And We Danced (Masquerade Overflow!)

[thespaceopera]

The Captcha is upon us, but the party isn't over! Feel free to continue your threads here, start new ones, and continue the dance party!

- Original Mingle
- OOC Post

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Comments

For Nami

[pompous_today]

[Continued from here.]

Yes. I- grew up rather privileged, so when I was a child, I attended a lot of balls and masquerades like this.

[namisan]

Ah. No wonder they're so old hat to you.

I'm kind of the opposite. We grew up poor enough it was all hand-me-down clothing and my mother going without food so we could eat. [She's not saying it to be judgmental. Nami sounds more fond than anything else.] But it was a good life despite that.

[pompous_today]

[Simon crossed his arms, glad she didn't seem to be judging him. Lord knew he often judged himself for how naive he'd been, once upon a time. Even if he had no reason to think his government was all that bad.]

I can hear the fondness in your voice. Sometimes, you don't need a lot to be happy. The crew I traveled with was like that- they wore old and patched clothes, they often didn't have enough food, but they had a family-like closeness I envied.

[namisan]

Right? [She smiles.] Don't get me wrong. I love money, and parties are fun. But I'd give them up forever if it meant I got to keep my family.

[pompous_today]

I feel that way about my sister. My parents and I... have drifted apart. [He bit his tongue.] Irreconcilable differences of opinion, you might say. It's a long story. But my sister... I would give up everything for her in a heartbeat, as long as we got to be together.

[namisan]

She was here for a while, wasn't she? {She vaguely recalls him saying that right at the beginning.]

I'm sorry you don't get to be together.

[pompous_today]

Yes, for several months. ... I am sorry, too. She was the center of my universe for a while, and without her it sometimes feels like I am drifting, with nothing to achor me.

[namisan]

[...]

I love my own sister, but I haven't seen her in years now. Going out to sea was in my blood, and she stayed home to look after the orchard. We parted on good terms-- this bracelet was her last gift before I left. [She taps the gold bangle around one wrist.]

I miss her a lot. But I know that when we get the opportunity, I'll sail back home and see her again.

I guess... you could try thinking of it the same way. It's just an extended trip.

[She'll be waiting for you at the end.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon smiled a little at the memento.]

I am glad to hear it was a good parting, though. Not everyone is meant for a life of adventure... and someone does have to be the one to watch home and grow the food. Both are good paths, I think.

[He sighed, then nodded.]

And at the very least, I know that no time is passing back home, so she won't have to be without me. [He hesitated, then added slowly-] River is severely mentally ill, and I am her primary caretaker. Being separated from me for so long would be... difficult for her, to say the least.

[namisan]

[...oh. She can see why it would be so much harder for him, and her smile is a little pained.]

Time not passing at home is a great saver for a lot of us. In this particular case... all the more so. I'm sorry.

[pompous_today]

[Simon smiled ruefully.]

Thank you. In all honesty, as unhappy as I am about being trapped here, at least Atroma does do us that much of a courtesy. It's not much, but it's definitely a burden off my mind. River would be able to survive without me, but... it's much easier for her when I am around.

[namisan]

I've no doubt you make a good brother to her.

Did she like space?

[pompous_today]

I do try my best.

She as always felt more at home in space, I think. Especially on Serenity- that was the name of the ship we traveled on. I'm not sure what it was about the ship, but it was her home, moreso than anyplace else we ever lived.

[namisan]

[She's not about to make guesses about why. Mentally ill covers a vast variety of issues.]

I'm glad she could enjoy that space, then.

[...heh.] Is it common to name ships after that kind of thing? I mean outside the fleet-- Serenity, Tranquility... those are the two I've heard. Kind of a theme there.

[pompous_today]

Myself as well. We lucked out with the crew we ended up with. [Even if he didn't appreciate it at the time.]

It can be... our ship was named after a particular place called Serenity Valley. Our captain was a former soldier, and the last battle he fought in took place there.

[namisan]

Ah. Well, that's actually different than what I thought, at least. I thought the ship names were trying to illustrate how absolutely quiet it is out there.

[pompous_today]

It's not as quiet as one might think, sometimes. When you get close to the central planets, there's plenty of air traffic. Cruise ships, police ships, cargo transports... sometimes it can feel LESS crowded on a planet's surface.

[namisan]

No, I gathered that much from the space station. [Because dear god that place was chaos.]

But you know, when we're travelling through the middle of nowhere...

[pompous_today]

In the middle of space, yes... it is very quiet and serene. Sound doesn't travel in space, so if you need some time to think... there is no better place than at the front of a ship, watching the stars.

[namisan]

Mmm. I do like just sitting on the bridge.

Though I think I still prefer a the wind and the salt that comes with the ocean. I'm still a sea-faring pirate at heart.

[pompous_today]

[Simon smiled.]

You know, it's funny... I never thought of the sea-faring sort of pirate until I met you, since space travel has made water-based travel all but obsolete in my world. And some planets and moons don't even have oceans. It's an entirely different sense of scale and distance.

[namisan]

Mmm. Well, if it helps I never really thought of space travel before I came here, either.

There are some similarities... and a whooole lot of differences. But I'm learning. [Outside of her augment, because screw the augment.]

[pompous_today]

Maybe some day, we'll land on a planet where you can show off your seafaring skills.

[namisan]

That'd be fun. Then we could see if you get sea sick.

[pompous_today]

Ending up in my own infirmary... that would be rather shameful.