6. "All you need is love" is a lie 'cause/We had love but we still said goodbye

[pompous_today]

Who: Simon Tam and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Bloodsport
When: September 1st

[Simon had suddenly fallen asleep for a few days... and when he awoke, it was to find that River was gone.

He didn't want to believe it at first, didn't want to think Atroma's cruelty would extend this far. Maybe she'd been visiting Cole, he thought, or had gone to try and acclimate herself to the Iskaulit, or had simply felt lonely in his absence and had gone to find someone to keep her company.

He searched, he asked around, tried not to panic, but eventually, he had to accept it- she was nowhere to be found. When he broadcasts the news to the network, his voice is monotone, professional.]

River Tam has left the fleet.

[Anyone who comes looking for Simon will find him in the Bloodsport's medbay, staring into space; he's open to talking or treating patients, but likely won't be very talkative.]

Comments

[tobeajedi]

[Vima doesn't know who River Tam is--cousin? brother? aunt? but obviously some member of Simon's family. And she sympathizes. Separation sucks, though she has no idea the degree of it in this specific case.]

They sent her home but not you? That's terrible.

[pompous_today]

Yes. We arrived very close together, so I... I'm not sure why my sister was sent home and not me.

[tobeajedi]

For dramatic effect, maybe. [Schuttas. Not that complaining about their general situation will help, probably.] But if she's home, she's where she's supposed to be, right?

[mmmmmaaaaaybe?]

[pompous_today]

Indeed, she is... and from what I understand, time has stalled and she won't even know I'm gone. So perhaps... perhaps it's for the best.

[tobeajedi]

[Vima is still totally baffled by how that works. But if that's the case--and it seems to be from others' experience--it would be a comfort.]

At least she won't be missing you, right? I guess that makes you just miss her, instead of missing and worrying.

[pompous_today]

And that's a good thing- that she won't be missing me. But yes, I will miss her terribly... without having to take care of her, my life seems rather empty.

[tobeajedi]

You must be really close. [Take care of her? Is River very young, like a kid?] There's the other people on your crew, I suppose, but that's not the same as family.

audio

[dancingmd]

[Oh no. Upon hearing this on the network, Beverly's first inclination is to run over to the Bloodsport as quickly as possible. On her way out though, she pauses and reconsiders. When Julian left, she wasn't in the mood to talk, not right away. Better to give Simon his space, if he needs it. She opens her communicator.]

Simon? Do you... want some company?

audio

[pompous_today]

I... I don't know. [A pause; you can't see it, but Simon's facepalming at himself a little.] I'm sorry. I know that's not terribly helpful. I'm still trying to digest this.

audio

[dancingmd]

No need to apologize. This isn't an easy thing to digest.

audio

[pompous_today]

[There's a long pause, and Simon sighs.]

We're never separated for very long. Maybe... maybe she will come back. Or I'll be the next to go.

audio

[dancingmd]

You'll be together again, you must believe that.

[She is very firm in this. To believe anything else, anything other that he will see River and she will see Wesley will only make things worse.]

audio

[pompous_today]

[It's times like this that Simon wishes more people knew his story. That he could be honest about why it was particularly hard for him to be separated from River, after everything they'd been through. But the cautiousness in getting close to others that he'd developed as a survival tactic while on the run from the law hadn't deserted him yet.]

But in the mean time... what do I do?

action;

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[hhhheeey buddy.

he keeps a very close watch on his crew roster, so he'd known River was gone for... probably longer than Simon has been willing to accept it. Robin and River were not close, but he understands the way her absence will affect the crew... and he wanted to give the methodical doctor plenty of time to come to the conclusion in his own way.

so he swings by the medbay a good hour after the announcement goes up. waves from the doorway, nice and casual--like this is the usual thing.]

Hey, doc.

action;

[pompous_today]

[Simon looked up when he heard Robin's voice, tried to school himself into some sort of energy or friendliness, but it's just not in him. Instead, he rose and simply nodded his head slightly.]

... I suppose you've heard. You were probably the first to know, now that I think about it.

action;

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he nods back, very similarly. his smile is a sympathetic, at least.]

Mind if I have a seat?

action;

[pompous_today]

Please do.

[Simon himself sat back down with a sigh, though he did meet Robin's eyes, not knowing how this conversation was going to go.]

action;

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he sits quietly on the end of the examination chair, as if he was the patient here. for someone who's not a personnel officer... he's sure been doing a lot of counseling, lately.]

What does it feel like?

action;

[pompous_today]

[Simon's eyebrows furrowed, and he looked confused.]

What? Loss? Feeling directionless? Like my purpose is gone? [He laughed hollowly.] Take your pick...

[wordmiser]

[Jinx doesn't care about you. And if you try to prove she does, she'll shank you.

But she might wander into his silly little infirmary. And maybe, only when no one is looking, hop up onto the treatment table.

And lasty, with such studied lack of care, drop one of her treasured algae sweets onto the table next to him.

But she doesn't care. She's just sitting in here because she can. You being mopey is your own problem.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon noticed Jinx entering; knowing she probably wasn't much for comforting gestures, much less words, he simply watched her and was a little surprised when she casually offered a sweet.

Picking it up, Simon actually gave her a half smile and tilted his head in thanks.]

Did you come to observe?

[wordmiser]

[Pfft. No.

This is just her favorite place to lounge. Don't you see it, all the lounging she is doing? With her lollipop?

Cuz your heartbreak isn't worth the price of lollis.]

[pompous_today]

Mmm. Should have guessed- you're here to take up space instead, correct? [It was a bit of a gentle tease.]

[wordmiser]

[A toss of her head.

Exactly. She's glad you understand.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon unwrapped the candy and popped it in his mouth, looking at Jinx with a calm and level stare.

He was going to turn this into a staring contest, if she wanted. It would be a nice distraction.]