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

[broroona]

[nah bro space sucks

He figures he'll let that world comment slip by for now. He's curious, but it's not his place to pry. Not yet, at least.]

"Before this was all there"? You mean the stars?

[He has to stop himself from asking if he's talking to a god.]

... Are you that old?

[amarant]

No!

[ Older than the stars...even she's not THAT old. ]

It was interesting at first, to see them up close. But there hasn't been anything new to look at.

[broroona]

[He gives a single cough of a laugh and a lone cloud of smoke floats into the view of the stars.]

I think it'd be easier to believe you were older than the stars than believe you've seen every one up close.

[Chuckling to himself, he pokes his head into view, just barely smiling.] That is what you're saying, right?

[amarant]

I haven't seen all of them, but it's the same view all the time.

[ Enjoy your continuing view of NOTHING. ]

How would that be easy to imagine at all?

[broroona]

[Alright, no clear answer there. Great. The smile fades and he falls back against the window. Which, pretty much means you can only see like a sliver of his shirt and not much else. Basically the same as nothing.]

I don't think it would be. [A pause. Another cloud of smoke passes through the feed.] It's hard to imagine any of this stuff, don't you think? Who imagines themselves stuck in the sky?

[He has no idea if he's handling this right but he is 70% sure crazytalk is happening here so yolo]

[amarant]

[ Aw, is he pokin around for info? :( Poor guy. ]

I've wondered about it. What was out there, beyond the current limits of human capability. I didn't think it would be so soon. Or that I would ever find out like this.

There are some things that can't be planned for.

[broroona]

Most things can't. It's what makes life fun.

[A beat.] Most of the time.

[spoilers: space still sucks]

[amarant]

Mm...

If you went back, do you think you'd still watch the sky?

[broroona]

It's hard to say. The meaning of it has changed a lot.

I'd like to think I would, though. [He laughs softly.] I'd be out of luck trying to relax otherwise.

[amarant]

It would be nice if you'd still be able to have that.

...I'm not sure, myself. If I'd be able to enjoy it, still. I don't think I'd be able to feel the same way at all.

[broroona]

[A long silence before he speaks.]

Do you want to go back? To your home. To your sky? You said earlier you wouldn't mind being away.

[amarant]

...I don't particularly want to return. If being here or there are my only choices, I'd prefer it here.

[broroona]

There's more choices than here or there. You've got all the stuff in between, too.

[amarant]

Sometimes, it doesn't seem that way.

god he sounds like an advice column

[broroona]

It wouldn't. Right now you can only see two places: where you are and where you want to be. You can't know what paths are between them until you walk them.

[There's a pause.] That's where most people get stuck. Walking takes more courage than people think.

baroona i think my husband is cheating on me wat do

[amarant]

[ Laughs, quietly. ]

I don't often get advice like this... thank you.

cut his head off and put it on a pike as a warning

[broroona]

["Advice"?? Well, that makes him uncomfortable. Grumbling and clearly embarrassed:]

... I didn't mean for it to be advice.

[That's so... sappy.]

okay!!

[amarant]

In any case, thank you.

[broroona]

You're welcome?

[HE GUESSES?? what did he even do...]

[amarant]

It's been a long time since someone's talked to me like that-- it's a good thing, I don't mind it much at all.

You're right, though.

[broroona]

[Oh. He relaxes somewhat.] Experience teaches well. That's all. You see a lot of stuff when you've walked a long way.

[He coughs and even that sounds embarrassed.] That sounds lamer than I meant.

[amarant]

You must have gone quite a distance, hm?

It makes me feel that I've wasted too much of my life.

[broroona]

[Y U P sure not addressing that question]

You make it sound like your life's ending. You're here, aren't you? Make the most of it.

[A brief, thoughtful pause. Nonchalantly:]

If they try to stop you, punch them. Or I'll do it for you. You've got time.

[amarant]

No, it isn't ending, but...it feels as though I'll have a lot to make up for.

[ She does laugh at that, though. It's quiet, but there. ]

I appreciate the offer.

[broroona]

[Yes, he scored a laugh. Point for Baroona.]

It's a more selfish offer than it seems. I'll be happy to do it anytime. Just let me know.