A cry for help

[thespaceopera]

[a distress call has been tracked across the void, finally leading back to the source. a hulking crippled ship, teeming with hostile alien life, now lies before you.

what do you do? do you dive in or hang back? are you here to learn, play, build, or observe?

however you choose to proceed, your audience is out there somewhere, watching.]


ooc: here is a good ol' themed mingle to get you all started! and don't feel limited by the prompts and what they describe--they're just there as idea-starters, so feel free to go anywhere and do anything.

have fun!

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Comments

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Mmhm. Him and his friend, about a week ago.

[a whole week ago. sure, Robin's initial request to talk to Tek had gone out a day or so earlier (the Fleet's new discovery had set this meeting back), but that still implies that he's been thinking about this for several days without telling Tek or having some melodramatic, semi-public meltdown.

in fact, he was talking to people on the network just yesterday. perfectly normal conversations. he pissed someone off--but even that didn't turn into a disaster. he glances away from Tek again, continuing his explanation.]

I've been thinking about it a lot. Just sort of... [he points his finger around in little circles, like moving gears.] Running it over, you know. I really liked him, and I really thought that he could make me happy.

But now he's gone, and I'm just... [looking over at him.] I'm tired of it. I'm done trying. I don't even have the heart to get upset, this time.

[he pauses, for a second, biting down on his lower lip... but he doesn't give Tek long enough to talk. not until he's said what he came here to say:]

Anyway, I'm here to tell you that you were right. [his gaze drifts away again. his tone is even, a little tired.] And that you've been right for a long time.

[heresyandlace]

[Tek... feels quite a mix of things, at all of this. there is the shock and subtle thrill that goes along with being told that he's right, and watching the surrender of that... but there is also a healthy pang of wariness. If it had been anyone other than Robin--the eternal cycle of misguided turmoil...

Tek wonders if this feels something like what it must be for Robin to drink up the pain of something he likes very much. the anguish of it is filling, it makes him feel right, but the reason behind it is potentially upsetting.

he's just as much concerned as he is pleased. he tilts his head, birdlike, maybe trying to get a better look at Robin's face as he glances away.]

...About?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Ah, well...

[he at least seems a little embarrassed to have to admit it, finally. maybe he'd hoped Tek would just know what he was talking about and not ask for clarification. either way, he looks back up at him--finally committing to eye contact.]

Back in Court, do you remember? You took me aside... Told me I needed to get my shit together, to paraphrase. I wasn't putting out a good image, then. I listened, but I didn't quite get it until now.

[there he has it, proof that Robin really does pay attention to what Tek tells him. he's just dense about it. never has been good at following teachers or learning lessons. he smirks, but it's not out of amusement. this is where his feelings have all gone, finally twisted into bitter frustration.]

I've spent so much time trying to be human, and I can't even remember why. Isn't that stupid?

[heresyandlace]

It happens.

[which is something he very much means, and isn't the brush-off comment it might have been if it'd come from someone else.

which also means that it's something like understanding, coming from Tek. some ocean somewhere must be boiling, and the sun and moon switching places in the sky.

and he leaves it at that, for now, allowing room for Robin to continue, if he wanted.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he notices. he was expecting ridicule (the usual scrape of useless, foolish, obnoxious), but that sounds like forgiveness. his smirk drops away, as does some of that intensity of his--but it's the only surprise he shows.

this will catch up to him later. his heart will swell with it. he may finally forgive Tek for all those little things that have been snagging and weighing at his thoughts.]

I'm done being an apathetic pawn. False gods, real gods...

[he looks out again, watching the oblivious others busying around the entrance.]

Maybe I am truly meant to be alone. It would make sense, wouldn't it?

[heresyandlace]

Everyone is alone.

[which is stated easily, weightlessly, but certainly. again, it isn't exactly optimistic, but it isn't any more scathing than it needs to be. he's agreeing, but he isn't pushing Robin into a realm of his own.

he's alone, sure. but he isn't isolated.]

It's not so bad once you realize it.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he stays quiet for a moment, as he well should. something like that can't be eaten in one bite. despite all of his own his recent conclusions about himself, what Tek has just told him goes against a belief he's held onto for most of his long life.

but were it from anyone else, he would have rejected it without a second thought. he doesn't know whether it makes him feel better or worse, but he nods. he acknowledges.]

I'll try not to forget.

[he can't promise to always live that way, but he can believe it's the truth.

he waits in silence, just in case Tek has anything else to say.]

[heresyandlace]

[he doesn't have anything else to say.

nothing of consequence, anyway. he might reply with something flippant, gently shrug a bit of conversation back in the direction of the alien ship and problems at large, but it's all the small-talk versions.

he's done with the heavy subjects for now, he decides.

so, he leaves some things unsaid, and he doesn't scoot over to the closer seat like he'd been considering.]