Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

[notzubats]

Who: Everybody! It's a planet mingle!
Broadcast: If You want!
Action: On the Holding Hands plant!
When: From June 23 until whenever we need a new mingle.

[At long last, the fleet has arrived to a new planet. This means it's time for a mingle guys! Get in! ]

Comments

[bryces_pup]

[Riona nods and carefully steps into the hot spring. The water is so warm, even more than the ocean here. She takes a seat across from Beverly, submersing herself up to her shoulders.]

Wow, this does feel quite nice.

[dancingmd]

[Beverly sinks further down into the water herself, letting out a soft hum.]

Just what the doctor ordered.

[bryces_pup]

Pun intended? [Riona forces a smile. She can appreciate the joke, if nothing else.]

[dancingmd]

I thought you'd appreciate that.

[You know, because of those terrible puns you were inflicting her with at the ball. Beverly gives her a small, fleeting smile back.]

How are you holding up?

[bryces_pup]

[The question makes her toes curl as she fights to keep a pleasant smile in place. Horribly is the true answer.]

Glad to be off the ship and onto such a nice world. How about yourself?

[dancingmd]

[Oh, Riona. It's like pulling teeth, getting her to open up. Well, Beverly is not going to play the back and forth game of niceties, not today. She deserves more than that. They both do.

Beverly closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before answer, trying to keep her voice steady.]

Daneel is gone.

1/2

[bryces_pup]

[...

ATROMA YOU FUCKING SUCK.]

2/2

[bryces_pup]

[Riona's heart aches for Beverly, it really does. While it rings so strongly with what she's going through right now as well, she pushes that aside.]

Oh Beverly. I am so sorry.

[dancingmd]

[No, no don't push it aside, that's not what she wants. Still, Beverly gives her a soft, grateful look.]

He should have seen this planet. It would have meant a lot to him.

[That was the cruelest part, really, to take him away before reaching a world full of people like him, where she could have finally shared in that part of him.]

I never told you - told very few people, really - but... he has empathic abilities.

[bryces_pup]

Atroma does seem to revel in being unnecessarily cruel.

[Oh yes, there's a fair bit of bitterness in there.]

Empathic?

[dancingmd]

[Beverly's brow furrows - it's true and she can't help feeling bitter about it herself, but she focuses instead on the question.]

He has the ability to sense people's emotions.

[bryces_pup]

Oh! So like Cole, then?

[dancingmd]

A little like Cole, yes, though Cole's abilities are much more extensive. Daneel can't read specific thoughts or memories like Cole can.

[bryces_pup]

I see. Then yes, this planet really would have been interesting for him, wouldn't it have? For people to step into his shoes and see what it's like.

[dancingmd]

[Her brow furrows and she looks down at the water, her voice soft as her hands trace out rippled patterns in the waves.]

I wanted that more than almost anything, to be able to feel what he was feeling and to share in that part of him.

[bryces_pup]

I'm so sorry, Beverly. [The words feel empty, but they're all she has. No matter what she wishes, she can't bring Daneel back for her. It's even worse, knowing they'll never see each other again.] At least you can experience what it's like, even though it's not with him. Little consolation, I know.

[dancingmd]

[Beverly gives her a sad smile, then rests her hand on Riona's shoulder in gratitude.]

Thank you. Your support still means a lot to me.

[Light as Beverly's touch is, Riona will feel the strong affection Beverly feels for her through it. Out of respect for Riona's privacy, though, Beverly quickly removes her hand, so as not to pick up on anything Riona doesn't want her to.]

[bryces_pup]

continued here