Paisley mingle

[reek]

Who: The SS Paisley & visitors
Broadcast: None
Action: Paisley
When: February

[ Step up, step up. Survive the Paisley and win a prize! ]

Comments

[stefanged]

[He pauses, glancing up from his nearly-full thermos. Huh. He hadn't even noticed. Reaching for another teacup, he rushes to fix her a cup too. Stefan's gonna be a good host, because in the end, his mood shouldn't determine his hospitality.]

Thanks. I guess I've been out of it lately.

[tobeajedi]

I can see that. [Without waiting for an invitation--she hardly needs one at this point--Vima takes a seat at the table.] What's wrong?

[stefanged]

[Had anyone else asked, he might've changed the subject or lied through his teeth. Since it's Vima, he slides the tea cup over.]

Elena went home.

[tobeajedi]

[Elena... the girl from the memory she saw, the one Vima said he should keep.]

...Oh. [She considers what to say. Trying to look on the bright side by saying she's back where she's supposed to be isn't it.] That's pretty rough. She was the only one from your homeworld, right?

[stefanged]

Right. [He nods, blowing on his thermos before he takes a sip out of it.] I don't think our world's actually destroyed. The world I was in before here... it lied to all of us.

So I know she's alive. I mean, I hope she's alive. Atroma wouldn't... [Another quick sip.] We're entertainment, not chew toys.

[tobeajedi]

[The 'world' lied to them? Strange way to put it, although Vima wonders if she's maybe taking it too literally.]

If that's what you think, you should believe it.It would take a lot to destroy a world. [It's not impossible, she knows that from Ossus, but it tends to require warlords with superweapons.] And I think you're right, Atroma wouldn't go so far as to break us. [She scowls.] It'll make you sad, but it'd want you to recover in time for more humorous hijinks.

[stefanged]

A world, yeah. They told us that dozens of worlds collapsed or burned out or... you know, ceased existing. It's why we were pulled to that Earth.

[Now, it's sounding more like that Earth pulled them, regardless of their world's status.]

Sorry, I know I'm not making much sense, but I was told... that my world didn't exist anymore, and if Elena was going back to that...

[Nope, not gonna go there. Not going there.] Then she's gonna be just fine, and maybe some day, I'll join her too.

[tobeajedi]

[Vima winces. 'Burned out' in particular hits her, because she has actually seen it.]

Trust me, it's hard to wipe out that many planets at once. I'm sure you'll join her again, too. [She reaches out to put a hand on his arm.] But even believing that she's all right, you would still miss her.

[stefanged]

I hope so. [He glances down at her touch, leaning in so that he can kiss her forehead. It's a different kind of affection, especially for someone like Stefan: it's sad and bittersweet all at once.]

Thanks, Vi. I know I'm the worst kind of company right now.

[tobeajedi]

[She smiles a little at the brotherly kiss.]

Yeah, you're so inconsiderate, moping over your friend being sent home without you. I can't believe it.

[stefanged]

[He scoffs, like she'd gravely dishonored his cow.] Atroma can't get rid of me that easily. I've still got people to take care of.

[And you know, baby sisters to spoil.]

[tobeajedi]

Glad to hear it. You've got to make sure your crew of troublemakers is well-fed and bandaged up. And I'd miss you--you're the first person I met here, after all.

[stefanged]

I'd miss you too. Feels like forever ago, being cooped up on the Marsiva with nothing but each other.

[He's getting a little sappy now. Maybe more so than usual.]

I'm still not sure what the rest of the Fleet's like, but you know you've always got me.