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

[experiencepoints]

It never is. I'm used to that by now.

[She sighs.]

At least it's not being shown for anyone around to see this time. Or for kids to see my shards with Yura, that sucked.

What did you see?

[dancingmd]

[It's strange, but Beverly doesn't mind so much the mental sharing on this planet. There's no force involved like the calibrations or like on Kesprytt. She can choose who she touches, who touches her, and she likes the intimacy it offers. If only... a brief memory again, this one sharper and newer - and there's a pang of loss that accompanies it - of Daneel, telling her how he can always find her in a crowd, how her mind stands out stronger to him.

She lets the memory come, but she doesn't let it linger. Nightingale is who she's focused on now.]

Don't worry, it was nothing bad... in fact it was kind of cute. Your first date with Yura, I believe.

[experiencepoints]

That was... the guy you were at the masquerade with...?

-- Wait, shit, date?! The-

[oh god she's turning red.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly laughs softly.]

Nightingale, relax. It's nothing to be embarrassed about.

[experiencepoints]

[Nope. She is absolutely beet-red and incredibly embarrassed. Her voice is tiny and squeaky and someone please help her.]

Was it the festival or the theater.

[dancingmd]

The festival.

[And oh how much she wants to ask what happened at the theater but she pushes that thought down, for Nightingale's sake.]

[experiencepoints]

[She lets out a huge sigh of relief.]

Oh, thank fuck.

[... that probably doesn't help your curiosity, does it, Beverly. And then Nightingale realizes:]

... Why are you laughing.

[dancingmd]

Because it's cute and because you're reminding me a little of myself.

[experiencepoints]

I am not cute-

Wait, yourself?

[dancingmd]

Mmm. Here, I'll show you.

[Beverly closes her eyes - not really necessary for the memory transfer, of course, but it helps her focus. Nightingale will get the image of another spa, where Beverly and a friend are talking about Beverly's love life.]

[experiencepoints]

[she has no idea how to feel about that- There's confusion, wonder (since she has never been to a spa, she's pretty sure- she sure doesn't remember it), and... familiarity, and some very slight amusement.]

Is that really what it feels like, watching me...

[dancingmd]

[Beverly chuckles again.]

A little, yes.

[experiencepoints]

[She just sinks in the water a little to cover up her embarrassment. Oh, god, she's so embarrassed.]

So... Did that not work out, or were you dating that person and the one who was here?

[dancingmd]

Ah. [Odan's face - faces - flash in her memory, though the one that sticks is the last, Kareel's, as she takes Beverly by the hand and kisses the inside of her wrist. I will never forget you.
]

No, there were too many... complications, with Odan. And Daneel...

[She drops her gaze for a moment. That sharp feeling of loss returns, just as strong as ever, mixed with a great deal of love.]

Daneel is gone.

[experiencepoints]

[Her feelings can be best described as one overwhelming force of 'I FUCKED UP'.]

I- I'm sorry to hear that...

[dancingmd]

[Oh, honey, you didn't mess up anything. Everything's going to remind her of Daneel for a while.]

It's all right. Daneel and I knew something like this would probably happen and I don't regret a single moment I spent with him.

[experiencepoints]

... And... You're okay with that? That you got separated?

[There's confusion, and fear, and a pretty strong mix of homesickness and lovesickness. She misses Yura so bad.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly has a hard time placing where the fear is coming from, though the confusion and homesickness she understands. And the heartbreak... they seem to be echoing off one another in that regard.]

I can come to terms with it because we had discussed what we would do when the time came and we said our goodbyes while we could... but that's not quite the same thing as being okay with him being gone.

[In fact, it feels a little as if someone has ripped out a piece of her. Long before they were lovers, she and Daneel were friends. Until now, she didn't truly realize how much she had come to depend on his steady presence and his unconditional love, not just for her, but for everyone he encountered. This isn't the first heartbreak she's had to deal with, nor will it be the last, she is sure, so she is equipped to work through it, but that doesn't make it hurt less.]

[experiencepoints]

[The fear is because she's afraid of losing people.

And also because she hasn't forgotten she's still in the water.]

... Yeah. No one and nothing is consistent in these places, but... It still hurts.

I'm sorry.

[dancingmd]

[She gives Nightingale's hand another little squeeze, this time out of gratitude.]

Thank you.

[experiencepoints]

[And now there's embarrassment.]

I- It's nothing, really.

[dancingmd]

It's not nothing. Support from people who have been through a similar thing is always important.

[experiencepoints]

I... guess so. Misery loves company, right?

[dancingmd]

A cynical way to put it, but I suppose that's close enough.