I ripped a hole through your heart

[justamobster]

Who: Ladon Ceto and various folks!
Broadcast: None.
Action: Several places!
When: Early August.

[ Option A: for Beverly Crusher ]

[ Once finishing all the work he'd lined up on the planet, Ladon decided it was time to make amends both for his shameful display during June and his disappearance in July. So he's seeking out one of the people who helped him feel better when he was trying to drown his sorrows in bourbon. His visit to the Blue Fish isn't fruitful, so instead he decides to extend his search to the beach of the planet. He'd heard tell of a pretty redhead on the shoreline and he figures it's a one-in-three shot that it'll be her... unless more pretty redheads he's yet to befriend have shown up in his absence.

So he's wandering the beach, keeping an eye out for her even as he avoids getting his wingtip shoes too wet. He has something in his pocket that he keeps checking to make sure it's there, as if even on paradise's shores he expects to be pick-pocketed. He's still a city boy at heart, after all. ]

[ Option B: for Natasha Romanoff ]

[ The Windrose isn't a ship he's visited before, but thankfully it's not a difficult one to navigate. After all, while the ships do vary somewhat in their layouts, they aren't exactly large enough to get lost in. It's quite different from the massive zones he's used to dealing with on Sacrosanct. There was a reason he rarely strayed from the zone with his apartment and bar.

Either way, he locates Nat's office without too much hassle and when he does, he knocks politely on her door. ] Red? You in?

[ Option C: Anyone else! ]

[ Ladon can be encountered in various ways. He may be out on the shore, taking another sunset in before the inevitable departure from this star system. He might be back on the Tourist, reacquainting himself with the pilot's chair and assessing the differences in the crew from his time away. (Two new people after so many months of the same. And Colette's gone. He feels bad for not telling her goodbye.)

He may even be on one of the various fleet ships, or chatting with the people he's gotten to know on the planet down at the piers. Either way, he seems to be doing better since he last poured his heart out to the network, though how much of that is legitimate, how much is a show, and how much may be his implant glitching, well. That's up for debate. ]

Comments

A

[dancingmd]

[The rumors were true: Beverly is indeed at the beach, looking radiant (thanks to both the sun and her elevated levels of serotonin) in her green swimsuit as she wades in the surf and stares out at the ocean. Caught up as she is in her own thoughts, she doesn't notice Ladon's approach.]

[justamobster]

[ Ladon still isn't quite used to seeing his lady friends in swimsuits.

He's easily flustered by the sight of a woman in a swimsuit by Nieve standards and bare backs and midriffs are not exactly the norm there. In fact, he has to repress his urge to toss his coat over all that bare skin in a protective manner. It takes him a moment to remember there is no decency patrol here and that bodily autonomy is far more of a thing for women outside of Nieve. After jeering by the fellow fishermen on the pier and a lecture from the wife of the bar owner where he worked, he's a little less likely to act like a total mook.

It doesn't stop him from staring just a little long, though. It's partially out of hesitancy, because Bev looks to be lost in her thoughts and he's wary of interrupting her. He'd be lying if he said that was the only reason to linger on the image of her, though.

Eventually he manages to clear his throat. ]

Hey, doc. Not, er, intrudin' on anythin', am I?

[dancingmd]

[He's lucky she didn't catch him staring or she would get no end of enjoyment out of flustering him.

Instead, at the sound of Ladon clearing his throat, Beverly turns and her smile absolutely lights up her face when she sees who it is. She understands that he has needed his space, nevertheless she has greatly missed seeing him around.]

No, no! Not at all!

[She immediately makes her way out of the water and over to him.]

It's good to see you.

[justamobster]

[ Her smile is contagious, though Ladon's is considerably more awkward. What he's been up to over the past month is a bit obvious given the tan and the fresh spattering of freckles on his face that he's gotten. He tucks his hands in his pockets, looking a bit sheepish. ]

Yeah, sorry 'bout takin' a powder. Had t'get my head together.

[dancingmd]

[The awkward smile only serves to endear him even more to her and she feels a rush of affection for him.]

It's alright, no need to apologize. Sometimes you just need some time alone.

