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

[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.

[pompous_today]

Indeed, we always have been. I think I mentioned to you once before that River is an empath... she has trouble controlling her abilities sometimes, so being around me helps keep her stable. And it's why I worry about her so much, despite knowing she is perfectly fine back home.

[tobeajedi]

[Vima nods; she does remember Simon telling her that. That goes a long way to explaining, especially given Vima's recent experience on the Nunnili ship.]

I bet it's second nature to you. [pfft second] Do you need any company? Our synthesizer doesn't do a bad tea.

[pompous_today]

I do try my best- I lack such abilities myself, so it's difficult for me to do much to help sometimes, but we get by.

[There's a long pause as he considers the offer.]

I think... I think I would like that.