Video. Coming clean and thinking about the past.

[throwsdown]

Who: Takeshi
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Goldstone, if you want to find him! He's in the captain's quarters.
When: Now-ish!


[Takeshi is a bit more serious today; he thinks it's probably due, considering the state of uncertainty looming in the air. But he was morale officer on the Tranquility, and he's a captain now, even if he's not the best captain. He has to try and keep everyone on the same page. But... memories of his life before have tredged up some things, and he has to get them off his chest.]

Um... We've been talking a lot about the fleet and all the things happening or might be happening, and it's really important to... focus on that; we gotta make sure we're ready for anything that comes at us! Because if you're not ready, sometimes things get real hairy. Real dangerous. That's why I wanted to tell you about -- about the other ship I was on. It was called the Tranquility, and it was big; as big as the Marsiva, or maybe even bigger. We got brought there in special pods that had blue goo in them, and we had to get in them every month for a special jump.

A little while before I came here, the ship crashed and was stuck on a planet, and it wasn't a great planet. And I was sad, because I wanted to try and get everyone somewhere safer. Sometimes I hope we run into that planet, so if the people are still there... we can rescue them. Umm.

[Hoi Hoi the panda sits nearby, and he rubs the creature's ears in contemplation. His downcast stare reflects someone who is a bit older in experience than eight or nine; this is someone who has dealt with all manner of things, be it death or monsters or the natural elements. As hard as it is to look back on the rougher edges, it also reminds him of the smooth ones.]

... I haven't talked about it a lot. I guess part of me really, really misses it. The people there, I mean. The ship was... mean a lot, and bad things happened a lot, but I had people there I cared about a lot. We were all a big team, and we took care of each other. That's why I like the fleet so much... We all take care of each other, too.

[A breath, held, and then released.]

... My parents were on the Tranquility, before it crash landed on the planet. My mom's name was Heather Mason, and my father was called Netherlands... and they disappeared before the planetfall... back to their homes. I loved them so much that I didn't want to love anymore people after them. I tried for a while not to think about them, either, but I realized it hurt more to try not thinking about them. And it hurt to try not to be close to people again. But they did... a lot for me, and I miss 'em every day.

And I had friends there, too. And people I saw every day, even if I didn't talk to them much; we all expected to see each other. I have that here now, too. Good friends and people I see every day. And I'm always afraid that our ships are gonna get into trouble, are gonna crash, too. That's why I'm asking everyone to be careful and, um, watch each other's backs.

[He gives pause.]

There's more people here like me, though, huh? People who're from other places.

Places that weren't home. What were those places like? I always wondered. And I always wanted to ask people about them, or if they remember people like me. There's lots of people here that I knew from the Tranquility; I never said anything, because I didn't want to make people nervous 'bout being there and not remembering it. Sometimes it's scary when you can't remember, or when it sounds like there's more than one of you.

But if you want... If you wanna know if I knew you from then, just ask, and I'll be honest.

Or -- if you wanna know if I knew someone you care about... I can tell you the people who were there, if it's something you'd wanna know. And if you never ever wanna know because it's hard to think about, I'll -

[He makes a zipping motion at his mouth.]

I wanna be open 'bout stuff, because I'm a captain, and that's what I need to be:

Honest with my team.

So... um, thanks...!

I love you guys, too.

Comments

[video]

[tough_love]

You need not be honest because you are a captain, it is of the utmost importance no matter the title you hold.

[Although, seriously, what were the Atroma thinking with that. Still, not why she was responding.]

I am one of the people in a similar situation. Though I cannot clearly recall some of those I encountered. It is concerning, but my own matter to deal with.

[Though she strongly suspects the Atroma's meddling, surprise surprise.]

I do not believe I have met you prior to our current situation, but I do not know if I have simply forgotten.

Did we ever meet before my arrival here? Do you remember me, or a city called Verens?

[video]

[throwsdown]

... Mmm... No, I don't think I do. I never met you before, anyways.

[He would definitely have remembered meeting a giant red alien.]

What's Verens like?

video

[bythewaves]

Oh Takashi. That was very brave, and very kind of you to share, thank you. Are you doing alright?

video

[throwsdown]

I'm doing okay, Mr. Maglor. Sometimes I do get a little sad when I think about before... but I also try to be happy, because I coulda' never met those people, and that would have been worse.

video

[bythewaves]

That much is true, and you are very wise to understand that, Takeshi. If you want, you can tell me about some of those people, and I will also remember them for you.

video

[throwsdown]

... That'd be really nice. I, um. I think the most about my parents, but there's a lot of people who were really... really nice to me. [He smiles a bit.] There were elves there, too! They always helped look out for me.

video

[bythewaves]

Oh? I am glad that there were! And Elves too, eh? I wonder if I knew them. Do you remember their names, Takeshi? And those of your parents?

video

[throwsdown]

Oh, I know all kinds, yeah!

