driftfleet | Sixth Blight

Who: Riona and you!
Broadcast: Yus
Action: On the Blue Fish, if you'd like!
When: Now?

[There's the distinct sound of a canine sniffing nearby when the feed turns on. Anyone with an acute ear may also hear a different kind of sound, something akin to snuffling. The animal causing it is revealed a moment later. To those not from Thedas, it looks like a pink, hairless mole. But any Thedosian would know that it's a nug.

The camera pans over to Riona, who's feeding said nug while Kiter cautiously sniffs at the other animal. She shakes her head.]

A favor for a favor, I suppose. Sister Nightingale has fallen into one of those comas. For the time being, Schmooples here is in my care. If you were expecting to see her in the interfaith center, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. [She looks over at her puppy, smiling conspiratorially.] You and I will be brainstorming what to draw on her face. Tit for tat, too.

[When she looks back at the camera, her smile falters, and pronounced concern sets in its place.]

Also, Dr. Beverly Crusher seems to be missing. Normally I'd suspect she's gone home, but her things are still here and her name still shows up on the communication device. Something is amiss. If anyone has seen her the past few days, please do let me or any of the crew on the Blue Fish know.

[Her disappearance puzzles her, along with her obvious worry. It's not like Beverly to do that, and with them having left the planet, there are only so many places she could be.]

Those matters aside, we've now returned to the dull void of space and to confinement in our ships until we make land again. There's only so much to entertain in the fleet, especially when you've been here awhile. Recently, I returned home for a few months. Here only a handful of days passed, but it felt much longer. I find myself feeling a bit homesick. So, I have a request.

[She pauses, uncertainty flitting across her face. For a moment she glances down, and finds herself fiddling with her wedding ring, which she's recently gone back to wearing on her hand. She clasps her hands together and looks back at the camera.]

But first, I suppose I should introduce myself to those who don't know me. My name is Riona Cousland [And here there's the slightest pause, a moment of hesitation. She swallows the trepidation back.] Theirin. I've been here nearly eight months.

[Whatever caused her hesitation seems to have passed. She relaxes, and continues:]

In my time, I've heard quite a few things about people's worlds. Comparing them to Thedas - where I am from - always interests me. I love hearing stories, and I'm always happy to share ones from my world, in particular the ones of my home country.

So. Let's do an exchange. A tale for a tale. It can be anything you experienced, or perhaps a legend or fable from your world that you're fond of. And I will tell you one in return. Simple enough, and a good way to pass the evening, no?

[She smiles, wiggling her fingers in good-bye before shutting off the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Admittedly, I haven't come across anyone from a significantly further point than I, but I imagine it would be quite strange. Did she say where you were in that future?

[She shrugs.]

If it were just one or two people, it might not be so difficult. But it's everyone, and the more I hear, the less I am looking forward to things. What has happened over the course of years I've learned about in weeks or months. Sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and tell everyone to stop telling me things.

I-

[That's a good point. Sokka knows nothing about where he fits into that future. He knows about his friends, his family...but not himself. It never really occurred to him to ask. Probably opening up a can of worms if he did. ]

No. She hasn't.

[Could be a good thing or a bad thing. He's honestly afraid to find out which. ]

I hear you. It's got to be overwhelming, especially if you're seen as someone important back home. Someone who fixes things. That makes people assume you're there going "hey, tell me everything crappy that's happened, this is what I enjoy".

[You're better off, Sokka.]

If you inquire about it... just be careful. You might not like what you hear. Normally I don't advocate for ignorance, but here, where we have so little agency to do anything about what will transpire at home, I think one is better off not knowing if it's possible.

[Things never seem to go the way you hope.]

Ha. That's one way of looking at it, and I think there might be some truth to it. Though I did ask, back before I knew better. And some of what was said to me may have been to prevent me from finding out about it from... another source. One who's a bit less careful about what he says and how he says it.

[A hard edge lines her tone.]

Yeah trust me, as much as I'm curious, I'm pretty sure zero good can come from that. It's nothing I can change anyway, right?

[He wouldn't remember it, and it would just haunt his time here. Best not to know. ]

That doesn't sound good. In fact it sounds like someone needs to be punched in the face. A lot.

Exactly. It more often than not leaves you feeling helpless and wondering what you could have done to change things.

[Like she does too often.]

Well I beat you to the literal punch there. [She runs her tongue over her teeth in thought, wondering whether or not to leave it there. On the one hand, she hates burdening people with her issues...

...but she did tell herself she'd be more open about her problems. Bottling them up led to stupid decisions, one of which was punching the man in question.]

He insulted Alistair. [A mild one, comparatively, but one all the same.] And this was a few days after he told me he died. That my husband was chosen to be left behind instead of this man. [And before he worries:] But there are discrepancies in his story. Leliana is from my future and she said that hasn't happened. So maybe it's another one of those parallel universes - I've given up trying to sort it out - but he still dropped that bit of news on me very unexpectedly.

Oh? Welll.... yep.

[Sokka gives a nod to that. He'd be mad, too, really. Honestly, he's mad FOR her.]

That's actually a super good reason to punch someone in the face.

..Do you think he could be lying? I don't know, to get a rise out of you, or something?

It crossed my mind, but I very much doubt it. He likes to stick his foot in his mouth, but he's no liar. He told me so to relieve himself of his guilt, or so I suspect. Not caring that I was not from that time and would have no idea what transpired.

[Still salty about that, yep.]

Honestly, I don't know what to make of the discrepancies. He knows who I am, and he seems to have half enough of a brain to know that trying to bait me isn't smart.

...Yeah, sorry, that's the worst reason to tell anyone anything. They only do it to make themselves feel better instead of actually looking out for you.

[He feels that salt, he does. ]

Seriously. I wouldn't bait you. You could kick most of our collective butts with one hand tied behind your back.

Oh, I don't think I'm quite that good, but I appreciate the sentiment.

[She huffs out a sigh.]

I didn't mean to dump all of this on you. A part of me is just... sick of being left behind in the dust. It's what it feels like, most days. Everyone barrels towards a future, towards things I barely know anything about, and I'm left just trying to pick the pieces up and remember how things were.

[He offers her a small smile.]

Hey, don't worry about it, I'm always willing to listen. That's what friends do. And honestly, I don't blame you for feeling that way. It's got to be hard.

Thank you. For listening and understanding. But I think I've troubled you enough with it for today.

[She smiles faintly.]

I'll let you get back to what you were doing. If you find out anything about Beverly, please send word.

Trouble me about it any time, okay? I mean it.

[He offers her a slightly bigger smile in return. ]

Okay, will do. Take care of yourself in the meantime, okay?

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