the veil is thin . . .

[thespaceopera]

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Comments

[stormfist]

[ She's still trying to figure out what the hell she could possibly say right now, how the hell she could possibly finish that thought of hers, but she can't. She hates it. But there's no way to just say anything that comes to mind right now. There's too much. And there's no time. But he's the one that cuts the silence. Just, "I'll see you later." ... And she swears to God she just felt something in her chest shatter.

She hopes it's true. Please, please let that be true. ]

I'll be here.

[ And she will see him later. Not maybe. She has to hold onto that. If she's going to let this happen, let him do this, then... He'd better come back.

He kisses her, and she closes her eyes, just so she can hold back against that damned feeling of oncoming tears she's refusing to let happen. Not here, not right now - especially not right now, she needs to get to the shuttle, needs to take care of Ochako, she absolutely can't do that with tears in her eyes.

But she does give into a different response, and lets herself throw her arms around him, stay against him for just a brief moment. She knows she has to go. And, yeah, she also knows it's dangerous and stupid to let this happen. But she doesn't give a damn right now. ]

[expellerhead]

[aizawa hugs her back, hard, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing as he presses his cheek to the top of her head, feels the strength like corded steel in her arms, listens to the way she grits her teeth so hard he can almost feel it before they pull back.

he lets his hand linger on her shoulder before he backs away and nods at the shuttle. go. the sooner they're gone, the more likely it is another will come...however unlikely that is to begin with.]

[willynilly]

[Ochako had known for a while that they were close - pretty much since the ball - but seeing it in front of her, up close and personal, just makes her feel even worse. She'd never seen Aizawa so comfortable with someone before now, as he'd always been distant, almost cold to just about everyone. The rare exceptions earn his peculiar brand of care, but it isn't cheap or free. She's lucky. They both are. If she thought for even a second that he'd take it, she would offer to switch and stay behind instead. At least then they'd have each other.

Instead all she can do is stay close to Jayden when they separate, one hand gripping the edge of the shuttle door, her voice calling over the sound of the engines as they roar to life.]

We'll come back. We'll come get you...

[A stupid offer perhaps - if they're going to come back, why would they be leaving in the first place? - but she can't not say it. She has to believe that there's a rescue waiting for him. This is... just in case.]

[stormfist]

[ He nods to the shuttle, and she nods at him, understanding. She turns and goes, putting duty before anything else. And when she reaches Ochako's side, she holds a hand out for her to hold, or an arm to cling to, should she want either. She can only hope she'll be able to take good care of her, be there for her however she needs, but she's sure it won't be the same. It should be Aizawa, here. But... she's going to try with all of her heart.

She squints against the wind kicked up by the engines, determined not to take her eyes off of Aizawa until those doors close. Because maybe that way, it won't all feel so... final, at least until it has to. She can't bring herself to echo Ochako's offer - she knows that if a shuttle is coming for Aizawa, it won't be theirs - but she nods anyway. Because the sentiment's the same. They will see him again, one way or another. ... Right? ]

[expellerhead]

[aizawa watches the entire time their shuttle ascends, watches until it's just a speck in the distance before letting out a slow, even breath. he closes his eyes for a moment, bowing his head before turning back to the remaining evacuees.]

Everybody who will need assistance getting into the shuttle, please line up on the left. And all of you, be prepared to leave your things behind; our next ride is going to be the last, and we need to save as much room as we can.

[the next ride never comes.

and when it happens, at least it happens quick.]