home and safe when she left. That had to mean something.]

video --> action

[spiderkid]

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear he's gone. I'll be over later today.

[Then, that afternoon, as promised, Miles knocks on the clinic door.]

Mrs. Reyes? It's Miles.

action;

[asoothingvoice]

[She's fortunately in the front, setting a bunch of paperwork at her desk when he knocks. Bianca motions for him to come in as she heads to the door.]

[langsyne]

[...No. Never mind Malicant or the threat of impending war, this is the most awful news he's heard in some time. He knows what she's feeling, to some extent, because he's gone through something similar himself.

Scott's face, when he replies, is edged with sadness and regret.]

I'm sorry, Bianca. If there's anything I can help out with, let me know.

[asoothingvoice]

[It's one of the possibly worst parts of being a parent. The possibility of your child disappearing or dying.]

Thank you, Scott. I will.

[If she dwells too much on it, it won't help, but neither will trying to pretend everything's perfect.]

video;

[asouthron]

There's nothin' to be said that'll make it any easier, but please let us know if you need anythin'. Anythin' at all...

video;

[asoothingvoice]

I'll see you at the clinic later today.

[It's a nonanswer, but it isn't even one of her days today.]

[skybluejeep]

...Aw, crud. I'm sorry Mrs. Reyes.

[asoothingvoice]

I- thank you, Stiles.

[Jaime wasn't the only one who disappeared over the last few days, and Stiles lost two people he knew from home.]

I'll be around if you need anything.

video; encrypted 80%

[definingfuture]

[What? No. No.]

I'll be there shortly.

[As in immediately. Because it can't wait.]

--->Action?

[asoothingvoice]

[The door's unlocked, for when Tony arrives, and she's waiting.]

audio;

[zinthosmantra]

I'm sorry, Mrs Reyes.

audio;

[asoothingvoice]

Thank you.

[video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

I'm sorry, Mrs. Reyes. If there's anything you need, I'll try to help out.

[video]

[asoothingvoice]

I'll let you know if I do.

Try to stay warm.

video;

[baniichan]

[Ultimately, he realizes anything he says will have very little impact or meaning. Still, given Bianca's heavy involvement with Keeliai's foreign community, and the fact that Barnaby does have some empathy for parents and children who are forcefully separated from one another, he decides it would be appropriate to say something.]

I'm sorry to hear that.

video;

[asoothingvoice]

[She doesn't really know Barnaby, though she's seen enough on the network and had heard a bit about him from Jaime.]

Thank you.

[strategisch]

...He's truly not here anymore, then.

[asoothingvoice]

He really isn't.

action;

[shorttempered]

[Screw saying something on video; as soon as Mark sees the post he heads right to Bianca's suite.]

Mrs. Reyes? Bianca? Are you home? It's me, Mark. I... I saw your video post.

perma-action

[asoothingvoice]

[The door's unlocked, and by this point Mark's been welcomed over enough that it's not a surprise to hear him come in.]

Yes, I am.

[It's a reminder that without Jaime here she's going to have to make sure the door's locked when she leaves. She gets up and goes over to the door to greet him.]

Hi, Mark. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier.

[She had to be absolutely sure he was gone first, before she said anything. She didn't want say or even think it beforehand.]

video;

[nerdylilspidey]

[He wants to say "sorry", but it seems like one of those things that essentially goes without saying. And he's sure Bianca's heard enough "sorry"s by now.]

Are... Are you okay?

video;

[asoothingvoice]

[There's been more than enough at this point, but she's not going to turn away or snap at anyone for saying it when she just announced it- not now, at least.]

I will be.

[It's as close as she's willing to get to outright admitting that right now she isn't- but she's dealt with her son disappearing before, and this time she knows he's at least going home. He has to be.]

We spoke before when you arrived about a month ago, didn't we?

video;

[cmdreffingshepard]

[Oh no. Ohhhhhhh no.

It's going to be a sadder holiday season on the turtle, that's for sure. Shepard sighs and rubs at the back of her neck. She's used to giving condolences - part of her job as a commander, sometimes. The worst part, but still.

It's not as though he's dead, at least, but being separated, with no knowledge of when or if they might meet again? And him just a kid? That's hard.]

I'm sorry. Please, let me know if you need anything, okay? My door is always open.

video;

[asoothingvoice]

[She still doesn't know Shepard very well, but her son likes her, and he helped with her volunteer team.]

I will. Thank you for letting him help you when he was here.

[The fact that Shepard did that is something she appreciates- Jaime's always had a good head on his shoulders, but her son's always done best when he has someone he can turn to.]