driftfleet | let us bow our heads

let us bow our heads

[it may be too optimistic to hope that it has something to do with respect, but Atroma has been very quiet. in the wake of the growing stillness on the Iskaulit, neither of the fleet's hosts have broken the peace with their chipper voices.

if the passengers are being watched as closely as they always claim, it is being done in silence.

whether or not the remainder of the living bugs are being kept somewhere for observation, and regardless of the fact that the discussion of what to ultimately do with the ship is still ongoing, it has been generally agreed that something respectful should be done with the dead, and that the remaining spores should be washed away.

so, this will all be done through a combined effort of vacuum and fire, and the time for this purge has been set.

feet on the ground are needed to prepare the foreign ship for purging--securing anything that could be damaged, and safely packing away delicate data-storing instruments and anything belonging to the fleet itself. anyone willing to help could surely find something to do.

and for anyone wishing to bless, reflect, honor, or pray... now is the time to do so. whether aboard the Iskaulit itself before the purge, offering a voice over the network, or simply watching from nearby shuttles and ships, this is the fleet's moment to help send off the crew of the Iskaulit with dignity.]

ooc: this is the final IC mod post for June! the purge itself will be implied for the most part, but anyone with skills in mechanics or fire-controlling may assume they were involved.

this post specifically is for any interactive threads involved in the final days before the Iskaulit is cleaned, and anything funerary, including broadcasts. even if you just want to put up a closed comment describing what private way your character is taking part in this makeshift 'ceremony,' go for it.

an OOC post summarizing and officially wrapping up the rest of June will go up as soon as we're able.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A
[Wrath has come to help with the purging. If there are any bugs that need to be dispatched, she'll do that as needed, though she's really not supposed to be fighting. This isn't fun; this is grim work. She pushes herself a little harder than she should, but she's always been one to get focused on work.

When all is done, she gets the memorial display she put together set up. The Vision cobbled together some shitty holoprojectors for her, so that's what she's working with. This isn't really her medium, but she can do something that's visually pleasing and expresses the tragedy of the situation. She'd been serious; remembering is important.

The holodisplay is relatively simple, stating with what little they do know about the bugs, the numbers of dead, the description of what happened to them. The written description ends simply with, This must never be forgotten. With the words, there's a simple holographic candle flame, stylized to look like it has been painted, but ever glowing. Behind it there's a subtle starscape, a nearby star with colors reminiscent of a sunset.]

B
[Afterward, Wrath is back on the Windrose, and she's a little quieter than normal. Mostly she's just gone somewhere she can look out at the stars and try to find a way to sit that eases the ache in her back.

She knows she's been to a lot of memorial ceremonies. She can't remember a lot of them, can't remember what she should say or do. It's not like she knew the bugs, but she knows that kind of horror. But she also knows it's very possible for a people to survive past it. She hopes that's what's happened.

She wishes she could draw. That's another thing to ask the engineers for help with. But later. Not today.]

Edited 2015-07-02 06:21 (UTC)

[Julian comes when the clean out is done. He's not a fighter, he'll leave it to people far more suited than he is.

He's wearing his uniform pants and jacket, but he's switched to the more comfortable shirts of the fleet provided wardrobe. It means he's very recognizable from the video conversation they had, in his stark black and deep aqua clothing.

If that isn't enough, he steps up next to her, looking at the display.]

I hope they can feel the effort you've put into this memorial. It's a lovely tribute.

[Wrath's just wearing a charcoal colored utility jumper; the pretty dress she arrived in didn't feel at all appropriate for this. Besides, she was working, even if these leave a lot to be desired as uniforms. She's going to have to do some shopping for proper fatigues at some point. She's leaning on the hilariously shitty cane Beverly was able to find for her. It's better than nothing.

She's deep enough in thought that she doesn't hear Julian's approach, and keyed up enough that she does tense momentarily before relaxing. But then he gets an absolutely brilliant smile in response.]

Thanks! The Vision managed to get the holoprojectors put together. I'm just glad I didn't fuck it up. This really isn't my medium.

[And these poor bug people deserve a good effort, dammit.]

You okay?

[This has been really rough on some people.]

[Julian gives her a brief look and a warm smile when she smiles at him.]

As someone who is about as artistic as the average Klingon dinner, I think it's pretty amazing what you've done.

Me?

[He looks a bit surprised.]

I've come in on the tail end of this, I've not been really involved aside from theoretical data.

