video!

[pain_train]

Who: Wrath
Broadcast: To everyone!
Action: On the Windrose or the Iskaulit
When: Current

[On the broadcast, Wrath is a bit more sober than normal, which is to say not actively grinning. Her hands are smudged with ink; she rests her chin in one and gestures with the other.]

I've been thinking.

Back home in Proles, we have a thing called the Memorial of the Line. Or we just call it the Wall. It's in district 3, has this nice little park... but anyway, it's a big, long wall with all the names of the soldiers and civilians who died on the Line etched in to it.

I lost a lot of friends on the Line. So I like going there once a week. I take my kitten, we have ice cream, and we just... hang out with everyone.

People die and go away all the time. Hell... at least where I'm from, dying is better than going away, because you know nothing's going to hurt any more. But. That's not the point. It sucks, and it hurts to lose people, but all you can really do is keep on with the fight and stay positive, right?

So is there anything like a Wall here? I don't think people going away here is like... there isn't compliance here. And it's not like dying. But it still sucks and hurts and people feel sad. And it's good to remember everyone who was here, I think. Remembering things is... really important.

If we don't have a Wall, I think we should. We already have something for all the Nunnilis. There's still a lot of room on the Iskaulit and it's a ship for everyone. That way someone will always remember. They can take memories from you, but they can't take the things that are etched.

And I wouldn't mind taking care of it! I like doing stuff like that.

[Almost stops there. But... oh yeah!]

Even if people don't want a Wall, would anyone mind if I do a mural on one of the bulkhead walls in the Iskaulit? I found one that's just perfect and I have this awesome idea.

[Assuming there's no major objection, she's easy to find poking around in the Iskaulit, maybe prepping for some painting...

Otherwise, she's on the Windrose, doing her normal things.]

Comments

Action

[dancingmd]

[Damn, she doesn't know yet. Beverly looks back up at Wrath with a furrowed brow.]

He's gone. Back... [Not home. If only he were, this would be a lot easier.] Back to our universe.

Action

[pain_train]

[That would explain why she hasn't heard from him in a while. She just assumed he'd been busy; she'd been pretty busy herself.]

Oh.

I'm really sorry, Beverly.

[Beverly knows him better than she does, really. It's sad for a friend to go away, but she hadn't gotten the impression he was going to die or something.]

Action

[dancingmd]

Me too.

[She gazes at the wall behind Wrath, examining the beginnings of her work.]

I want to do something for him, here, even if I can't do anything about... about where he is now, because you're right: it's important that we remember.

Action

[pain_train]

You can only do what you can. What if makes people go bugfuck.[Wrath nods.] Did you have any ideas? Something you think he'd like?

[For all that she'd been sleeping with Julian, Wrath is pretty sure Beverly still knows him better.]

Action

[dancingmd]

[Bugfuck??? You think Beverly would be used to Wrath's slang by now, but no.

Her brow furrows as she continues to study the wall for a long minute. Julinan was always very careful to not talk much about himself. Instead, what he talked about most were the people on Deep Space Nine - Miles, Jadzia, Garak. It hardly seems appropriate to go painting them all over the walls though. Finally, she murmurs something.]

Sunshine.

[She looks at Wrath again and smiles.]

Let's give him something sunny.

[pain_train]

[Wrath smiles brilliantly.]

I think that would be perfect. And I love painting light. [She takes a step over so she can lean her shoulder against Beverly's, eyeing the wall as she does.]

Space or land, though?

[dancingmd]

I don't know...

[Beverly leans back into Wrath, just a little. The physical contact is reassuring. For a moment, she considers taking Wrath's hand, but all she manages is a brief brush of fingers, not wanting to give the impression she's looking for anything besides friendship.]

Perhaps... the ocean? Sunlight filtering through water...

[pain_train]

[Wrath's not so hampered. From her experience, holding hands is a thing friends totally do. She catches Beverly's fingers with hers and gives then a squeeze.]

He sure did like the beach on that last planet. So yeah, I think that sounds really good. I can spend some time watching Vision's fish tank to get a better sense of how light looks in the water.

