You can check out anytime you'd like.. [Hotel Corona Mingle]

[thespaceopera]

Who: The Fleet!
Broadcast: If you want
Action: Hotel Corona or Planet Ikke
When: December 7th onward



[After the mystery and isolation of their last destination, the Marsiva seems determined to head to brighter, busier territory. After a long journey through remote, nebula-painted space, speeding along at a brisk pace for the Host ship, the Marsiva brings her Fleet to a sudden and prominent point of traffic.

It seems that the Fleet has happened upon some sort of vacation destination! Maybe Atroma thinks that the passengers deserve some rest and relaxation... or just wants to distract them with something huge and shiny.

Welcome to Hotel Corona! Feel free to enjoy yourselves and enjoy the sites! If a hotel resort isn't your thing, you can head on over to the nearby planet and explore it's icy wonders.

In order words: it's a mingle!! Everyone get in! ]

[>> Plot Post]

Comments

[dancingmd]

Well... [She hesitates. This isn't something she talks about with many people, except Nana. But then she decides he's a friend so it's okay.] You seem like a dad so it made me think about my dad and my mama. They were shot at too only... they didn't come back so that's why I want to be in Starfleet so I can stop bad guys and help people.

[axiomed]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy to lose family.

[ He pauses. ] I suppose I seem that way because I feel a great deal and for me, it's important for people to know they're not alone.

[dancingmd]

I've got Nana, so I'm not alone.

But I still miss them.

[axiomed]

I'm sure they miss you too.

[dancingmd]

So... you believe in heaven?

[axiomed]

[ That's . . . a hard question to answer. ]

In a way. I suppose I believe that loss tends to go both ways.

[dancingmd]

[She frowns.]

I don't understand.

[axiomed]

I think it must have hurt, to know they'd leave you behind. That's probably how they felt.

[dancingmd]

[Though they keep moving towards the museum, she falls quiet. That's something she never thought about before, what her parents were thinking about in their last moments. It's a little scary to consider - and sad and yet reassuring, all at the same time.

She grips his hand tighter.]

[axiomed]

[ He squeezes back. ]

Let's keep going.

[dancingmd]

[Comforted by the squeeze, she nods and walks beside him, still not letting go of his hand. It doesn't take too much longer until they reach the museum, fortunately, as that provides a good distraction.]

Wow!

[She finally lets loose of Charles and sprints to the nearest big picture window looking out onto one of the nebulas. Pressing her face against the glass, she calls out to him in a slightly-too-loud for the indoors voice.]

It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!

[axiomed]

[ He can't help smiling. ]

You think so?

[dancingmd]

Absolutely!

[To be fair, she has not seen very many things in her short life, only read about them. Except for when Nana came to get her from Luna, she's never even been away from Arvada. Still, adult her would agree heartily with how gorgeous the nebulas are.]

If there is a heaven, I bet it looks exactly like that, don't you?

[axiomed]

I can see it.

[ Smiling he moves closer. ]

What do you think a heaven should have?

[dancingmd]

[Beverly considers this question for a minute with utmost seriousness.]

Well, it should have everyone you love, all together, and no one is sad or angry or hurt.

[axiomed]

That does sound rather nice.

[dancingmd]

Nana says they can hear us too, from heaven. Like how you can hear me in my head, except from really really far away.

[axiomed]

[ He nods. ]

There's a machine I use back on my world. That lets me hear everyone.

[dancingmd]

Everyone!? Wouldn't that get confusing?

[axiomed]

It does. But I've gotten used to it.

[dancingmd]

Why do you want to listen to so many people, if you don't have to?

[axiomed]

Because I can. And because I think, at the end of the day, we all want to be heard. We want someone to listen to us. And make us feel important.

[dancingmd]

But... who listens to you then, if you're always listening to everybody else?

[axiomed]

Don't worry. I have people of my own who listen.

[dancingmd]

That's good because you are very nice.

[There are a lot of adults who would - and did - ignore her or just have sent her off to the daycare or back to her room but he didn't.]

I'm glad you found me.