[Okay, that? One of the few things that will get her to blush. Zero confidence in her artistic abilities, here.]

Oh gosh. That's really sweet of you. [She doesn't know if she believes him, since something in her serves the constant reminder that she isn't good for anything but being a soldier, but it still feels good.]

I only got in about a week before you did. Just served as security detail for the engineers really. As much as I could.

[She shrugs.]

Just because you haven't been directly in the shit doesn't mean something can't hurt you.

[But if he's okay, that's definitely better.]

Not sweet. Just... you're very good, artistically.

[The mention of engineers has him lifting his hand to his neck, feeling the tiny spot where the implant sits.]

No, I'm fine with it all. It's awful, and I wish I could've done more to help, but I don't carry the weight of guilt that a lot of people are.

How are you?

[More blushing. She has no idea how to respond to this other than:] Thanks.

[Wrath nods. It's good he doesn't feel guilty. There isn't anything else they could have done from what she's seen. What's happened isn't their fault, and they're doing their best in a shitty situation.

She's just known a lot of people who have been destroyed by not letting that go.]

I'm okay. I mean, some things hit close to home but that's why I do stuff like this. [She nods toward the art display. It's the thing that's important to her, the memory of it.]

And Dr. Crusher fixed my back up, so that's been good. Haven't done anything really dumb lately, just been working.

Edited (Just wanted to fix my html since I had a minute) 2015-07-03 06:45 (UTC)

[If he had been here from the outset, maybe there would be guilt. There would almost certainly be guilt. But he wasn't, so he didn't feel it.]

I didn't realise your back was troubling you. Still, Dr Crusher is one of the foremost medical professionals in the Federation, in my opinion, you couldn't be in safer hands.

My back's what got me turfed out of the army. It regrew all fucked to hell and it's... bad. But yeah... she's definitely really good. She said she can...

[It's still too weird to even think about all of this, and too fraught. She's still so angry and confused, trying to figure out how much was knowing lies, how much was just people passing along bullshit.]

She can remove the ports, because that's what messing everything up. But not right away. Still, good to know the future's bright, right? I can look forward to being useful again. Everyone at home said it couldn't be fixed at all.

Ports? You have implants in your spine?

[Julian's worked a lot on nervous systems and spines. What he's hearing isn't making him happy.]

Would you let me look over your medical data, from Dr Crusher? I might be able to offer additional advice. And a person's use isn't from a functional spine. Your back hasn't stopped you from making beautiful art, has it?

Well, yeah. Everyone does. Back home, I mean.

[She lifts up her hair to reveal the top port at the base of her skull. Even a quick inspection would indicate that it's been damaged, bent and the metal badly scratched.]

They're supposed to protect you from the dysthrophe.

[She closes her eyes for a moment. it's so easy to just say that again and again, like it's muscle memory. She hates it, now.] Dr. Crushes says she doesn't think that's what they're for, though.

[She huffs a laugh.]

I was a soldier, Julian. I was good at my job.

[Julian isn't good at hiding his reactions. He gasps and there's a touch of disbelieving horror to it, that someone could do this to another person.]

Oh, you poor woman.

[He reaches out and just stops himself touching.] I'm sorry, I shouldn't just touch. It's a terrible habit.

But your sole 'use' isn't as a soldier. I can understand wanting to go back to your job but... you're more than that.

[She hesitates, then says:] You can touch it if you want. I know you're a doctor and that's the kind of thing doctors do. [In other words, she can be pretty sure he doesn't mean anything more intimate by it. She keeps her hair held out of the way in case he does. She doesn't like feeling like an object so much, but... that's the way doctors are. She's used to being poked and prodded.]

That's really sweet of you to say, but you also barely know me. [She smiles though, since she doesn't mean that in a rude way.] I guess, it's something I hear a lot. But it also just sometimes sounds like people feeling sorry for me. Which you don't have to do, I'm tough as hell.

Not if I want. If you want.

[He's had experiences with having people take control of his body and decisions about it. It's not fun.]

And here... I have an engineering implant. I guess I'm not a doctor here.

I'm not sorry for you. I'm sorry you've suffered, but that's not the same thing, I promise you.

[That's actually a much more fraught thing than he realizes. Wrath is so bad at dealing with people, she knows it. And she has a little crush on him, but she knows she's bad at people and doesn't want to fuck it up. And for sure, telling someone to just like... mess with your ports without telling them how it was kind of a thing would also be gross.