[She blatantly looks him over for a moment, taking in the tan and the freckles and everything else, pleased at how much healthier he looks now.]

You look good.

[Professionally speaking, of course. As a doctor. She couldn't possibly mean anything else by it. (Even under the influence of the glitch, she's very good at telling herself this.)]

[justamobster]

[ Of course she doesn't mean anything else by that, nope. And Ladon is far too oblivious to think so either way. He usually has to have a point hammered into his head before he realizes he's being complimented. Or flirted with. ]

Hard work's usually just what the doctor ordered for me. Er, just as a sayin', don't usually see a doc back home. [ Aza's not really a doctor, after all. ] Felt sorta like bein' back in Nieve. It ain't exactly like home, but s'close enough. Helluva lot prettier here.

[dancingmd]

[Oh how well she understands that. Before she got her little augment-induced serotonin boost, working with the Nunnalis was the only thing helping her get over the emotional strain of the past month. If she hadn't been able to do something, she would have been in a lot worse shape.]

It is a beautiful planet, isn't it? And the Nunnalis... I hate to admit to approving of any of Atroma's decisons, but I'm glad they brought us here. It's been a good place for healing, in more ways than one.

[justamobster]

S'a nice break... Though it's got me wonderin' what they're plannin' next. [ He knits his brow a bit. The glitch hasn't hit him, he doesn't think, partially because he still seems to jump to the worst conclusions. After all, why bring them to paradise if Hell isn't right around the next corner?

He catches himself before he can let a dark mood settle in, if only for the sake of his company. ] Er, sorry, didn't come 'round just to go bringin' the mood down. In fact I er. I gotcha somethin'.

[ At which point he produces a little box from his pants pocket. It's tied with a ribbon made out of what looks like hemp rope dyed to resemble seaweed, quite obviously the product of one of the inhabitants of the planet. ]

[dancingmd]

Oh! Thank you! [A little cute frown of surprise and confusion appears as she takes the box from him.] But ... what's the occasion?

[justamobster]

S'a thank you. For before. Ain't used to folks offerin' a friendly shoulder, 'specially when I get... y'know. [ Drunk and sulky. Most of the people he knows steer clear. Or lecture him. ] Wanted t'show how much it means t'me, yeah?

[ He sticks his hands in his pockets again, back to his awkward self. ] Dunno if that kinda gift's normal in your world but, er, s'how I was raised.

[ It's much more symbolic in dragon culture, actually. Giving another dragon a piece of one's hoard is like giving over a piece of one's self, a token of gratitude that gives the exchange a meaningful, material element. This isn't exactly the same, but Ladon's lizardy brain conceptualizes the gesture that way. ]

[dancingmd]

[Her frown dissipates and her expression softens as he explains. While part of her is reluctant to accept a gift in return for being what she expects any decent human being to do, she isn't about to insult him by refusing it. Even if she doesn't fully understand the cultural significance of his gift, she can see how much it means to him and she's touched by his sincerity, however awkward it might be.

So she removes the ingeniously designed little ribbon with care and opens up the box to reveal...]

[justamobster]

[ Ladon has made a bit of effort to pick out something nice, and thankfully he's been working with someone whose wife makes jewelry. The necklace in the box is obviously made out of materials from the planet's beaches.

He does his best to not nervously watch for her reaction, but he's definitely curious what she thinks of the gift. ]

[dancingmd]

[While Beverly rarely wears jewelry, this is different, not only because it's handcrafted, instead of replicated, but also because it comes from a friend. Taking it out of the box, she holds it up to better admire the texture and color of the beads in the sunlight.]

It's lovely! Thank you!

[After setting the box in the sand, she straightens up and proceeds to attempt to put the necklace on. The clasp is proving more difficult than expected, however, so after a while spent fiddling with it she gives up and holds it out to Ladon with an apologetic smile.]

Could you help me get it on?

B

[tothefly]

[The Windrose may not be very large, but that just makes it easier for Natasha to know every inch of it backwards and forwards. She knows every single person on this ship, the second they dock. Part of being on high alert.

