DEBBIE DOWNER STRIKES AGAIN: a video

[broroona]

Who: bawhona Baroona
Broadcast: video
Action: SS Marsiva hospitality deck
When: idk 10/9 late at night, whenever that is

[The camera's set at an upward angle, as if placed on the floor. It shows a sliver of one of the hospitality deck windows and a man leaning against it, smoking. His clothing choices are... strange; a bright orange ski hat, a pair of pink and black gloves that might seem familiar-it seems more like a collection than an outfit. When he moves exhaustion slows him and though expressionless, there's a cloud of sadness that lingers around him.

Basically, he's being a moody spaceshit at some ungodly hour. Hi.]

You know-[He taps his knuckles against the windows, knocking some ash from his cigarette in the process.]-I used to watch the sky back home. Sounds dumb but there was something comforting about it.

[Sighing out a cloud of smoke, he stands up straight, slipping the cigarette between his lips again. His tone shifts from wistful to dry.] This view sucks. They're not stars anymore like this. Just places that are too far away.

[With another sigh, he frowns briefly, turning and pressing his back against the view, scrubbing at his hair. Looking way too done with all of this.]

I'm tired. Talking too much. [He kicks the comm, turning the camera so that it's looking straight out the window. A full view of the stars.] If you're awake, humor me. Which do you think is your home?

Comments

action I do what I want

[luxuriant]

Let's see...

[Naturally, Zelos is still awake. He steps closer, sitting beside Baroona and crossing his legs as he watches the view. So many things out there in a whole lot of nothing. He leans forward a bit, pointing out a couple of the shapes that are nearly touching in their closeness.]

That one, maybe? The one that has a twin.

omfg how many times are they gonna stargaze

[broroona]

[It's like back on the hill, looking up at the stars. Forging new constellations in foreign skies. Funny, how they can still do this, even while knowing the other isn't the same. It's touching in a way and Baroona smiles without knowing, moving close to him if only to see what two stars he's speaking of.]

I just thought it was a big star.

[But now that he's looking closely...] Huh.

[He pulls back, but only slightly. Just far enough to give Zelos a curious look.] Your world has a twin?

all the time I mean they're basically star gays

[luxuriant]

Yeah! Or well, it did, for a while.

[If it eases the tension and lets this Baroona know a bit more about him, he doesn't mind it at all. In the end, he enjoys spending his time with him. Turns out that them being from different universes doesn't stop that.]

It was just one world to start with, but someone split it apart with a magic sword. It wasn't common knowledge, either. They had to fight for each other's life force, their mana, in order to survive, and the Chosens would be the ones to reverse the cycle of vying or flourishing.

My bud managed to get things back to normal, though, so it's just one planet now. I figure that other shape there could be the planet that was hiding there all along. It recently appeared in the sky while we were fixing things, but it should be on its way into space now.

[broroona]

[Baroona pulls back to fix Zelos with a disbelieving look.]

That's bullshit. [Leaning back to where he was, he moves with a bit more gesture than usual.] You can't split a world in half with a sword. If that could happen my home would have been cut into tiny bits. [He shoves at Zelos' shoulder.] Like hell I'm going to fall for that.

[luxuriant]

[At that, Zelos laughs, persistently leaning back into him with an overly dramatic hurt whine.]

Baroonaaaa! I'm pouring my history out for you, and you don't believe a word? How cruel! [A small laugh escapes and he straightens, still smiling.]

It's not just any sword! It's the Eternal Sword, forged by the King of the summon spirits!

[broroona]

So it's a sword made by the gods. [Another shove!] Idiot! Why didn't you say so!

[That makes more sense now. Sort of. Gods are still bullshit but it's more believable than a normal sword.] So the Chosens would fight to see which world got everything? [He remembers Zelos using the word, but more importantly he remembers how bitter he sounded when he talked about it. Still, while he knows he shouldn't dwell, it feels wrong to simply pass over it.] That must have been hard.

[luxuriant]

Oww, hey, stop shoving me!

[He exaggerates, rubbing at the spot and stopping at the wrong assumption there. Oh. He blinks, trying to look as neutral as possible, but even then he looks a little sad thinking on it.]

Oh, no, they didn't fight... [Using the word Chosens back in response like that, though. Did he know about it? He speaks vaguely just in case.] My friend, Colette... She was the Chosen of the world I didn't live in. It was her job to sacrifice herself to reverse the cycle.

Of course, she didn't know that. She just thought she was saving the world.

[broroona]

[He falls silent, waiting for Zelos to say more. When he doesn't, he speaks.]

Is she okay?

[luxuriant]

Better than ever. My bud Lloyd found a way to save her and both worlds, after all.

[It's nice to be able to smile about it after so long.]

Don't I get to see which one you think your world is, now?

[broroona]

[He could ask about his life as the Chosen, but the smile feels too genuine to tarnish.] He sounds like an amazing guy.

[A small smile in return, warm but uncertain. It doesn't last long before falling into something sadder, eyes turning back to something distant. Turning, he looks back to the window.]

Some stars are too far away to see.

[luxuriant]

[Ah. Yes, as he thought, some things are the same as ever. He keeps his smile even if it changes a bit, looking out at space with a focused expression.]

It doesn't mean they're not there, though. Point where your heart is telling you! I bet I can see something where you can't.

[This is the first piece of info he hasn't really revealed to Baroona before, but perhaps the other him had? It felt okay to bring up quietly in this conversation.]