Well, her default is to just say what she thinks. It's easier that way.] I don't think I'd mind. But that would be because I like you, not because you're a doctor.

Unless they put everything you know about being a doctor down a memory hole, I think you're still a doctor. You're damn smart. So you get to be an engineer and a doctor.

I guess... I just feel weird about people feeling that way, you know? It was my job. [You get hurt, you get killed so civilians--does Julian count as a civilian?--don't.] So I don't really know how to react.

]His smile is pleased and slightly bashful and definitely a hint of shy and yes, outright happy to be told that it's him, not just his qualifications that are trusted.]

Thank you. Most people trust my qualifications despite me.

I can stop, if you want, but I can't help but think that any person is much more than just their job. And that includes you.

[Well gosh, Julian, she kind of wants to get into your pants, not your qualifications' pants.]

Why? You're really nice. And kind. [And really, really smart.] And you have a cute smile.

I think... you're right? [She'd tried to explain it to Levi, once, and still doesn't have a good way of describing it.] Like... I think I'd say the same things as you, in your shoes. People matter.

But I also know that I don't really matter. Because only the mission matters. [And when you don't have a mission any more...] I'll... figure it out eventually.

I'm, well, phrases like arrogant, condescending... inexperienced. Insufferable, that one came up a lot. Naive.

[Congrats, Wrath, you get that shy smile again.]

Um, thank you.... hang on, what?

No, no no. Everyone matters. Every person matters. That includes you, I promise. And I'm sure Dr Crusher would agree with me.

[Are you going to disagree with two of Starfleet medical's best and brightest?]

What? You're not any of those things. [At least not that she's seen. Though technically some of those are words that could have been applied to her first and only boyfriend too, and she never noticed then, either. If nothing else, it's hard to feel condescended too when you don't feel like you know anything for certain.

She finally lets her hair fall back down over her neck, since that no longer seems to be a point of interest.] There must be a lot of assholes around where you're from, I guess.

[Who could say such mean things to someone with that cute of a smile? WHO?]

I know she would. You're both really kind. And smart.

[It's frustrating, and she doesn't know how else to explain it. There are just things that she knows. They're ever present, difficult to skirt around. Liquid water is wet. Gravity pulls toward the center of mass. Only the mission matters.]

Levi said maybe it's just the way I am. [Shrug.] Everyone's got stuff they're dumb about.

No, no, they're not... this? This isn't the usual me, I suppose. Or the me they met originally.

[Because it's been five years, but his crew still see the same awkward, too young, too earnest and condescending doctor that arrived on the newly christened station.]

We are, we're both brilliant. So between us, we'll get you back into healthy shape and not in pain anymore. That's a good start to aim for.

Not the usual you? [Squint.] Oh. Yeah. People do change. And sometimes it's hard to remember that, I guess?

[Has she changed? She's not sure. She can't remember ever being different.] Well, you're good now. Very likable. Someone I think should definitely ask me out for a drink and stuff. [Firm nod.]

That would be... it would be really good. Like, I'm not a pussy about pain or anything. [This is very important. She is tough. This should not be forgotten.] But it definitely makes me less effective at pretty much everything. And even if I can totally handle things hurting, it's not fun.

So yeah. That would be... amazing. Weird... [She reaches back to touch the port at the base of her skull, trying to imagine what it would be like without that there. Would she feel like her any more? But if Dr. Crusher was right, and the ports were the reason she has giant holes in her memory...

She clears her throat. Steady there, Wrath.] ...but really amazing.

I was in a prisoner of war camp for... a while. A month or so. I suppose it's changed me. I couldn't tell you how, someone who knew me before would be a much better judge.

[He gives her a slight smile.] All right, next time we're somewhere that has a bar, would you like to come and get a drink and maybe a decent meal with me? Something that isn't gelatinous, flavoured cubes?

[He'll address the pain issues soon. He wants to give her a chance to respond first.]

Oh... that sucks a lot. Can you sleep okay? [Sleep was the first thing to go for her people, when they got in the shit.] And yeah, it will have changed you. That kind of stuff leaves a mark. And that's okay.

[She reaches out to take his hand but stops just short, waiting for permission. She knows better than to just touch someone who's been in the shit without making sure they're okay with it. Even she gets really wound up about that, sometimes, and startles really badly.]

Yes, I'd like that a lot. But you might have to settle for protein cubes or rat bars if we don't find somewhere decent soon. Don't want to miss your opportunity, you know.

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