Here We Are

Note: Formerly the second half of the original "Grainy"
Date/Timing: 21 January 2017 (the new blob will be Izzy)
Setting: Pietr's quarters in the Lima Shatterdome
.
Pietr tap-tap-taps his fingers on his desktop, checks his watch. Again.
The tablet in front of him vibrates.
He rushes to the video call app.
Griet's face resolves; a lot of things flicker across it.
.::What's ....::
She takes a deep breath. ::::I'm pregnant.::::
Pietr's heart does a little flip. ::How f— ...?::
.::::Three weeks, give or take.::::
He straightens his spine. ::Are you happy?::
Griet chews her lip.
Pietr swallows, stutters, ::Do you want an—::
““/NO!!!””
Pietr flinches, holds up his hands.
.::::I'm so sorry, Dandelion. I just want you to come back. Or bring us there.::::
.::I can't leave. I have a four-year contract.:: Deep breath. .::And I can't bring you and Princess here; it's too dangerous.::
.::::It's not too dangerous for you!::::
.::I live in a warehouse full of dangerous machines and violent people! It's no place for a family! Things're better for you there!::
.::::Then come home!::::
.::I /can't, Honeybee! I have a contract here and there's no work for me at home! You know it has to be like this!:: His eyes prick. ::We've talked about this. Agreed.::
.::::Doesn't this change things?::::
Pietr grimaces and runs a hand through his hair. ::I still have a contract.::
.::::Who cares? Family's more important! Our place is together! Especially now!::::
.::I want to be there! More than anything! I never wanted to leave!::
.::::I didn't want you to, either! But you went anyway!::::
.::You agreed this was the best choice!::
Griet hangs her head. ::::I didn't realize how hard it would be. And now ....::::
.::I'm sorry. It's hard for me, but you've got it worse.:: He sighs. ::Maybe ... maybe I made a mistake, but I can't get out of it.::
.::::So we're stuck.::::
.::I'm sorry. If I'd realized, I might've chosen differently. I didn't mean for it to go this way.::
.::::I know, I know. I didn't, either. But here we are.::::
.::Here we are.::
Category:Ficlet
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr's POV
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Griet
Category:Griet (ficlet)
Category:Elize (mention)
Category:Izzy (mention)
Category:Lima Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Conversations via video
Category:Ficlets with images