can you spot the drama queen

[noctiphile]

Who: Mattias Larnaca
Broadcast: video; fleet-wide
Action: marsiva so NO ONE
When: 2/17

I don't understand. [The screen is black, the voice is ragged, raw. Wet with sobs that gasp and hiccup out of him. The comm scrapes against the floor of the ship and a glimpse of space can be seen ] I-it's dark. She-[He chokes, splutters, coughs.]-She's gone. Is this... [A deep, bedraggled breath. The screen brightens, adjusting to the color of fluorescent lights and a young man's weary face, wet with tears. Despite his appearance, he's smiling. The kind of smile seen at births, marriages, a baby's first step. He's overcome with emotion, excited and battling it, fighting disbelief in order to confirm that this, any of this is real.]

This is a communication system. I don't-[He swipes a hand across his face, wiping his eyes clear.]-I don't know how I know that but... [muttering:]... it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Whoever's out there-[He chokes again, this time laughing.]-Goddess. I really am. Above the clouds. In her domain. I never-[He swallows, trying to contain his excitement again.]-I never thought this would happen. I could never even imagine it. Not like this. Not-Goddess.

[Falling back to one hand he sighs, pulling a hand through his tired hair, loose waves spilling between his fingertips. After a few minutes, he seems to remember that he's broadcasting. Eyes glimmering with elation, he leans forward, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face.]

Please. Anyone. Tell me. [He turns the comm quickly and presses it against the glass. The screen fills with the void of space, stars glittering in their myriad.] Has night finally come?

Comments

[heresyandlace]

[he won't warn him too severely. after all, he'd love to watch.]

I have experience escaping many kinds of situations.

[noctiphile]

[Well, that leaves him with a number of possibilities, all of which he assumes are painfully offensive. Words like coward, deserter come to mind. He goes with the one that would cause the least amount of trouble.]

... Are you an actor?

[Of course it also turns out to be the dumbest assumption.]

[heresyandlace]

[that... makes him laugh. either because of the guess that he finally voices, or because of all the things that Tek can imagine he chose not to say. they're all true enough to be a little bit hilarious.

at least it's a not a mean laugh. he's genuinely amused.]

...That guess is close enough.

[noctiphile]

[Mattias blinks, dumbfounded. He wasn't expecting a "yes" let alone a laugh. It's a nice sound and he smiles upon hearing it.]

Well, I suppose that explains your looks. [A joke, sort of.] And you must feel right at home. Having people watch you, I mean.

[heresyandlace]

[oh. ...he quietly preens, just a bit.]

Well... I don't mind the attention, but it's not much fun when you can't see your audience.

And having a choice in the matter would have been nice as well.

[noctiphile]

Oh. Yes. I had forgotten.

I suppose a contract would have been nice. Or at least a glimpse of who our benefactors are.

[heresyandlace]

Really, any attempt to include us in the decision would have been appreciated.

[noctiphile]

Even if they did it in our best interest?

[heresyandlace]

Oh... [and his voice flattens out and lowers, just a little. just enough to make a point.] ...They do not have our best interests in mind.

[noctiphile]

[Mattias shrinks back.]

... How do you know?

[heresyandlace]

I've been at this a lot longer than you have.

[he's talking about his stay on the fleet... probably.]

I just know.

[noctiphile]

I've no doubt about that it's simply that this-it makes no sense. Why would they save us? Why go through the trouble of healing us if not to help?

[heresyandlace]

[he laughs a little--and this time, it's definitely unkind. though, not exactly aimed at Mattias himself.]

Saved us? Surely, you must be joking.

They haven't saved us from anything.

[noctiphile]

[The apocalypse happens. Mattias actually falls silent and remains that way for a long while.]

They saved me.

[heresyandlace]

[and he takes a moment, hesitating with whatever his quick reply would have been. he pauses to watch the other man for a few thoughtful seconds before he replies.]

...You really believe that?

[at least it sounds like an honest question and not a pointed one.]

[noctiphile]

I do.

[Smoothing back his hair, he breathes in deep.] Don't misunderstand. I'm not naive enough to think they don't have their own motives. But... that doesn't change the fact that my life has been saved because of their actions.

[heresyandlace]

I see.

[he shrugs, because there really isn't anything about that he can argue. so, he just adds an sidenote on top of it.]

That's a very powerful card they hold on you, then.

[noctiphile]

It is. [He laughs.] Honestly, I'm not sure I quite enjoy it. But, in this moment, it feels wrong to disrespect.

Perhaps you should ask me again tomorrow.

[heresyandlace]

Ah. [he'll relent. he can sympathize, in this case.] ...Fair enough.