I knew Miss Lúthien and Galadriel, and I met a Mr. Elrond, too, but I knew Mr. Thranduil the most.

He checked on me a lot.

[He also knew a hobbit named Frodo, but he hadn't quite made the connection in worlds, so.]

video

[mrfancyhat]

Hey kid.

[Even if they only met once before, Chuuya remembers being more impressed with Takeshi than he expected. This type of speech coming from a child? That's impressive, too. Incredibly so.]

How brave of you to be so open about the past. It's not easy to do.

video

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi sighs from his nose, shoulders resting now.]

It's really hard to think about thinks you prob'ly won't get to see again. Or -- or people.

... If you don't talk about it as much... you don't have to remember it's gone.

video

[mrfancyhat]

That... that's absolutely true. Unfortunately so.

[He kind of hated that sort of true statement.]

But does it feel better after talking about it?

video

[throwsdown]

... I... I guess so.

It's not fair to them, if we stop thinking about them. They should get to be in our memories.

... I think about my friend Chase a lot, too. She was a kid like me, but... she got killed on the last ship I lived on. I always wish I could have been there to help her.

video

[mrfancyhat]

[Takeshi always seemed to have terrible stories to tell that only got worse the more Chuuya heard them.]

They should be in our memories, you're right. Sorry to hear about your friend. That's not the kind of thing any kid should ever go through.

Re: video

[throwsdown]

[Aw, Chuuya. He appreciates the kind words, man.]

It's... okay. I'm used to it, I guess...

I'm still waiting for when it's not normal. For so many people I know to die from fighting.

I'll do my best to protect 'em until then, though.

action

[lord_wizard]

STAB HIM IN THE HEART WHY DON'T YOU.

Felix doesn't say anything over the network this time. Once he returns from the planet, he makes his way directly to the Captain's quarters and knocks. The faint tap of his rings against the metal door might be the slightest of clues as to who it is]

action

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi's sitting on the floor, and it's clear from his bowed head and hand flipping through the network feed that he's trying to keep track of some of what's going on -- the ominous things, dreams he didn't have but don't doubt for a second. He looks tired, actually, worried, his brow pinched. But when the door is knocked on, he looks up and smooths his features with a smile.]

Hi, Mr. Felix! Do you need something?

[lord_wizard]

[It doesn't seem fair that Takeshi is the one putting on the bravest face in this situation and Felix is still not sure exactly why, other than his appointment by Atroma as captain. What did that really amount to? But it's their captors that his momentary flash of anger narrows in on.

He enters, doing his own version of keeping his face steady as he does so, and shuts the door gently behind him.]

I...had some questions. About your message. If you aren't otherwise engaged.

[throwsdown]

[He quickly shakes his head, shooting down any concern for bugging him.]

No, I can talk! I'll answer any questions you got, promise!

[Takeshi, you don't have to promise to answer things, just answer stuff.]

[lord_wizard]

[Felix stares down at his hands for a moment, knowing this won't be an easy question for either of them, but it's eating at him

You mentioned your parents, but I...[He gestures emptily, because really the fact of the matter is he'd thought he'd met one of them at least and he would not have though the boy could hold much love for them. That's a harsh accusation for even him to level]

[throwsdown]

... Oh. Ohhh...!

[He shakes his head, smiling.]

Heather and Mr. Ned adopted me. They're not -- they weren't the people you saw. In my head.

That was my real mom, and her, um. Her boyfriend.

Video;

[onlyanapple]

[Oh, kid. Don't do this to him. Don't make him feel things. He's not supposed to caaare. ]

That happens a lot. People vanishing. Only me and Felix remember the place we were in, now. We had a couple people here, but they've all gone now.

...

You need anything?

Video;

[throwsdown]

[He nods, smiling a little.]

It's okay; I'm okay, I mean!

... People vanish at home, too. I think everyone gets used to it, no matter where they're at. I think... it's just happened for so long, I'm getting kinda tired of watching it. I wish it didn't always happen so soon.

Video;

[onlyanapple]

I understand, kiddo. There's no real way to avoid it. Just roll with it and be glad of the people you still have, hm?

[The loss of Allen is still a sharp pain for him, even if he doesn't like admitting it openly. ]

Video;

[throwsdown]

Yeah! I try to do that...

[He fidgets, though, frowning.]

Is it bad, if I, um, I hope people don't go? That's really... selfish, huh?

Video;

[onlyanapple]

A little, but it's an understandable kind of selfish. After all, if people aren't from your home world, when they vanish you may never actually get to see them again. Or, worse, they do show up again and you're a strange to them.

[That's happened to him more times than he cares to count. ]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to hold onto that.