the way we say goodbye

Phoebe Steadman I've dropped out, burned up Fought my way back from the dead Phoebe said nothing to his congratulations, nor to his apology. Both were hollow and meaningless, just like everything that came out of Jata's mouth. His platitudes helped nothing, changed nothing, were worth nothing. Instead she focused on controlling her own emotions. Frey had once said that how she felt was all the mattered... but she wasn't sure it was so simple. Because here, faced with this reality, what she felt didn't matter. It didn't fix anything and only served to make her miserable. Was that a power she wanted to place in his hands again? No. And so she wouldn't, if by sheer stubbornness alone. "Yes, the Halenani. Thank you, Hank." she said with a smile, her usual perkiness returning. By force, sure, but it was convincing enough. And when he brought her a drink while she waited out the storm in what was still awkward silence with Jata, she thanked him quietly again. But of course, he had been bound to notice eventually. As the question dropped, it was all she could do not to sigh. "Jata and I were married briefly and divorced quickly thereafter." she said, biting her tongue when a snotty quip tried to work its way up.