[broroona]

[His heart? His heart is telling him he's much too far away to do anything to help them right now. His heart is telling him that he has no way of knowing whether or not time has continued now that he's free of the CDC. That there's no telling how many of his friends are left for dead, piled next to Robin's corpse. Even if he could see his home, it would be too late.

Baroona points to a star in the upper right of the window, leaning close to Zelos so he can see. It sparkles dimly as he points.]

There. That's my home.

[His heart tells him there's no hope that he'll go back but his mind tells him it's best to leave that unsaid. Certain things are best kept private.]

[luxuriant]

[He watches the star quietly, imagining it and seeing it and feeling Baroona beside him. He has a feeling he knows what direction the guy's thoughts are going. Two months can be a long time when you're constantly facing your fears together. He likes to think he knows a bit about him by now.]

That looks like a good one. [Dim as it is. He enjoys watching it with him, keeping silent on his thoughts for now since he knows what the answer will be. What Baroona's thoughts must be.

Instead, after a few minutes, he speaks up.]

You know, even after all we talked about from our own places, I don't really have an idea of how well you knew me. [He looks over, still smiling a little.] But you knew me pretty well back in Zelien. And I got more out of you than anyone else. I think it was just the circumstances, but...

[He waves his hand vaguely for a little before dropping it and leaning back on the palm, laughing shortly.] Well, I'm just trying to say... You can always talk to me.

[broroona]

[For a brief moment, Baroona's face falls flat, expression folding in on itself until all emotion has been reduced to nothing. The lessons from the CDC are fresh in his mind and they bring back older rules. Codes carved into his skin.

He's not suspicious of Zelos-it could never be so easy as that. The one he's wary of is himself.

Still, the moment passes and, as if there were no hitch at all, Baroona's smile spreads into a light laugh.] What is there to talk about?

[He looks at Zelos with eyes so honest and self-assured that it makes his prior slip-up seem almost like a hallucination.]

[luxuriant]

[Brief as it is, Zelos catches it. It seems like a hallucination, but he knows better than that. From experience in multiple ways. The question comes next and Zelos can only duck his head and give a quiet laugh.

Maybe that answers his question.]

I dunno. Nothing, I guess. [It's a quick but natural answer, and soon enough he's stretching his smile wider and looking up again.] What are you doing out here so late, anyway? You should probably get some sleep.

[broroona]

[With a groan, Baroona falls back on his hands, stretching his legs out in front of him and watching his feet tap against each other.] I can't.

[Shifting again, he pulls his legs to his chest, hugging them tight.] I haven't been able to sleep in days. I think it's the lights.

[Resting his head on his knees, he turns to Zelos.] What about you?

[luxuriant]

Hmm, off and on. But at least I've gotten a few hours here or there.

[Hmm. He focuses on Baroona, inspecting him curiously. After learning the sort of stuff he's been through, it's not hard to see that he's not really showing how tired he is. Not the way he'd think.]

Why don't you try right now?

[broroona]

[In all honesty, the lights were only the start of the problem. Baroona's fingers linger at his side, still reaching for knives that aren't there.]

It's just as bright here. It won't help.

[luxuriant]

[He's noticed the lack of knives since they first met. The lack of a pack at his side, really. And that spoke to Zelos enough. He remembers when he was flying them away from the monsters in that weird city, and yet Baroona had yelled and struggled to go back for his weapon.

It meant a lot.

He won't say anything for now.]

Bright? Then wear something over your eyes! That's a piece of cake!

[broroona]

Like what? [He looks to Zelos with the faint quirk of a frown, pulling his legs close to his body.] I don't have anything long enough to tie.

[luxuriant]

No? Then how abouuuut...

[He leans over from his position, reaching around Baroona from behind in what almost might seem like a hug-- until his hands cover his eyes gently.]

This!

[broroona]

What-?! Zelos! [He startles easily, pulling upwards before his own blindness settles him back down. Against Zelos' chest. He sags a bit, sinking lower, head resting on his stomach before long, getting comfortable despite himself. It's not so bad if he relaxes and he trusts Zelos enough to feel safe. To feel like nothing would come close to him. In the end, that's what it came down to-he didn't feel safe here.]

... There's no way you can hold your hands like that the whole time I'm asleep.

[luxuriant]

[Ah... The shift in their positions doesn't bug him, but it does throw him off guard. Still, his hands stay in place and he finds himself looking down at Baroona, legs stretching out further to a more comfortable position.

After their first meeting and all the emotions that came up there, it was hard to fight them back here. But thinking of the memories of their time together-- the darker ones, specifically-- helped keep him in check.

He's just not going to think about this any further than it being natural.]

You wanna bet? Do I get something if I manage to do it?

[broroona]

[Chuckling, Baroona offers:] A kiss.

[Still chuckling, he pats at Zelos' thigh, tiredness already pulling at him.] I'm kidding. I'll think of something good later. Just keep holding it, alright?

[His voice already sounds weary and sleep is already threatening to settle in. Part of him can't believe it. This is way too easy a solution to work.]

[luxuriant]

[At the suggestion, he holds his breath without thinking. It's only at the pat at his thigh and the assurance that it was a joke that he exhales again, forming the air into a weak laugh that bubbles into something more prominent. To cover up, of course.]

What's better than that? You're such a tease, Baroonaaa!

[He laughs as if it's insincere, shifting closer to him from behind as he looks down to try and peak at his face. It's hard from this angle.]

I'll do my best, no problem!