driftfleet | voice

Who: Sorey et al
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Iskaulit
When: Shortly after drifting (late September)

.voice.

Hi everybody. My name's Sorey; I'm First Mate on the Huntress, but uh...

[He pauses. Sighs and starts over.]

A lot of people are missing. People we love. People who we don't know if they'll be back; there's a chance, definitely, a good chance, but that doesn't mean the pain and fear and the grief will go away. Sometimes, it even gets worse. The uncertainty is almost as terrible as the loss itself.

I'll be conducting memorial services in the Interfaith Center for the next week, every day at noon. Anybody is welcome to attend. It won't be anything fancy; lighting candles and burning incense, tea, reading some things from texts I've picked up along the way. If you don't want to come but you'd like me to say something for you during the service, feel free to leave it here. I'll add it to everything.

Also, if you'd like to come by just to have some quiet, or for a listening ear, I'll be here most times. There's an area where you can pray or set up altars or anything that you'd find more comfortable; we just ask that you cover up any symbols you make when you finish. If you need any help building anything, please let me know, I've got a shop area back on my ship.

Religious ties aren't necessary, either, and there's a meditation room next door if you just need some space to think. Please come by if you need anything.

.action. - Iskaulit

[Sorey can be found puttering about the Interfaith Center on most days during the current drift. He's usually in the kitchen, sometimes with Mikleo, as well as praying at the small elemental altar in a corner of the prayer chamber, separated from the lounge area by a curtain.

Sometimes he's curled up on one of the couches in the lounge with a book or a set of hand-drawn maps, frowning as he scribbles notes and erases lines.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Takeshi will be there at the interfaith center, hands clapped together in quiet prayer. He's trying not to cry, trying to be stronger if he can -- he knows it's okay to be emotional and sad, even if you want to be brave, but some part of him just wants to help comfort people more than anything... He's planning on looking for Sorey afterward, to give him some appreciative words. The guy was really nice, to host something like this, because Takeshi also is far too familiar with mourning even with the person returning. People back home, killed in the Gantz missions.

When he catches sight of him on the couch, he moves over to greet him.]

Mr. Sorey?

[He hasn't lost the 'mister' thing. Too used to it since the Tranquility.]

[Sorey sticks his finger in his book to keep his place, closing it onto his lap and moving his leg down to make room to sit if Takeshi's so inclined.] That's me. You're...Takeshi, right?

[He gives a small nod, a bit uncertain as he considers the spot to sit. He really should keep going, not stop in case anyone else might need him back on the Goldstone, but... Eventually he does sit. It's good to talk more. Not a lot of room for talking until after all the danger was over.]

Yeah...! I'm captain on the Goldstone.

[He's used to people looking confused at the thought, but he's glad to help his crew.]

This is a really nice thing you did, letting people know they could come here.

Thanks. If I'm being honest, a lot of it is for myself too. [Shifts to set his book aside, clasping his hands in his lap.] You were helping down on the planet, right? I think it feels a lot worse to be unable to do anything than it is to do whatever you can.

Edited 2017-10-06 04:42 (UTC)

Well... That's okay. It's good to do things for you, too.

Or else you might be worse off when people need you most!

[He picks at his sleeves, hands engulfed in black gloves -- it seems the black leather has him covered beneath his civilian clothes, from the tip of his feet to the top of his neck.]

I was... helping as much as I could. I'm still kind of small... I need to get stronger.

Mm...I feel that way sometimes too. [Sorey sighs and leans back in the couch, lacing his hands over his stomach.] But I don't think anybody you helped was looking at you, hoping you'd be stronger. I bet they looked at you like, "Look at him. He's working so hard to help us."

... I hope so. I'd never want anyone to think I wasn't trying my hardest.

[Takeshi has very much, at age nine, tied his entire existence into the helping of others.

Into protecting others.

Into being as useful as possible... so that they'll want him there.]

I wasn't very helpful at home, when fighting happened... I was a lot smaller, though.

You were fighting back home, even younger than you are now...? [That's honestly a horrible thought.]

[He gives a nod, hands in his lap and legs kicking a bit.]

Yep! I was four, I think.

It was pretty scary, and there were a lot of monsters the man in the ball made us fight. He takes people who die and steals them to play his game, and if you win, he lets you go and you can live normally again.

[.................] That...sounds really terrible, but I guess at least you're alive. [SO??? A PLUS?????]

Yeah! That's how I like to see it.

[A fist is made, full of DETERMINATION.]

No matter how bad things get, I'm here, and I'm able to meet so many people and learn so many new things... Even if the past was dark and scary, there's always new things to look forward to -- no matter how bad it gets. Don't you think so?

[omg]

You-

[Claps a hand to his back!] You're absolutely right! Wow, you- you're kind of incredible, y'know? You're amazing!

[HE NEARLY GASPS AUDIBLY, hands moving to touch his cheeks in his surprise.]

Incredible?! You think so?!

[ONLY HEATHER'S EVER SAID THAT ABOUT HIM, WOWWEE...!!

Is he actually doing a good job at morale? He's just flustered!]

Absolutely. Being able to look at it like that- honestly, it's really strong. I feel inspired. [If someone so small, who's had such a hard time in his life can look at things that way- well, of course Sorey is being too dramatic about this. Feeling sorry for himself and for others won't solve anything, right? Wallowing in misery and guilt? What use is that?

He should take a page out of Takeshi's book. He's learned so much, and he's been able to help so many people he otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to, if he'd stayed home. This isn't a curse at all.]

[Takeshi brightens, looking at Sorey with some fondness.]

I'm really glad. We all should take care of each other, right? And help with whatever words we've got!

... I'm happy to get to help you with mine.

My grandpa used to say that comfort came from both your words and your heart. So, thanks for your heart too, Takeshi. [Really, thanks buddy.]

[Has Takeshi finally found someone shounen enough to shounen at?

What a relief. He holds up his hands, smiling proudly.]

Hell yeah!

High-five!!

[LMFAOFS BUDDY

Sorey grins and claps his hands to Takeshi's.] Hey, you want some cookies? Mikleo made a whole bunch of stuff!

I'd like that a lot...! I'd like to make Mr. Mikleo feel proud of his cooking, too.

[And this is how Sorey and Takeshi make the best out of a truly awful situation.

By tearing it up at the dessert bar.]