driftfleet | 003 | AUDIO, fleetwide

Who: Jove Lavellan
Broadcast: fleetwide audio
Action: on that weirdass bug ship
When: NOW!!

I don't know how many of us have all been through this ship so far, but it looks as though there's still a lot of it in working order. Or it could be in working order, if we were to put forth the effort to get it that way. I think if enough of us were to work together, we might be able to see to at least turning some lights on, if not getting the thing running properly again.

The bugs are dangerous, of course, so if there are any security officers who could spare the time to come with us engineers when the time comes, I'm sure we'd all appreciate a little extra fire power. I suppose you could say this is less of a call to arms and more of a call to discussing who is willing to come along and repair a very strange alien ship. So... who's with me?

[There's a pause after that, and it could be because the audio has ended just there, until...]

And if anyone has seen a slightly grumpy bald elf, could you send him my direction?

(ooc: info on the updated bug plot can be found here!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Cole shivers at the mention. In his world, he'd been there, seen what had happened to Wisdom when exposed to the arrogance and selfishness. Had used his knives on the barriers to try and free her.

His hand clutched where the amulet had been pinned, before they realised it wouldn't work on him anymore.]

I'll look for him. I'll come back in a few hours, once I've found him.

[He's already fading again, ready to head back into the ship.]

[She had been sure to destroy the barriers as well, unwilling to risk harming anyone Solas considered a friend. It had been the right thing to do, there had really been no other option.]

Alright. You know how to find me, I expect. And thank you, Cole.

[She hopes he's heard her before he's faded completely.]

[Cole hunts Jove down after some four or five hours. It's longer than he thought he'd be, but not long enough to find what he was looking for.

He actually comes through the door, because he's tired, genuinely worn out and looking wan and pale from exerting himself too much.]

I can't find him! I went all over and I can't find him, Jove!

[She's been trying to keep busy, to organize and collect information, but in truth most of her attention had been on worrying whether or not Cole would find anything. The longer he's gone the lower her hopes sink, but it's still a blow to see Cole this upset as he confirms her fears.

She reaches for him, feeling numb and trying to overcome it. People left the ships and came back before, after all. It doesn't have to mean this is the end.]

You're sure, Cole? [Of course he's sure, she realizes the foolishness of that question and makes the sort of disgusted noise that's more at home coming from Cassandra.] That was a stupid question.

[She still wants the answer to be no.]

[Her distress agitates him further, making him rock on the spot and then resume restless pacing and moving, not sure what to do and unable to do absolutely nothing.]

Never left the ship, here, there not here, not out there, no magic, no trace, no eyes following, watching, wary, weary, weakened, he's not here.

[He turns away from her, pulling on the brim of his hat, jamming it on further.] He said he wouldn't leave again!

[She brings a hand to her mouth, unsure whether she means to keep from saying anything or to keep the shock she feels from making itself known with a pained gasp. She doesn't want this to be true, not now. Not Solas.]

He... He wouldn't have, not on purpose. [It rings hollow even as she says it because she has no way to be sure if it's true or not. He'd left them before. But he had promised Cole, and shouldn't that have kept him here? The idea that he would break a promise to Cole seems impossible.] Others have left and we don't know if it was by choice.

[Cole keeps rocking, pulling down on his hat and not making any sound. It's a long learned response, when distressed, be silent, don't make a noise, he might find you.]

Gone. Gone, gone, gone, gone...

[He lets go of his hat to half shove his fist in his mouth, dropping into a crouch, folding up tight.]

[Immediately Jove drops down beside him, arm around his shoulders as she reaches for his wrist, wanting to pull his hand away from his mouth before he can do it any damage. Solas wouldn't want that.]

Shh, Cole.

[She hushes him gently, ducking her head to see under the hat, but the part that should come after that, the assurances that everything will be okay, everything will be set right in time, she can't make those promises. Not when she can't be sure and not when they're stuck here. What does she say to a spirit who has lost something so important to him?

What she would like hear, she supposes. That seems like a start.]

I know I'm not him, but I'm still here for you. You aren't alone.

[He doesn't fight her, he lets her take his hand from his mouth and hold onto it.]

He said he wouldn't... they've taken him. They've taken him, haven't they? They stole him.

[He hurls himself into her arms, burying his face in her stomach he's curled up so tight, hands clinging onto her.]

Don't go away, please don't go away, please.

I don't know. There's still so much we don't know about this place, about Atroma, I don't-

[But her words are cut off by the way he grabs her, the strength he uses as he clings. She wraps both arms around him and hugs him in as close as she can, lets him hold her as tightly as he needs to. She needs it too.]

You can stay with me at every moment if you want to.

[He doesn't mean to be bruising with his grip, but he probably is. He's terrified she'll go, vanish, if he so much as lets go for a second.

He let go of Rhys, and Rhys was gone. He didn't stay close enough to Solas, and now Atroma has taken Solas away.]

I should've been here, I should've stayed, so they knew I wanted him here.

[Like a child, Cole doesn't always understand that things that happen, sometimes have nothing to do with him.]

003 | AUDIO, fleetwide

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