driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Erik and you
Broadcast: Text, fleetwide
Action: the Heron
When: July 23rd

text.

If anyone - for whatever reason - wants some novelty fridge magnets, there is a sponsor crate of them on the Heron. You can take as many as you want, though there isn't that much variety.

I will note at the outset that no, there are no alphabet pieces.

[Along with this rather brief message is attached a photo of the crate's contents. Half the magnets seem to be little cartoon planets. The other half are... well... magnets.]

action.

[Anyone inclined to visit the Heron to take up this exciting offer - or just to visit - will find Erik leaning against the crate in the cargo hold. He has a number of the magnets suspended in the air above one hand, and every few minutes he flicks his fingers, sending one flying into the hull wall.

The crate itself is emblazoned with the message "To the most ATTRACTIVE guy on the Fleet! - Magnecessities". Maybe that's part of why he looks faintly irritated.

Flick goes another magnet.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Truth rings in Wanda's words, as Erik watches the glowing light play over her fingers. It's been twenty years since he was first put on that slab at Auschwitz, and learned what kinds of pain he could suffer and what would break him. Eleven years, since Systems had taken it another step and gutted his unknowing body and soul. He's been told since then that he's more than his pain and anger; he's more than a weapon. Charles had laid the groundwork, and others had built upon it, Maya and Hank and Adelina. What none of them acknowledge, though, is that the other parts don't go away. He could kill Shaw and bury him, know that Systems was destroyed. Their ghosts stay with him.

He takes in a breath, then releases it quietly before pulling some screws from his pocket. They float up into the air above his palm, circling for a moment, before they lose their shape and turn liquid, a spiral of loose shape. Two strands form and twine themselves together, making a shining metal rope.]

It's a reminder. But those serve only to drive us forward, to let us know what we can't allow again. They can't hold us back, unless we let them.

[Wanda watches his display with the screws with matched fascination. His control was truly amazing. It reminded of Chareles' telepathy--just the level of skill and ease that the two seem to possess with their respective abilities. It is something Wanda feels a little envious of, something she strives to acquire herself. She waves her hand and the little ball of light fades away. She gives Erik a knowing grin.]

It can be hard to remember sometimes, can't it? That they only hold us back when we let them.

Well, I won't lie - at your age, I was very much still in thrall to those circumstances.

[Then he had met Charles, and everything opened up for him in ways he'd had no chance of imagining on his own.] It's a process, and I don't think there's ever an end to it. You have to be vigilant.

[She nods, knowing full well the truth of those words.]

It's funny, isn't it? We all come from such disparate worlds. Yet, we can still find similarities between ourselves that cross those boundaries.

Some things are unfortunately constant, with humanity. [The experiments, the judgement, the fear of the different...] Places like this tend to be a good learning experience, however.

[Wanda nods solemnly at that.]

Too bad we do not apparently get to take the lessons learned here home with us.

[That sounds ominous.]

Are you referring to those times people seem to get new memories from home?

[Wanda only nods in response. Looking just as frustrated having to share this revelation, as Erik appears to be hearing it.]

[He is, and it's a topic that's come up with Charles as well. The idea of taking none of the memories home once they leave makes his gut twist. It reminds me too much of the library, and how they forgot everything once they left there. If that were to happen again...]

Nothing is really certain until we leave for good.

Perhaps.

[But Wanda looks unconvinced.]

I do not imagine many back home would believe us, even if we could remember everything.

I don't believe it's anyone's business, back home. I've already done this twice, and told no one. A third time isn't going to change that for me.

[It was enough to have salvaged his world and his race from the destruction that took him to those other places.]

[Wanda can't recall if Erik has shared this information or even hinted at it to her before. She looks at him with new interest.]

You have been to places like the fleet before... twice?

[Perhaps he implied it on his first day when they spoke, months ago. He nods, a trace of ironic humour in his voice.]

Yes. I don't believe the third time is the charm, in this instance. I would have preferred to remain at two. At least I haven't lost my memories, this time.

[Wanda quirks an eyebrow, a bemused expression on her face. She knows there are several in the fleet that have had experience with being yanked out of their own reality for another before even arriving here. Still, most of them do not speak of these experiences openly. Not that Wanda can blame them. It was certainly intriguing to have Erik opening up to her about it like this.]

Number two was rather nice, was it?

No. It wasn't. [Short and blunt; that's all that really needed to be said.] The Fleet is by far the least terrible. I would have just preferred to put a full stop after the second one, rather than continue on like this. It becomes very tiring.

I see.

[A place worse than the fleet? Well, it certainly seemed possible. All-in-all, the danger of this place had been relatively minimum. Boredom tended to be the worst of what they had to deal with.]

You have not seen your home since the first of these... "trips," then?

I have, but it's... complicated. [Being returned with no memories from the first one. Returning for a mere month after the second. Arriving in the Fleet. More than once, Erik has wondered what interdimensional beings find so appealing about him that they simply cannot let him stay home in peace.]

The return wasn't long enough for my liking.

[Wanda nods her head in understanding. Considering her own recent trip home, she could understand the sentiment.]

I suppose anything short of permanent would be considered "not long enough."