At his knock, there's a sound in the hallway behind him, something like an amused chuckle. Cue Natasha, leaning against the wall, arm in a sling against her chest.]

Not in there, but I could be, if you need me. Coming for counseling, or is this a social call?

[justamobster]

[ His intention is to hide the little blue gift box behind himself, but due to her stealthy arrival, he's pretty much caught red handed. He jumps a little at the noise and turns only to look sheepish at the fact that she startled him. He scratches at the back of his neck with the hand not holding the little box in it. ]

Heya, Red. Er, just stoppin' by to say hello, yeah? Think I bent your ear 'nough 'bout my problems before.

[tothefly]

[It's not difficult to catch a glimpse of something in his hands, though he's fast enough that she doesn't really see it--just a glimpse, and it's enough to pique her curiosity. She pushes off the wall, heading towards him at an easy pace. The sling doesn't seem to throw her off at all, nor does it affect the easy smile on her face.]

I've got a spare, nothing to worry about. For you, I've always got time.

[She steps past him, unlocking the office door and holding it open for him. The reversal of the traditional roles is just one more thing to make that smile of hers grow.]

After you.

[justamobster]

[ He's just aware enough of Natasha's tendency to notice such things that he knows the jig is up in terms of his surprise gift, though he does stow it away at least until they're in the office. While the rest of the fleet's members don't seem to be the nosy type, he's learned enough from his time on Sacrosanct that giving a (single, he assumes) woman a gift in public is just asking for speculation.

He knows he's being watched by some unseen audience either way, but he honestly could not give a shit what they think.

Once they're in her office, though, Ladon sets the little blue box down on the table. It's up to her if she wants to open it now or later. ]

This's, er, somethin' of an apology, yeah? For disappearin'. And a thank you for listenin'.

[ It's both a part of his dragon nature and his ineptitude with women that prompted the idea of a gift. Hoard pieces are often offered as apologies, and well, what do you do to thank a lady when she helps you?

Buy her something sparkly, of course. ]

Think I got everythin' off my chest already but... Considerin' we ain't known each other long, wanted t'tell you in person that I appreciate you bein' there for me, Red.

[ And he's looking about as sincere as he can without taking his hat off. ]

[tothefly]

[The audience might always be watching, but since Natasha can do nothing about that, she elects instead to control what the other fleet members see as best she can. She's always been a private person, in her way, and can definitely appreciate the same about Ladon. He's a very particular kind of gentleman, she thinks, and her eyes rest on the little blue box for just a moment, curious, before following the arm that set it down up to his face. The smile fades as she leans back against her desk facing him, her face as thoughtful as his is sincere.]

It's my pleasure. We're stuck here until we're not, and in between I guess we may as well enjoy the company we're keeping. You don't ever make it a chore, Mr. Ceto.

[The title is used teasingly. They may be beyond such things by now, but hey.]

[justamobster]

Likewise, miss Natasha. [ He gives the brim of his hat a little tug, adding his own teasing edge of formality. He smiles and after a moment, scratches the side of his neck awkwardly. ] Definitely worse folks t'get stuck in space with, yeah? Was stuck with some of 'em, before. No one here's been givin' you any trouble, have they?

[ Not that he doesn't think she could handle it herself, but he's the protective sort. ]

[tothefly]

[The tease gets a quiet, understated huff of laughter, though it's not clear if that's at the title or the comment.]

Nothing I can't handle. I'm a big girl. And it's just Natasha. No Miss necessary, you know that.

[She waits a beat, cocks her head.]

My birthday's not for another three months, you know.

[justamobster]

Think Red fits better anyhow, yeah?

[ He smirks, tips his head a little to the side. ] Well, if we're both still kickin' 'round these tin cans, I'll getcha somethin' for it. This one's a thank you gift.

[tothefly]

You're the only one who calls me that. Guess you'll be the judge of whether it suits or not.

[She doesn't mind the nickname. It's a nice little touch, from someone who's becoming as close as she gets to having friends. Slowly but surely. Picking up the box, she balances it between her fingertips.]

You don't owe me anything, you know. For whatever I did. But who am I to say no to a present? Should I open it now?