driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Heron crew + visitors
Broadcast: no
Action: the SS Heron
When: November

[Those spooky scary skeletons are back in the cupboard for another year, but the ship cruises onward. Whether the crew is taking a break from the planetary mystery and waystations, or just generally hanging around the ship mingling, the Heron is here for you.]

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It's possible. Though I don't know how anyone can be bored of this.

I don't either.

[He can speak in the theoretical, but in practice he doesn't understand that point of view. He has days where it doesn't interest him, only it wasn't out of boredom of the sight itself.

Closing the notebook, he opens up a shopping bag that was sitting next to him, rummaging through the contents.]

There's never much to get on these waystations, but I bought some food bars and spare clothing.

I went shopping with Wrath earlier. For her party.

[ He straightens his blanket. He's feeling better after his discussion with Raven and his admission with Hank. I don't want that anymore. I don't want to settle for enough. ]

It seems quieter these days. Barring that unfortunate incident with powers going haywire.

Party...?

[He knows about at least one party that's happened recently, but there could have been ten of them that passed him by. Unwrapping a bar, he considers what Charles said.]

Other than that message... [And the accident he had in the ship itself.] It wasn't very eventful. I didn't know you'd been caught up in that as well.

My powers were being passed around it seems.

[ If he was more shallow, he'd probably feel vindicated. But Charles isn't that kind of person.

Charles takes the bar thoughtfully. ]

But I wouldn't say I was caught up in it much.

Mm. Mine only went to one person. It was annoying, more than anything else.

[Old hat, almost. The gaining of Wrath's perceptions had been disorienting, but shortlived.]

Mine went to two people. They took it . . . as well as anyone having my powers would.

[He only nods. He has had Charles's powers before; it's a lot to grasp, easy to be overwhelmed with.]

I don't think the recipient of mine had a particularly easy time either. I've never considered what it must feel like to someone unfamiliar with it.

Overwhelming, I imagine.

[ It always is. He takes a bite of his bar. ] Among other things.

Well. It was only temporary.

Everything here is, though. Everything is temporary.

[Erik catches his eye for a moment.]

Yes. Everything is temporary. It's the moment that has meaning.

[ He purses his lips. Charles was deliberately playing devil's advocate here. ]

If it's remembered. This place is like . . . well, these places sometimes can be like the tree in the forest. If it falls down and no one is there to see it, does it make a sound?

[It's a question he's pondered himself, in the aftermath of... everything. Erik hadn't expected Charles to raise it, so it takes him a little while to reply. He has a bite of his own food bar.]

It may not make a sound, but it leaves a mark. The tree still fell; the tree is still there. If you live each moment thinking, "I won't remember this," then soon enough you'll stop bothering to try anything.

[It would be easy, he knows.]

"Not trying" is not exactly a strong facet of my personality, I'm afraid.

All the better.

[He has no doubt that Charles will persevere no matter what.]

Perhaps.

I could use a holiday.

Really. I don't think I've ever heard you say that.

I can feel tired too.

[Erik nods; of course he can. Charles has voiced as much in the past, and Erik has read it in the lines of his face far more often.]

What would an ideal holiday look like for you, then?

I don't know. Venice is out. None of those barges seem particularly wheelchair accessible.

Maybe Africa.

Venice is overrated. [He had passed through there years ago, and found it unappealing. The place was sinking slowly, as well, no matter how romantic the setup was.] Africa could be interesting. One of those safari tours.

[ He shrugs. ]

Perhaps someday.

It would be a fascinating experience, no doubt.

[ He waves it off. ]

It's far off into the future anyway.