driftfleet | it's a planet mingle!

[Allen really hasn't felt up to being around people this week. It's not unexpected, what with that anniversary being this week. Sure, it doesn't cut as deep as it did in years past...but the ache was still there. Prayer really wasn't something that suited his father, and so - he walks. Hood over his head, walking wherever his feet would take him, most of the time lost in his own thoughts. It helped, honestly. ]

[This specific walk, he can't really remember how long he's been out. His communicator with him, but it's been shut off. It's only by happenstance that he winds up near the same saline beach as Orion. He hadn't expected anyone to be out here, so when he sees the Commander's tall figure...he comes to a stop. Huh. That's weird.]

...Hello?

[orion turns to see who's talking, and pauses when he sees it's him.]

... Allen.

[he doesn't know if allen will recognize him in his tactical gear, but he can clarify if he doesn't.]

It's late.

[It takes a quick moment to recognize him, but recognition comes]

...Orion. It's been awhile.

[He was starting to wonder if he left]

And...I guess it is. I hadn't been keeping track of time.

... I was asleep.

[he turns back to look up at the sky.]

Got a lot to think about, then, right?

[he doesn't ask what it is.]

...Ah. That seems to be going around.

[Crazy sleeping people. He takes a couple steps forward, his arms crossing against the cold]

Mm....Some old memories. You?

[orion shakes his head lightly, looking down at the ice.]

Same thing, I guess. The Iskaulit isn't really cutting it for reflection right now.

Mm, it's getting pretty noisy in there with all the building.

[The gardens, the bars, the training area- a lot of life is being brought to that dead place]

Does being out here help?

The sound-proofing fixes that. It's just... cramped.

[so yes, it does.]

I never like being inside when I've been asleep that long.

That...long?

[That's a weird way to phrase]

Does falling asleep that long happen to you a lot?

... Not naturally.

[but yes.]

. . .I see.

[Well then...]

That sounds like something you should consider working on.

[You know the whole spontaneously falling asleep thing. Doesn't sound good for you man]

Edited (I CHANGE WHAT I WANT REMI YOU CAN"T STOP MEEEE) 2015-12-23 07:11 (UTC)

Being away from the people who put me in cryo helps with that.

[yeah orion's home little was a little troubled]

[Wait, what?]

- Someone would put you in cryo?

[Considering he's never heard of cryo being used for good reasons? He's getting a bad feeling about this...]

Yeah, for preservation. I'm what, 95? 96? Somewhere around there.

[he shrugs.]

[....He's so casual about it....]

You're not one of those eccentric rich men that decided to freeze himself until society found a way to stop aging or cure some disease you contracted, are you?

[he snorts.]

From what I understand, I used to have every disease that wouldn't kill me immediately. The cryo came after that was fixed. Part of the perks of my job, I guess you'd say.

[Allen stares a bit because WHAT DO YOU EVEN SAY TO THIS??? His employers froze him for decades and potentially inoculated him with every disease EVER? That's just messed up!!]

...No offense, but they really don't sound like perks to me.

I got to see the world go through the most rapid development it ever has, and I got to see it first-hand and in a body that could enjoy it all. Sure, it's uncomfortable, and it sucks, and I won't say I was put under at the most opportune times for me sometimes, but my job is keeping the world the safe. It's worth it.

[Allen freezes at his words. If he was dancing around what Orion was implying, if he was trying to find any explanation to explain Orion's situation without having to think about those things...well, those words put an end to those attempts. In fact, he can feel his blood run cold. Colder than any of the icy flows this planet had to offer.]

Keeping the world safe...

[His arms cross over his chest, and he looks away from Orion. His expression is hard, but his voice is still quiet]

Funny, I've heard those words before. I find they're used to justify all sorts of evils.

[the way he speaks, it's impossible for orion not to respond. when he starts to, his tone has taken on an edge of seriousness.]

... Allen, I've got people a lot closer to me trying to hack at that wall. Our worlds are different, and the situation is complicated.

[and then, he sounds.... tired.]

It's better not to get into that right now.

...I didn't come out here to break down any walls, Orion. You brought it up.

[He lets out an exhale of air, the breath visible in the cold air]

Maybe I don't know your complicated situation, but you don't know mine. [uncrosses his arms to put into his coat pocket] I threw away everything I worked for, the path I thought was mine...I threw it all away so I could help right a terrible wrong done by people who insisted it was for the world's safety. And believe me, they had a very strong case for why they thought they were right.

[Like humanity on the verge of extinction strong]

So if you don't...want to argue about it right now, that's fine. We can change the subject if you'd like, or stop conversing. But don't expect me to pretend your situation is too complicated for me to understand or that I can't see the writing on the wall.

Edited 2015-12-28 05:50 (UTC)

All I said was an off-hand comment that you decided to investigate. You didn't have to jump on that. And I didn't say it's too complicated for you to understand, I said it was complicated.

[Orion's defenses are up now.]

My job is to defend the world from people who are seeking to hurt it. It's already safe. I didn't say I was making it safer, I said I was keeping it safe. When there's a big threat to public safety, I come out of the ice. Plain and simple.

[Allen stares at him for a very long moment. He can see those defenses are up, and honestly- there's a strong part of him that doesn't care. Not that he doesn't care about Orion as a person, he does, but he's far from intimidated by what threat Orion's defenses going up could mean.]

[He could choose to go on the defense in return, but really- he hadn't come out here to fight. But it's not like he can say nothing either, that isn't him. So he'll ask a simple question:]

How do you know you're keeping the world safe when you don't actually live in it?

Edited 2015-12-28 07:12 (UTC)

it's a planet mingle!

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