Alturiak 3 1371 dr

[child_of_bhaal]

Who: Syeira and anyone who thinks this applies to them
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Red Fish if desired
When: After the sweep

[Video]

[Clean up has been rough to say the least. The place is still stained, and it might never come out. But this is when she realizes what's happened. She calls them, and they don't answer. She goes to their rooms, and the places are empty. They're gone.

She doesn't trash her room, or break down. Though it's a near thing. It stays a near thing, hovering just under the surface when she turns on her comm. She looks worried, distressed, but she holds onto her calm with both hands.]

Red Fish crew... This is your captain. I need you all to check in. Now preferably.

Actually, everyone I know, please check in. I need to see who's still here.

[The why. She should tell people why. They have other friends.]

Zhas and Coil are both gone.

[Shit! She will not cry. She swallows and her eyes are moist but she doesn't cry. ]

Just say something. Please.

Comments

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[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He's at the garden on the Iskaulit, flipping through the network when the call comes. He curses, replying at once while he walks quickly.]

Syeira.

[He doesn't know what to say beyond that, he's so shocked. He takes a moment to think and then:]

Where are you on the ship?

[That's the most important thing here. Getting to her.]

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[child_of_bhaal]

[She's so relieved to hear from Arthur, even though she knew he wasn't vanished. All his things were still in their room. It doesn't matter, she's beyond upset and he's the most important person in her whole world.]

The lab.

[Syeira hates the lab. So it's rather significant that she's there.]

video > action

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

Wait for me, [he breathes, and he hangs up to jog over to the shuttle and then drive it back onto the Red Fish. He's never really been in the lab, but he knows where it is. He hurries into the room and skids to a halt there, out of breath.]

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[child_of_bhaal]

Always.

[She has always hated the lab. Coil made it look very...intimidating. The chains on the wall are her particular bane. They bother her. But the lab being empty of her taciturn friend bothers her more.

She stands there, just inside the room, hugging herself around her waist. She turns around when she hears Arthur arrive. Her expression is infinitely sad.]

Their rooms are empty but....I had to check.

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[His eyes go to her immediately. And after she's done talking, he just... moves to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly, fiercely.]

I'm so sorry.

[He thinks of Coil, thinks of him saving Arthur's life. He remembers Zhas drinking, how they were starting to get along. But mostly he thinks of what they meant to Syeira, and knows how much she must be hurting.]

[namisan]

Sam and I are both still here.

[Nami sounds worn out, but hey. It's been a long week for everyone. Sam's kinda crazy right now or he'd be here to tell you this himself.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[She wraps her arms around him, and holds tightly, gathering fistfuls of his shirt. She holds her breath, because comfort is always the thing that can punch holes in her defenses, and bring her tumbling down. After a long long pause she sucks in air, shakey and uneven.]

It's stupid-

It's stupid to get upset like this. They're- they're just gone home.

[And she already misses them like a person misses a lost limb.]

[child_of_bhaal]

Good. Good.

[Hey, Nami.]

You're both okay?

[namisan]

[She smiles.]

More or less. Sam's doing less well, but he'll be better in a few days. [She hopes. If she talks about it like it's a common cold, then...]

Will you be okay?

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He pulls away, enough to hold her cheek with his good hand.]

It's not stupid.

[He leans in to kiss her forehead, a promise that he's here and he's not leaving.]

Stop holding your breath. You're allowed to be upset, [he says gently.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[She smiles back, just a turn of the corners of her mouth, and it's without any kind of joy.]

More or less.

Sam wasn't hurt was he?

[namisan]

No more than I was. [She can reassure of that at least.] And way less than we're both used to. We're fine now.

[child_of_bhaal]

[She has to squeeze her eyes shut to stop the wave of emotion that tries to crash into her. She shakes her head shortly.]

No...

[She remembers harsh fingers digging into her shoulders, a distant sense memory finally giving a reason to her habit of suppressing her feelings.

She lays her forehead on Arthur's shoulder, and breathes again, just one more time.]

I'm just... over reacting.

[child_of_bhaal]

[She nods. It's a relief to hear. And she's too tied up in other emotions to notice that maybe she's missing part of this story.]

Good. That's-

I needed to hear that. Thank you, Nami.

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

Honey...

[It's unfamiliar on his lips, but not unbidden. He's at a loss for what to do, so he rubs a hand up and down her back, holding her loosely with the arm attached to the bad hand.]

We can go back to our room, [he offers finally. All he can do is be there for her.]

[child_of_bhaal]

[Very unfamiliar, as she can't recall him ever calling her a pet name. The thought distracts her fractionally.]

Yes. All right.

[Being alone with Arthur sounds very good right now.]

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He presses a kiss to the side of her head and takes her hand, leading her out of the lab.]

I don't even deserve to feel any loss, but... I do, [he admits. The itch to roll his totem is unbearable.]

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[bythewaves]

Syeira? Little firehair, art thou well?

[child_of_bhaal]

Why not? You and Zhas...you were just getting along.

[It makes her sad, even sadder, to think it.]

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[child_of_bhaal]

[She feels wretched, Maglor.]

Maglor. I'm- I'm fine. I just need to see my friends.

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[bythewaves]

I'm here. [ He says softly, soothingly ]

Shall I come over?

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[child_of_bhaal]

[Yes.]

The ship is bloody mess still...

[Still yes.]

[namisan]

Any time.

You guys were close, huh. I'm sorry.

[child_of_bhaal]

Zhas is my best friend.

[No shame or hesitation. She'd say it to his skull painted face if it were still around.]

Coil's about as close. [Sigh] I just hope they're okay.

[dontthinkaboutelephants]

[He avoids the question neatly with-] When I first started dating you? It felt like you had so many pseudo-brothers that could kick my ass.

Or... well, had a shot at it... And I could tell... beating up on me couldn't even get close to making up for the loss of you for Zhas. Those two love you.