Partem Memoriae

[lord_wizard]

Who: Felix Harrowgate and anyone!
Broadcast: Fleetwide text
Action: A tropical world of the Yadrolla system
When: 5/31, the day after the Festival

[The parties may have ended in most of the system, but at least in one corner, as the silver confetti and plastic cups are being swept up, it continues. This time it's not in celebration of the games but something - or someone - a little more personal to some of the members of the fleet. After all, Felix had promised, in a way.

A brief text message will be sent out the fleet]

There will be a celebration this evening in memory of our friend Lumiere, who has since departed the fleet. Regardless of whether you knew him, come enjoy yourself as I'm sure he would have wanted.

[The coordinates that follow lead to a small lounge-like venue near the beach in the Brightbirds territory. The main room is bright and cozy, hosting the featured entertainment for the night, orange-skinned men and women dancers in flowing, feathered, revealing garments who make sinuous circles around the room. Musicians with guitar-like instruments and drums play throughout the night, to accompany the dancers.

On the patio there is a buffet full of small finger foods like skewers of meat and candied fruits and various other decadently simple dishes. The bar is also nearby - though the drinks aren't free, they are available at a discount for the evening.

If you want a little more quiet, the patio leads directly out onto the beach, which is also set with small cushions and tables for you to enjoy your food and drink while you listen to the waves and the distant city lights reflected in the water]

((OOC: This is a mingle! Please feel free to make your own toplevel and have some fun!))

Comments

[goldenglasses]

[He smiles cockily.] It's a six out of five!

[passingthrough]

[She just shakes her head at him in amusement.] Food first or relaxing on the beach?

[goldenglasses]

Oooh. A tough choice, but I usually always choose food first. We could take some food out onto the beach and relax with food! [He's basically choosing both.]

[passingthrough]

Good call. [She aims them toward the buffet.] It's be nice to eat like this all the time. [Beats protein gels when fresh supplies run thin.]

[goldenglasses]

How many forms do you think I would have to put in to get an machine that makes endless donuts on the ship?

[passingthrough]

[She picks up a plate and then showers it liberally with skewers and other dishes—especially anything sweet, but she takes a variety. Not the picky type.] Oh, at least ten and a half forms and several payments.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash also grabs a plate and puts a little bit of everything onto it. Literally, everything. There is nothing that doesn't end up on his plate.] And even then it will probably be installed on the outside where I can't reach it.

[passingthrough]

Wow, that is a dark prediction. [Plates full, she guides him outside to a spot on the beach with some cushions and tables.] Just hot, fresh donuts floating in the void of space.

[goldenglasses]

Heartbreaking. Truly heartbreaking. [Once they're both settled on the cushions with their foods he looks out at the ocean. It doesn't matter how often he's been gifted the chance to see an ocean now. The view never stops amazing him. So much water. What the people of his world wouldn't give for even a sliver of that water.]

So, we're really going to try this?

[Thinking of home has lead his mind back to those people he's left behind and the promises that he's made. If they were going to give a relationship a try there are certain things he was going to need to come clean on.]

[passingthrough]

[She's enjoying something that seems like it's wrapped in bacon or some alien version of it that's close enough two years into this voyage when he asks the question.]

I don't really think you're going to get a donut machine from... [Her words trail off when she notices the reflective look on his face.] You're not talking about that, are you?

[goldenglasses]

[He turns away from the view of the ocean to look at her with a soft smile.]

No, I was talking more about us.

[passingthrough]

I guess we should have a mature, adult conversation about that, huh? [She puts her plate back down and sits up a little, looking back at him.] I'm not...ready for anything too [she pauses trying to think of how to say this.] consuming? Serious? Not that it would be frivolous but... [She sighs, getting a little lost in words. She meets his eyes.]

I like you.

[goldenglasses]

[He almost makes a joke about how he's incapable of having adult conversations, but there is a point to be had there.]

Heh. [He can't help but to chuckle softly as she stumbles over her words. Mostly because she was echoing how he probably would be handling something like this. Only she has a lot more grace than he expects he would.] It's fine. I'm pretty sure I understand and I like you too. I think I may even like-like you a bit. [No, wait. That's a joke. Adult conversation. Focus on being an adult right now.]

