We're Riding Solo

[digthefuzz]

Who: The crew of the Huntress and any visitors!
Broadcast: Nope!
Action: The Huntress!
When: From now-ish until later-ish?! Go nuts!

[Time to get away from the icy ravages of the planet? Or see what happens when the Huntress tries to make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs? All your threading needs are here!]

Comments

[princessia]

[ Usually Elize makes an effort to work past her shyness by checking on her crewmates or introducing herself to any new ones on board. With Cullen gone, she's a twelve-year-old child without her adoptive father and now the longest lasting member of the Huntress. She has watched far too many people leave during her stay and the person that she saw as her family may have been the last straw to break her spirit.

She spends most of her time in her personnel room, almost as usual, except she's far quieter these days and the door isn't kept wide open to welcome visitors like it used to be. Not even the sound of her drawing on her papers. She can be found either sitting or lying down in silence while holding her strange doll on the couch. Or sometimes the only sound you might even hear is her faint sobbing.

The only time she can be seen outside of her rooms is when she leaves to fetch herself something to eat or drink in the kitchen and makes her way back through the hallways. Even then, she tries to make her trip as brief as possible. The most attention she'll give is spare you a glance with tired, red eyes, then continue on her way down the hall. ]

[avaricious]

[There were a lot of people who might have heard Elize sobbing and provided her a comforting few words or a shoulder to cry on.

Greed was not one of those people. In his exploration of the ship, he could not help but overhear her, resulting in him standing inside her door - uninvited.]

Tch. Some whiny brat gets this whole space?

[princessia]

[ Hearing the unfamiliar voice, she flinches slightly. She slowly turns over to look at Greed, acknowledging his presence. New crewmate? Probably. She doesn't care much right now and she doesn't feel like talking. Even the "whiny brat" comment doesn't rile her up.

She flips on her side again, to face the back of the couch.

He can stand there all he likes as long as he doesn't touch anything. ]

[avaricious]

[It's like that, huh? Well, that's fine. He lets himself in and has a look around.]

It's not exactly what I'd call posh, but I could get used to something like this.

[He strolls over to the desk and sits himself in the chair, then leans back so he can prop up his feet on the desk.]

[princessia]

[ The personnel room is clearly decorated by her, with childish drawings hanging on the walls. There are a few abstract-looking drawings done by someone else.

Hearing the movement easily alarms her and she shifts over again to look at Greed. There's a fish bowl with a few glow fish on the desk. He can put his feet on the desk, fine. But she'd hate for her fish to get knocked over... it was a gift. ]

...please don't touch anything.

[avaricious]

[Greed is eyeing the fish anyway. They are pretty, though there's better things around here than just fish. Still...]

You can relax on that count, kid. If there's one thing I know better than others, it's the value of possessions. [He tilts his head back to look at her.] So what's got you all bummed out?

[princessia]

[ She's watchful of him for a few more seconds and when she feels certain enough he won't knock over the fish bowl or anything, she lowers her gaze. She squishes her doll closer to her face. ]

My father's gone. And... a lot of other people used to be here. They're gone too.

[avaricious]

So, you're the kind of person who doesn't like losing others. And you're very protective of your possessions on top of that. [He chuckles.] Well, aren't you just a greedy little minx. What's your name?

[notkittenaround]

[ Marhi is in the kitchen, sorting her hefty pile of meats, when she sees Elize enter. ]

Are you--

[ "Are you well?" is a foolish question, obviously disproved by her face, and both her ears and tail droop at the despair. ]

If you need aught of me, let me know.

[princessia]

[ Her only response is a silent nod. She reaches for a stool, tugging it along towards a counter. Using the stool as a boost, she reaches into a high cupboard, pulling out a decorative tea cup. It was part of the tea set she received from Cullen as a gift.

She's just here for a drink and not much chatter obviously. ]

[notkittenaround]

[ She makes the pretence of not keeping an eye on her, focusing on storing the meat. If Elize needs time, and silence, Marhi can offer both.

Just in case, she makes certain to listen, one ear always swivelling to where Elize is sitting as she moves around the kitchen. ]

[princessia]

[ Still not much noise except for her movement. As she brings the tea cup down, she nearly drops it. She makes a small, frightened squeak as she briefly fumbles with the fragile dishware in her hands. ]

[killedwithlove]

[Cole appears when he's heard the news.

He lets himself in and sits down next to her, hand smoothing her hair back.]

Crowley and I have asked to have another bunk space, so you can live with Jove, if you want. or you can just have my bed, I don't use it, or you could sleep with Jove, I think she'd like that.