[Not something she has more than a vague memory of, herself.]

[dancingmd]

[Relieved that Wrath didn't seem to read anything into it, Beverly returns the squeeze and doesn't let go. Not yet.]

Thank you.

[She turns to look at Wrath.]

I'm glad you're here. For me and for him. He wasn't... he wasn't in a good place, had a hard time reaching out, but he liked you.

[pain_train]

He's a kind and generous person. That's important. [Not going to speak of him in the past tense. He didn't die. And as far as she's concerned, kind and generous are the most important things any person can be.]

I'm glad we got to brighten his day.

[dancingmd]

Me too.

[And then, all of a sudden, she's hugging Wrath. No words accompany the hug, just silent gratitude. She's scared for Julian, but being around Wrath and her sunshine smile dampens that fear, makes it more managable.]

[pain_train]

[Aw, Beverly. Have a ferocious hug back. Thankfully she knows her own strength enough that she doesn't squeeze too hard, but it's definitely a firm hug.]

[dancingmd]

[It's a good hug, like an emotional Heimlich.

Maybe a little too good, because the tears she's been holding back for a long time start to fall freely and as she pulls out of the hug, she laughs in embarrassment, wiping at her eyes with the heels of her hands.]

Oh god. I'm sorry.

[pain_train]

For what? It's okay to have feelings. This isn't a live fire situation. [Because then, feelings would be a bad idea.] So cry while you can.

[She doesn't really feel the urge to cry, not really. Julian's still alive. That's really the best case scenario, as far as she's concerned. It would be nice if he was here, and maybe he'd prefer it that way too, but... he'll be okay. He's stronger than he thinks, she believes in that.]

[dancingmd]

[A sniff and a little smile.]

I just didn't expect to cry, not now.

[pain_train]

I don't think crying is a thing you plan. Because then it would be a bad plan.

But it's okay to miss people. It always hurts when someone goes away.

[dancingmd]

You'd think it would get easier, over time, but it never does.

[And the worst is not getting to say goodbye, so, have some cheesiness:]

If - when - one or the other of us leaves, I want you to know, one of the few good things about being brought here is the people... I'm glad I met you and I'm glad we're friends.

[pain_train]

I don't think it's supposed to. People who don't take it so hard are pretty fucked up in other ways.

[She squeezes Beverly's hand.] I'm really glad, too.

My life's been really crazy for the last six months since I got turfed, but I can't regret it completely because I've gotten to meet so many great people, and have friends. And you're one of those people.

[And she goes up on her tiptoes to kiss Beverly on the cheek.]

[dancingmd]

[For a second, Beverly looks surprised by the kiss, but her expression quickly softens and she gives Wrath the warmest of smiles, even if more tears are still threatening to fall.]

So. Tell me what I can do to help. I've never painted before but if you need supplies or...

[pain_train]

I can show you how to do some painting, so you can help fill in some of the color. And supplies, definitely. Good paint isn't the easiest to come by. And I'm not sure how the money works. Delta's not here to tell me...

[dancingmd]

[She gives a sheepish laugh.]

Well, I'm probably not the best person to go to when it comes to money... I'm not really used to handling it either, but I'm getting better.

[Mostly. Even if she's is not quite so careless with money anymore, she still is easily ripped off.]

Sokka had some paint at one point. I can ask where he got it.

[pain_train]

I wonder if Vision knows. He seems really smart and I bet he's good at numbers. [It's the numbers that get her. Well, and she never had to worry about money when she was in the army.]

That would be great! I'd appreciate it.

[dancingmd]

Maybe! Allen's been a great help to me in money matters, but I hate to keep coming to him with these sorts of things...

[pain_train]

Ah. I have to find someone to help me eventually. But I haven't had to buy anything either so I guess it's okay. Might as well save up all the money so maybe my back can get fixed!

[dancingmd]

I haven't spent much of mine either... we have food and clothes, so other than that, the only thing I have to spend it on is supplies for the clinic. [Grin.] Might as well splurge on some paint.