Which is why, I think it's important that I tell you that I made a promise to someone back home. I promised her that I would come back and I know she'll be waiting for me.

I can't just forget about her. [He's pretty sure that Kitty of all people should understand that. It still wasn't probably something most people in a possible relationship want to hear. That there are promises that have been made and not ready to be broken.]

[passingthrough]

[She doesn't mind the joke. She finds it cute. At least not a little one like that as long as he's being real with her which she'd need for this kind of conversation.]

Really? [It comes out with such unintended relief.] So, you understand? [That's the hope that gave her the relief. That it's not her inflicting her situation on him. In some ways it's a similar situation. The details are different, but they both have someone else in their hearts taking up space that they can't give to someone else. At least not now if ever. They're sharing the situation. This girl could show up here anytime just like Winn could. And normally that would scare her. If it was pre-Winn she'd be worried about it. The thing she worried about most with Winn—other than what actually happened—was him waking up with memories of someone he loved at home. Someone he made promises to.

But concern overshadows the relief a moment later.] Or...are you saying no to this...to something? [Maybe he's better at keeping promises than she is. Better at lonely nights and restless days. At longing instead of having.]

[goldenglasses]

I don't want to say no to this. [Although it's been so long since he got anything that he wants. Even when he did it almost always ended up terribly wrong.

So maybe this was all a mistake. It didn't change that it's what he wants.] I guess, I just want to let you know getting involved with me? With my life? It's messy. It's complicated and so far? It has rarely ended happily for anyone.

[passingthrough]

I feel like you just stole my speech. Not that it was really long enough to qualify for a speech, but definitely just a big old speech thief.

[See? Jokes are okay in moderation.

She gives him a soft smile and reaches over to take his hand in hers.]

You're going to have to try really hard to make something messier and worse happen to me at this point. I don't think you have it in you.

[goldenglasses]

Don't tempt the universe. [It was almost like saying: what's the worse that could happen?] But I get what you mean. [He knows she's been though and seen just as much as he has. Possibly more.]

I still need to let you know, if the choice came up to stay or go that I would choose to go home. I wouldn't go without letting you know first, but I would still go back.

Not that I really expect us to have much choice when it comes to this place, but I have to get home some day. [He couldn't leave that dusty planet alone to his brother.]

[passingthrough]

The last thing I'm afraid of here is a choice. [Almost amused by the thought and hearing that he'd leave doesn't hurt. Not now. Not this early on. She'd miss him, but she gets it. People have their lives to get back to even if they aren't the easiest lives. She literally doesn't have a life to get back to, but...]

If I ever get the choice to go find Winn I'd take it. If he came back... [She'd be with him. It feels harsh to say. Maybe if this thing works and it's months from now then maybe she'll feel differently, but right now it isn't even a choice.] I'm still in love with him. I don't know if that will ever change.

[goldenglasses]

I don't think that will ever change either. I wouldn't want that to change. [The last thing he wants to do is replace Winn.] If you had the chance to find Winn I would tell you to go for it.

[passingthrough]

[She squeezes his hand to thank him for understanding.] You're a good man, Vash.

[And she's feeling better about all of this. It's just good to know they are more on the same page than she imagined they might be. It feels safer this way. Less like she's just being selfish in wanting more for herself.]

I don't think I've ever talked so much about the potential ends of something at the beginning of it. [She smiles a little.]

[goldenglasses]

So this isn't how normal relationships start? Well, that's a relief I think. [Honestly; running away is so much easier.]

[passingthrough]

Who knows? I've never had a normal relationship. Have you? [Running away is too lonely for her. It's why she keeps facing things down.]

[goldenglasses]

[Suddenly Vash breaks all eye contact. Finding that ocean really interesting again as he clears his throat before answering that.] Uh-um, no. Not really. Can't say that one comes to mind.

[Have to BE in a relationship for it to be classified as normal or not to being with.]

[passingthrough]

[Hard to miss that reaction.] Did I say the wrong thing?

[goldenglasses]

[And he's already screwing things up. Why isn't he surprised at himself?] What? No! No! Of course not! Hahaha! Why would you think that?