[princessia]

[ Shoulders tense up briefly when she feels the hand on her head. When she realizes it's only Cole, she relaxes. She scoots close and leans against him. ]

...I guess.

[ It's becoming too painful to stay on the Huntress. She doesn't have any qualms against her new crewmates. They're kind to her or tolerable enough. But she also remembers most of the people who used to live on the ship. Too many have already left.

Maybe it is best for her to move to the Pathstone, but all she can think of now is seeing Cullen again. ]

[killedwithlove]

[Cole holds her close, long fingers carefully brushing through her hair.]

You don't have to. But you're welcome, if you'd like to come and live with us.

[princessia]

Maybe.

[ She's already leaning towards transferring, to bring herself closer to the family she has left, once she feels enough energy to bring herself to make the request. Aside from getting up for meals and sleeping, she has lack of interest in doing anything a little productive.

She huddles close, burying her face on him. ]

I miss Cullen. [ Letting his name slip for a moment, then to his family title. ] I miss my Daddy...

[killedwithlove]

[Cole knows she does, even if the grief isn't one he can understand. He has never loved anyone or anything, for all that he cares about so much.]

When the time comes for you to leave, you'll be with him.

[He wants it to be true, if nothing else.]

[princessia]

...I hope so.

[ One of the gifts she gave to him, a letter, disappeared along with him. Maybe it went back with him, to Thedas. Maybe it's possible for her too. ]

I liked having a family. Now it's all broken.

[ Everything feels different now. ]

[killedwithlove]

[Again, Cole knows nothing about a family. Cole's family was nothing a family should be. And this family, it's not quite that to him.]

I'm sorry. I can't make this better. You have Jove and I'm still here.

A THOUSAND YEARS LATE

[dawnwillcome]

[She comes immediately, of course. The moment she knows Cullen has gone, Jove puts all of her feelings about it aside, gets into a shuttle, and goes immediately to find Elize.

She knows what this will do to the girl, what it's going to do to her when she lets herself feel it, and at least Elize should not be alone and dealing with this development. She finds her in her room curled on the couch and initially thinks she's sleeping, but Jove enters anyway and sits beside her, rests her hand gently on the center of her back. If she's sleeping, Jove will let her sleep, content to sit there and rub her back until she wakes.]

[princessia]

[ Usually, Elize is capable of sleeping like a rock. Since Cullen's disappearance, she has been crying on and off, making it difficult for her to get a proper, peaceful sleep.

The touch on her back easily stirs her back awake. She tiredly peeks out at Jove from behind her doll and shows signs of earlier crying with her reddened eyelids. She remains quiet, using the little bit of energy she has to shift around and rest her head on Jove's lap.

She keeps one hand holding her stuffed animal close to her body and in the other, there appears to be a a folded piece of paper. The paper is partially crumpled, accidental on Elize's part. Her fingers have a tight hold on the parchment, like it must be the most important thing left in the world for her. ]

[dawnwillcome]

[It's not a particular surprise to see those red eyes, but that doesn't make the knowing without a doubt that Elize has been crying any easier to bear. Once she's settled again Jove strokes her hair, goes on rubbing her back. It's not much, but it's something she would want in Elize's place. Hopefully it's a start.]

Go back to sleep, da'len. [She wants to say that she'll be there when Elize wakes up, that she isn't going anywhere, but on the heels of Cullen's disappearance it doesn't sit well even in her head. Instead she smiles at the girl, brushes her hair back from her eyes.] You look so tired.

[princessia]

[ She shuts her eyes, making an attempt at falling back asleep and for a moment it seems like the back rubs help put her at ease. It doesn't take long for her to make a look of discomfort, then let out a small whimper.

If only she could easily shut her mind down, she could try to fall asleep faster. But her thoughts drift right back to Cullen, how she might never see him again. Not for a very long time.

Her eyes flutter back open, blinking out a few new tears. Still awake, although it also looks like she can barely keep her eyes open. ]

He's really gone...

[dawnwillcome]

[The hand brushing her bangs away from her face is close enough that Jove can catch those tears with her thumb, gently rubbing them away as they fall.]

Not forever. I won't let you be away from him forever, Elize, I swear.

[princessia]

I- [ "Don't know?" Elize stops herself. Her voice cracks as she speaks, bringing her into shedding more tears. She probably sounds uncertain as she whimpers out her words. ]

You won't, because you're strong.

[ The first time she started worrying about how they'll be torn from each other, Jove assured her that she would be able to find her way to them. They still don't know how, but she wants to believe it's possible. ]

I'm... strong too. You told me that.