driftfleet | can you spot the drama queen

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?

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...are you alright?

[ You seem a bit emotional, dude. ]

It's always night out there, friend.

[of course he couldn't stay. he's a sucker for anyone who's got a lot of feeling in them--and this one sounds so fascinating.]

Alright? [He balks, laughing.] How can I be? This is-[Everything he sacrificed for.] This is too much.

Please, just. Tell me this-[He gestures to the window, strands of hair falling loose.]-is permanent. Please.

Yes, it's always like this.

[ Still a bit wary, not sure what he wants to hear. ]

Do you like the stars?

[It takes a good few minutes for that answer to hit. When it does, he sobs, one hand clapping over his mouth as more tears well up.

Finally...] I did it. I-[He laughs, shoulders shaking.]-After everything, I did it. That explains it. Thank you, I-you don't know how much this means.

[She's alive and free, with no sun in sight. He did it. Despite the Decay, the kidnappings, the attacks, she was out there and he-he was alive.

Alive. It finally hits him, hands flying to grip at his stomach.] There's no wound. [His eyes round, he looks to the communicator again.] There's no wound. Did someone save me?

[Was it you? is heavily implied.]

The stars, yes. [Another chuckle.] You could say that.

[But, a question: why doesn't she seem as excited as him? Surely this has to be new to everyone.] Do you disagree? It's a rare sight. We should treasure it.

That isn't night, that's space.

[ Here's someone to ruin your emotional moment. He's standing behind Mattias, hands in his pockets and brows furrowed. ]

It's always space in space.

Oh, pardon me. [In the presence of company he stands hurriedly, wiping his face clean as he can. Which isn't clean. At all. At least he offers a sheepish smile to make up for it? Yes? No, no that doesn't work at all.] But it's the same, isn't it? The darkness, the stars, the moon.

[He draws in a quick breath then spins back to the window.] The moon! I hadn't thought. Do you think we can see it?

There's always space but it's not always night.

[ Aaron moves closer to the windows to peer out, pressing his forehead and hands to the glass so he can look left and right. ]

Nope, I don't see it. What's getting you all worked up anyway?

Are you blind? It's this! [He spreads his arms out.] All of this.

[His gaze softens as he watches it, falling to something almost loving.] Just think. We're the first people to see it. Do you know how long mankind has waited to see the night sky?

[A beat. He glances back with a timid grin.] Space, rather.

[ Aaron pulls back and gives one of the most weirded out looks he knows how to make. ]

What are you on? I see it every night just like everyone else.

[Record scratch. His expression falters.] "Every night"? What are you talking about? This is the first time it's happened. It's been a millennia, at least since the last star was sighted.

It happened about twelve hours ago.

[ And now there's a bit of a grin because that was a pretty great reaction. ]

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Twelve hours? That can't be. There must be some mistake. You must have heatstroke or-or something.

[Twelve hours? No. That's shorter than even an average day. Mattias turns to him, fully this time.] No one's seen the night before, do you understand? It's a thing of myth and this... this is what I-[No.]-what she brought back! It can't have been twelve hours ago. It can't repeat. It hasn't happened before.

Are you okay? [ Aaron reaches over to poke Mattias in the chest. ] Maybe you should lay down. Night and day happen all the time. Like clockwork, every day. It's a cycle, right?

[He swats the hand away, drawing back.] A cycle?

[He scoffs, sneering.] Sure, yeah. Maybe when the earth was made! What's next? Forests? Oceans? Snow?

[He laughs in disbelief.] You must think me an idiot.

[ Aaron pulls back, making a face at Mattias for the derision. ]

Yep, you're right. I am definitely thinking you're an idiot. Or... incredibly high.

[He spits at his feet, glaring.] My feet are quite grounded.

[ Aaron steps back at the spitting. Gross, dude. ]

Wrong! Space is in the sky and we're in space. Your feet aren't on ground, they're on a ship. Also, that's not even what I meant.

[when the communicator get flipped around, there will be a tall, pale man sitting in on the video feed--he smiles and gives his new, sobbing acquaintance a friendly little wave.]

That's interesting... Atroma must have patched you up. It was a substantial wound, I take it?

[Gross like you. Mattias squints, watching him suspiciously at the mention of a ship. Space is easy, his mind fills in the information for that. But a ship? The word bears unfamiliarity.]

"A ship". [He tests the word, glancing around, looking for an indication as to what he means. Nothing. He clears his throat.] And-uh. What exactly is that?

[His eyes light up at the appearance of a face yet dims slightly at the question.]

I-I was stabbed. [His fingers dance over his stomach, voice dropping closer to a mutter.] Awhile ago. I had been relying on the goddess for it but-[He laughs, gesturing quickly to the window.]-with her gone... [He shakes his head.] I must thank them.

[Provided they don't want something else for the service. That seemed to be a trend lately.]

[he laughs, lightly--] Well, if you get to thanking them, tell us about it. No one has gotten a chance to meet them yet, or even see them.

Have a seat, little Nightjar. [regardless of whether or not he is already technically sitting.] It sounds like you've got a little catching up to do.

Edited (pay attention stick) 2015-02-18 16:29 (UTC)

["Nightjar"? The word is foreign but not unpleasant. It's cute and he smiles somewhat bashfully when it's applied to him. If only he knew.

He chuckles.] Yes, I suppose I do. I do believe I got caught in the moment, I... haven't actually thought about where I am. Forgive me. I'm not usually so emotional.

[Wiping his face clear, he turns his back to the window. Just to cease temptation.] Still, these Atroma sound interesting. I do like finding those hidden.

[oh, how he wishes he could sense the emotion through the screen. as it is, he's left with guessing, peering at the little details of the man's face]

...You've been waiting a long time, have you?

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can you spot the drama queen

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