driftfleet | video + action.

Who: Thor + you
Broadcast: video, fleetwide
Action: the Blue Fish
When: now

video.
[The video opens on Thor. For those who've met him, it might take half a second to realise that, because his appearance has markedly changed. His long hair has been hacked short, and he's wearing an eyepatch over his right eye. It's weird. It doesn't even have a strap. Even his armor is different, much less flashy and looking worse for wear than the other silver set he'd had previously.

The look on his face is a bit harried, but he starts off with a long drawn out:]

So... [This just had to be his first address to the network, didn't it. Thanks, fate.] Hello. I had heard before that people in this place could fall asleep and end up back home for a while. It seems I now count myself among them. I have to say it's much more confusing to experience yourself. I think it's been only a few days here.

[He rubs at his chin a bit, looking off to the side in thought for a moment. This whole business on top of everything else makes him feel downright exhausted.]

Doesn't feel like it, though. [Thor returns his attention to the communicator, with a little shrug and less of a pensive look.] I'll add it to my list of grievances against the Atroma. I'm sure we'll have a library's worth to throw at them before the end.

If anything has happened in the last few days, I would be glad to hear it. If we haven't yet met, I am Thor, son of Odin, God of Thunder, and king of Asgard.

[It still sounds strange to him, though he trucks through it as gamely as he can.]

Rogers, Natasha, I need to talk to you both.

Oh-- [He smiles a bit, though it's a shade deadpan.] And happy new year.

action.
[Later, Thor sets about re-familiarising himself with the Blue Fish again, poking around the rooms and going through the kitchen cupboards. He could honestly use the distraction that pointless busy work can give, or conversation with anyone he happens to run into.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He watches her realisation hit, resigned to it by now. Short of a lot of trickery, there was never going to be any hiding of the injuries he's suffered. And Thor's not one to hide that kind of thing besides.

He smiles a bit, if only to ease her shock a bit.]

Two years, roughly. It was an eventful time.

[Clearly.]

So I see.

[Two years. That's a bit rough. At least it's not ten years. Let her tell you how rough THAT is.]

Are you settling back in all right? I know it's a rough transition. My head felt fuzzy for a few days after it happened to me.

[Ten years is definitely rougher. Thor shakes his head a little, not having much of a response to the question.]

That is one word for it. I can remember the Fleet, but some of it is hard to grasp. It feels a long time ago, yet not at the same time.

That's the same feeling I had. Your memories will be muddled for a little while until everything gets sorted out. Luckily you've only been here a few months, so it shouldn't take too long.

[He smiles a bit, dry.]

Less to forget and to process.

More or less. [She offers him a smile.] Are you hungry? I can put something together for you if you want.

Ah, I am, but you don't need to make it for me.

[It occurs to him now that he's back in the Fleet, he won't need to worry about rationing for a while. Or deliberately skimping on said rations.]

[No, she doesn't, but she wants to. She nudges him before beckoning him to follow her to the kitchen.]

Least I can do. I remember how rough it was to get up and be disoriented. A bit of food will help.

Well, all right. [He does follow along, mentally checking off the doors as they pass through the corridor. Recommitting to memory.] You have been through this before as well, then?

I have. [She doesn't elaborate for a bit, not until they make it to the kitchen and she raids the fridge, gathering up ingredients.] It was several months ago. When I went into my coma, ten years passed for me back home.

[Thor glances around for a moment, dredging up his vague memories of the kitchen. Eventually he settles for leaning against the table, watching Riona collect the food.]

Ten years-- [He blows out a breath, dismayed.] I can't imagine how much more disorienting that would be.

[Once everything's gathered, Riona begins making up his sandwich. Thor's a big guy, so she'll be sure to slap in some extra pieces for him.]

Mmm. Quite so. And after that long, well... you're not exactly the same person, you know?

[Good call. If she's seen him eat at any other time in the Fleet, she'd know he can put a lot away. Thor rubs at his chin a little, pensive.]

No. You aren't wholly different, but the person you were before is still behind you.

[A bedrock, perhaps, to what you need to become now. It's something that's been on his mind constantly, these last few days. When he hasn't been too busy to think.]

Sometimes it feels like it.

[Parts of her are gone, never to be reclaimed. And sure, she's the same person at her core, but with so many parts change, at what point does the whole never longer be the same?]

All right. Here you go. [Riona brings over the sandwich on a plate and hands it to him.]

[Thor takes the sandwich gratefully. Food hadn't been the first thing on his mind, but that's only because it's an ever-present background concern these days.]

Thank you. Really. I will say I'm glad not to have to worry about rationing here.

[He takes a bite out of the sandwich. He missed you, real food.]

[Riona nods in welcome, taking a seat across the table from him.]

Rations? Sweet Andraste, that's not a good sign. Have you been troubled with war back home?

Ah... something like that. [Far briefer than a war, but devastating enough on its own.] We need to make our supplies last, so rationing s vital.

I'm sorry it's at that point where you're from, whatever happened that led to it. I hope the situation improves soon.

As do I. With any luck, in a few weeks time we should be able to get resources again.

[Provided Earth is willing to accept them. He chews on his sandwich for a moment, knowing it's pointless to talk of "in a few weeks" while he's stuck here again.]

We'll manage though in the meantime.

I hope all goes well for you and yours.

[Really, she does, because that sounds like a massively bad time.]

Look, I know we don't know each other very well, but I also know a lot can happen in just a few years. If you need to talk or just get something off your chest, I'm here to listen.

[He pauses, because what Riona says is true. He doesn't know her that well yet, much the same as the rest of the Fleet. He was here for a relatively short time before 'going back', and having two years of his life played out in between. Even so, it doesn't matter much to him. Most of his friendships have been made in a very short amount of time - weeks, or days.

So he smiles a bit, grateful for the offer.]

My thanks, Riona. I don't think I will today... there is much I need to think about. But perhaps later.

video + action.

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