04 | action & video

[stefanged]

Who: Stefan Salvatore-Alesci and you!!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Paisley
When: Backdated to May 6th

[action; closed to crew & close CR]
[Around mid-afternoon, Stefan stirs from his slumber, entangling himself in blankets before he slowly pulls himself up and glances around. This isn't home. No big wooden panels or creaking wooden floors, and more importantly, no stench of bourbon in the hallway. His face falls as he listens to the steady heartbeats of his crew. His amazing, awesome, but still Damon-free crew.

Resigning himself to the inevitable, he murmurs,] So I'm still here.

[Pulling those covers closer, he allows himself those few seconds of grief before rubbing his temples and managing the thinnest of smiles. No sense in worrying everyone else right off the bat.

Stefan'll also be in the kitchen later with his usual mug of tea and- and wait. Did his stash of chocolate chips shrink while he was gone?? Stefan might be peering at his baking supplies like he's trying to puzzle out a mystery. Or maybe he's on the verge of falling asleep again. Hard to tell.]

[video;]
[Sometime after the initial confusion wears off, Stefan puts the video feed on and manages a weak wave at the camera. The Paisley's lab can clearly be seen in the background, along with a stack of (dusty, untouched) files behind him. Despite sleeping for at least five weeks, he looks (and feels) as exhausted as ever.]

Hey. Sorry if I've worried anyone for being out this long, but uh, I should be back to my usual stuff soon. So if you've missed my interfaith talks for some strange reason, they'll pick back up next week. [...] Jumu'ah too, if we've gained any other Muslims since I was last around.

Speaking of "last around," I know more than a few of us have experienced hypersleep. If you're willing to talk about it, I have a few questions for you. Nothing big, I promise, and the informed consent forms are right here. [He hasn't uploaded them to the network yet, so he'll hold one up to the camera.]

If this seems like your kind of thing, drop by the Paisley. I should be around for a while. [A small, nervous smile, one that actually reaches his eyes.] Oh, and uh - I'm Stefan Salvatore. It's good to be back.

Comments

video.

[intelligently]

( There's a frown )

What's hypersleep?

video.

[stefanged]

Basically, it's when you fall into an induced coma. [Honestly, he's not thrilled either. He didn't want to re-live Rip Van Wrinkle.] How long said coma is, though, varies. I was out for five weeks, but I think others only got a week or two.

video.

[intelligently]

That might have been what happened to Stiles. How often do they happen?

action

[tobeajedi]

[Vima pops by the Paisley pretty punctually, and when she steps aboard this time, it's with the pleasant realization that Stefan is awake. Finally. She heads to the kitchen, grinning at the way he's looking into the cabinets.]

Something missing, Sleeping Beauty?

action

[stefanged]

Vi!

[He immediately sets his mug on the table because oh God he must've worried her like crazy. Sorry, space sister, hugs are coming, and he doesn't even look apologetic for once.]

[tobeajedi]

[That's fine because he is getting a JEDI SPACE HUG right back. She knows that she put him through this back in November, so obviously she's not mad or anything... but it's much nicer to have him awake and moving around again.]

It's about time you woke up. You would have completely missed the pollution moon.

[action]

[delincuente]

Yeah, you're still here.

[She echoes him from the doorway, guarded at the sadness she sees on his face. In bare feet and her masquerade dress, one hand wrapped around a cup of coffee, she offers him a hesitant smile. He must have dreamed that he was free, she thinks. Back in Jordan with his family. She can't blame him - no one wants to wake up back in space TV prison after that. A worried girlfriend is a poor consolation prize.]

Sorry.

[action]

[stefanged]

[Shit. He hadn't meant to say that out loud, much less in plain sight of his favorite person in this entire Fleet.

Stefan lets out a breath - from the sight of Alex all dressed up (it's a dream, it has to be a dream), or from the worry that's settling in - before he motions for her to come closer.]

Not even remotely your fault. [What does he say now? "Sorry I wanted to be back home?"] I should be the one apologizing, for making you worry so long.

[delincuente]

It's fine. That's where you belong.

[Shrugging awkwardly, she sets the coffee down on a shelf and moves over to the bed. She sits on the edge of the mattress, studying his face like a beloved landscape she's been missing for years.]

We still missed you, though. I missed you.

Video

[save_the_souls]

[He smiles, relieved.]

It's good to see you up again, Stefan.

Video

[stefanged]

Good to see you too, Allen. [He rubs the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed.] I heard I missed a blood drive and everything.

Video

[save_the_souls]

You did, but it's not like you could help it. [So don't worry about it]

How are you feeling?

[namisan]

That sleep thing seems to be going around of late.

[She grins faintly.]

Should I say welcome back or condolences?

[stefanged]

Must be that time of year. [He returns that smile, loud and clear.] And a bit of both, I'd say.

Can't wish this place on anyone, but I'm okay being here.

[namisan]

That's something, at least.

This happened to me not too long ago as well, but only for a couple of weeks. You want me to fill out that form?

action;

[huaaaaagh]

[News travels fast in a small ship, so at some point Kirito will beeline for the kitchen, poking his head in the doorway with wide eyes, like he's spotted a ghost or something.]

Whoa, you really are up!

action;

[stefanged]

Sure am.

[Forget the tea, his ohana's way more important. Stefan rushes over for a hug, not really caring about the boiling water on the stove or the sugar or - well, anything he'd usually care about.]

[teasingly, like his super-strong hug doesn't speak for himself,] Missed me much?

[ video / private ]

[beardstrokes]

[ After a moment of deliberation, Obi-Wan locks the video. ]

What happened? You look exhausted.

[ video / private ], sorry for the late!!

[stefanged]

[Ah. He should've guessed that he looked as tired as he felt...]

Nothing big. I just - I remembered some stuff while I was asleep.

[Video]

[helladoomed]

Man. Guess somebody finally got around to kissing sleeping beauty, huh?

[She's over on the tourist or this would've been in person.]

[Video]

[stefanged]

Well, you know the power of true love. Never as quick as the stories want you to think.

[He laughs, more playfully than usual.] How've you been, Chloe?

video; sorry for hitting this late I was dealing with finals :x

[nugqueen]

[Ah, so this is the one Misty told her about? She was happy to finally meet him at least. She had wanted to introduce herself.]

I am sorry to have been unable to contact you sooner but am glad to see you are well. My name is Sister Nightingale and I was hoping to offer my services to the interfaith center, as needed. I spoke to a young woman who was caring for it in your absence but I am glad to speak to you more directly.

video; no worries!!

[stefanged]

Oh, uh, thank you. [He blinks back surprise - he wasn't actually expecting someone to miss his presence in the Center - before offering her a small smile.] It's good to finally meet you, Sister.

What sort of services would you like to offer? I wouldn't ever say no to extra help, but... it helps when I know what you're more comfortable with.

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ The kitchen. Of course Stefan would be in here. Anakin is both relieved to see him up and walking and sheepish. Because he's got some explaining to do. But first. ]

Wasn't sure when you would wake up.

[ He pats Stefan's shoulder with his usual gusto. oops ]

ACTION, slides in way too late

[stefanged]

Neither was I.

[Stefan grins, for once being unmoved by that shoulder pat. It's been a long time, even if it doesn't feel like it for him.] Sorry for worrying you guys.