driftfleet | 03 ❀

Who: Elize Lutus & YOU?
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Huntress (or whatever ship that Elize winds up being invited to)
When: Now - October 4th

Umm... hello, everyone.

[ The broadcast opens up with Elize sitting in her personnel room. Some drawings done by her and Cole can be seen hanging on the wall in the background, along with a little painting of pink flowers. On the desk is a small stack of even more paintings. Very rarely does Elize broadcast her own fleet wide posts on her own will. She finds it somewhat easier to speak one-on-one on other posts, not so much when it's broadcast to a fleet of people.

The little girl has her hands propped on her lap, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. Her cheeks are slowly turning a faint red as she records herself. She'd prefer not to make any posts, but she feels it needs to be done at this time. ]

Some of the Huntress crew went back home. My friend, Shirley, too. She left behind these paintings that she got from the previous planets and stations, I think?

[ She lifts one of the art pieces from her desk to show it off. Looks like it might be a painting of some sort of plant from a different planet...? Who knows. ]

I thought I should share these. I think Shirley would like it if I did that. [ And it's something for everyone to remember her by. ] If anyone wants one, you can visit the Huntress or if you want, I can go to you. Just let me know.

[ That's about all she wanted to say. She gives a little wave goodbye to the camera, then ends the recording. ]

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Your daughter. I'd be your daughter.

[ Elize quietly repeats the words softly to herself, sounding almost in disbelief. ]

...You'd be fine with that?

[ It feels like a silly question to ask, already having an idea of what sort of answer he'd give her. She had already been saying that he's "like a father" for some time. But it wouldn't just be "like a father" anymore. Cullen would really be her father.

Looking up with wide eyes, it's like she's making sure she isn't dreaming about being called his daughter. ]

[He doesn't know why he braces himself for the worst--that she'll be upset, somehow, or scared. But there she is with wide eyes, asking him if he'd be fine with that.]

I'd be honored. Assuming you'd be fine with me being your [his throat tightens a little] father.

[A daunting title, but really... what would change?]

Father.

[ The word is spoken slowly, trying to get used to it and let it roll off her tongue naturally. Are those tears welling up in her eyes? Those are definitely tears. She quickly lowers her gaze. ]

Father... I have a father...

[ Feeling the tears slowly stream across her cheeks, she reaches up to cover her face. She probably looks upset at a glance, but really, she feels overwhelmingly happy. She has a father. ]

[In typical Cullen fashion, he takes it as I already have a father, regardless of the fact that he's dead.]

Elize--

[Oh, this is just about one of his biggest mistakes in recent memory. He doesn't know what to say or do or if he should hug her or--]

I'm--sorry. You don't need to call me that, or even--please, forget I said anything.

[ She's not upset! Shaking her head, it takes a moment for her to properly talk through her sobbing. She keeps trying to rub the tears away. Finally, she just forces herself to speak despite all the tears that just keep coming. ]

You're my father...

[ She reaches up, throwing her arms around Cullen's neck for a hug and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. ]

I love you, Daddy!

[Everything is slow motion, it feels. She's crying and hugging him and calling him Daddy and he didn't expect her to take to it like a fish takes water and that's a little terrifying, but they've been doing this father and daughter thing for what feels like forever.

Maker, all he can do is hold her close.]

I love you, too. I promised I'd take care of you.

[This is just natural progression.]

[ Now she's starting to smile, making it clear that she is crying out of joy. They're father and daughter, for real. ]

I know... I know you'd never break your promise! ...I love you!

[ Obviously he heard her say it the first time. The overwhelming happiness brings her to say it a second time. She keeps hugging him as tight as her little arms can. Then with a laugh, she adds: ]

Very, very, very, very much!

[Those little arms around his neck are surprisingly strong and good at cutting off the oxygen he needs. Even so, he keeps his arms around her, moving only to rub her back.]

I'm glad you're happy. You scared me for a moment there, with the crying.

[But he'd be lying if he said his eyes weren't a little misty.]

[ Don't worry, she'll stop squeezing his neck soon. She pulls away, looking surprised and blinking out a few more tears. That may be the last of her tears, but her face is still glazed with them. ]

Did I? I didn't mean to...

[ The redness on her face may be more from embarrassment now than crying. ]

Of course I'm happy!

So am I. [In proper parent fashion, he uses the bottom of his shirt to wipe her cheeks.]

I might be the happiest man alive, currently.

...Daddy.

[ It sounds almost natural when she says it. Though inwardly, it feels a little strange, but she's trying to get accustomed to saying it. She starts to smile again as he dries off her cheeks. ]

You should be the happiest person, always!

[His ears are a little pink--this is a lot, he thinks, but really everything is the same. He's long since taken her under his care, long since loved her like she were his own. Still, the words are new and awkward, but not lacking in sincerity. He just never thought he'd say them in any sort of context.]

My daughter. Hm. It's hard not to be, when I get to say that.

03 ❀

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