video ► somewhere in time

[fujibayashi]

Who: Sheena and whoever
Broadcast: Yes, and it's open.
Action: SS Vanquish
When: Mid-morning (and definitely not 2am when I'm posting this)

[video;]

[Sheena's taking a break. She's dressed in purple clothes that are a bit more casual than her usual kimono-like fare, and she is cradling a cup of green tea as she leans across the table.]

So, that big ship we're digging into... We have technology on my world, but nothing like this. I've been beating the snot out of bugs for days, so I'm curious.

Has anyone found anything interesting? Or are we just wasting our time down there?

Comments

[geonomy]

[Clay's on the other side of the table, absolutely tipped precariously back in his chair while he listens to her broadcast. Thankfully, when she finishes, Clay leans forward to get all four of the chair's legs on the floor again.]

How's it been on that ship? [He looks concerned, as the real question is "Are you okay?"]

[fujibayashi]

[Clay no, don't hurt yourself.

She tucks a bit of hair behind her ear.]

It's been... busy. And creepy. It reminds me of-- the last place I stayed in, and not in a good way.

[Zombies. Ah yes.]

[geonomy]

[He glances away and purses his lips together - This isn't really something he can "You're fine!" away right now. So he leans over, a bit closer, though not enough to touch or anything, but so that he can convey that he's listening.]

What was that place like, if you don't mind me asking?

[fujibayashi]

[That's a hard question. She shifts uncomfortably. Immediately her body language gets defensive; not in an aggressive way, but she pulls her knees up onto the bench and rests against the table. Her eyes stay on the table.]

... It was awful. So many people died-- all over some stupid war against an enemy we couldn't even touch. And if we failed, they'd invade our worlds.

[This is the part that bothers her the most. Beyond the plagues, the bombs, starving in space, the kidnappings, and dropping a fucking nuke on all of Britain, there... was this. This sense of hopelessness, like she'd die there and no one would ever know.

She remembers huddling in the labyrinth with native children crying beneath her. It was terrible, but fighting a pointless battle was worse.]

Once, they actually did invade someone's world. It was a version of Earth that probably looked like yours. We jumped in and tried to push the United Earth back, but they overwhelmed us. All of us fought so hard. And all we could do was run.

[She lowers her face into her hands.]

Every single person and living thing on that planet was destroyed. Six billion people dead. Just like that.

I don't even know if that many people exist on my world. I can't wrap my head around so much death. I never could.

[geonomy]

[Six billion people. God. Clay can't even imagine that many people. It's like thinking of the size of some things in space; the mind just can't imagine it. Every single person who had a future ahead of them, dreams and goals, friends and family, all of it destroyed... and Sheena had to go through that.

He gives a little wince as a result. He feels for all those lives, and he feels for Sheena, too. So he scoots a little closer and sets his hand on her shoulder before leaning over to ask quietly:]

Can I hug you? It's okay if you say no, but it sounds like you need one.

[fujibayashi]

[The whole physical contact thing is... easier to tolerate now that she's been around him a while. She doesn't stiffen, though she doesn't lean in at first. She's not sure where the line is when it's someone you aren't dating. This is what happens when you're shunned by your village for years.]

Yeah. It's fine.

[She loosens up a fraction. No, it's not fine. Or rather, she's not fine.]

Sorry for... shoving all of that onto you.

[geonomy]

Hey, no,

[He says as he scoots his chair closer, slides his hand across her back and pulls her against his side, his other arm crossing the front of her shoulders.]

You don't have to say you're sorry for that. It just means you needed it... and I'm glad you told me about it.

[It's still something Clay can't really fathom... but he never, ever wants someone to apologize for letting out something they kept bottled up inside for too long.]

[fujibayashi]

[The hug is nice. She's not terribly opposed to it in the first place, she realizes, as she begins to melt.]

There's a reason I don't talk about it much. Kaneis and I would rather just... forget it happened. There were good things, a few good things, mostly the people I met. The rest...

[She lets out a slow breath, rests her head against his shoulder.]

I don't like pity, you know? I don't like to be told, 'oh, that's too bad'. Condolences don't erase what happened. It doesn't make me feel better. If anything, I feel worse for leaving the way I did.

Ultimately, we all had some responsibility in what happened. And that's what... hurts.

[geonomy]

Yeah... I know. Sorrys don't really do much. It doesn't fix what happened.

[He does know. When his mother died, when he got that scar that he still hates, no amount of pity and apologies helped. None of that brought her back.

The only person who understood that and gave him something else to focus on was the person who is his best friend today. ... Sometimes, it physically hurts with how much he misses him.]

All you can do is move forward, you know? You're never going to forget about it. But you can keep going and make sure it never happens again on your watch. Carry some of those dreams with you, too. [Granted, six billion dreams is probably a little much.]

For the record, I'm glad you're here.

[fujibayashi]

[She closes her eyes, finally, and lets out a breath that's like a world being taken off her shoulders. She's so strong most of the time, doesn't let herself be anything else.]

Yeah. I'm alive... and I know I'll stop at nothing to protect people who need it.

[She isn't sure what those people dreamed about. It's too late to ask them.]

Thanks, Clay. [She pulls back a fraction.] I'm glad I'm here, too. I'm glad I got to meet you and everyone else. If I had gone back to my world after the war, I might never have known you guys at all.

[geonomy]

[Clay pulls back a bit too, pulling one arm back, though he still keeps the other around her back, just in case.]

Yeah, and wouldn't that be a shame. [He straightens his back a bit and gives a grin.] I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't met me!

[Kidding, kidding. He even chuckles during that last sentence and feels his cheeks turn a bit red; sure, he likes to boast, but he's almost never serious about it.]

[fujibayashi]

[She knows he's kidding. The attempt at cheering her up works, though, and she smiles a little.]

We'd be in rough shape if we didn't have a great pilot.