Sixteenth Blight - video; O captain, my captain

[bryces_pup]

Who: Riona and you
Broadcast: Yes
Action: On the Blue Fish, if wanted
When: Today

[Riona has had to make some difficult network posts in her time here. And it's not the first time she's announced a departure. But this one weighs the heaviest on her, in some ways even more so than when Leliana left, or when the Starks departed. Because this does not affect just her, but so many others. Not to mention the position it's now left her in.

She had her cry, curled up in the empty captain's room. Her room, now. It doesn't feel right. This shouldn't be hers, but such are the rules, and such is Atroma's whim. For all the blows they've delivered against her, this is one of the worst by far. But she keeps her face composed and her body still, even as her hands tremble in her lap, fingers wound tightly together as she stares at the camera.]

Good evening, fleet. This is Riona speaking. Perhaps some of you may have already noticed, but... Sokka has gone home. His quarters are empty, and his name has been struck from the communication list. My sudden promotion to captain this morning solidified it. [The title still feels funny on her tongue. It's like she's an imposter. But she'd give anything to give the title back, if she could.] I haven't made it a habit to announce every departure I know of, but he was here for so long and knew so many... it didn't seem right not to say anything. He was one of the, if not the longest standing captain. He'd been here since very early on in this "cycle". He's been a constant presence and a good friend to many, myself included, and the fleet is lesser without him. Though I am glad he was finally able to return home after so long.

[There's so much more she could say: how much she would miss him, the matter of the items and forge he left behind, the usual ranting about how awful Atroma is... but frankly she's exhausted, and she needs to address the Blue Fish's crew, so she ends the public broadcast with:] Thank you for listening.

[This isn't Riona's first rodeo with leadership, or even being thrust into it unexpectedly, so as painful as it is, she takes on the mantle with ease. She knows she needs to speak to the crew - her crew - and do her best to reassure them.]

Hi everyone. I know it's going to be strange to not have Sokka around. He's run this ship for so long, it almost seems wrong to not have him heading the helm. But I know he'd want us to keep carrying on, and to continue being the damned good crew we are. So that's what we're going to do. I'll have a look over his notes and our funds to make sure I'm up to speed. I plan on continuing running things similarly in his stead. We'll have to rearrange a few things, with us having lost our engineer and having a medic in a coma, but I know we'll make do.

[Alistair's coma comes at... not the best time, but she knows it isn't his fault. And that's her own problem to deal with. She won't unnecessarily burden the crew with it.]

If anyone has any questions or concerns, you can reach me on the communicator or in my quarters.

Comments

action.

[veilstrike]

[ It doesn't take Leilani any time at all the sneak out of her room and make her way down to Riona's, knocking on the door gently before she pokes her head inside. ]

Riona?

[bryces_pup]

[Riona looks up from her desk, smiling tiredly at Leilani.]

Hello. Come on in. [And don't mind the comatose Alistair on the bed.]

[veilstrike]

[ She is minding the asleep king who is right there, actually, this is odd, and she hovers by the door as she steps inside. ]

Is it alright to talk in here?

[bryces_pup]

Of course, though I'm sure having the King of the Snores over there makes it a little awkward. [The joking doesn't quite reach her eyes or smile.] If you'd like to sit elsewhere that's fine by me.

[samahl]

[He is never really sure how to respond to this situation. He understands the hurt, having lost people in a similar way, but it also is such a strange grief to experience. Still, he wants to help where he can.]

Oh. I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?

[bryces_pup]

[If it's any consolation, Riona's been here for going on three years and she's still not sure how to handle it either.]

You reaching out is more than enough. It's just adjusting to everything. And it doesn't help a lot has happened at once.

[samahl]

I have been gone the last few weeks. What else happened?

[bryces_pup]

Well, the usual shuffling and coming and going from a system. Alistair turned into a dog for two weeks, and as soon as that ended he fell into a coma.

[Audio] oh dear

[tough_love]

[Well, hopefully Riona doesn't have the volume too high on her own comm unit, because it's not long before there's a very loud, plainly distraught response being shouted over the network by the former Blue Fish captain's "It's Complicated"]

What do you mean he's gone?!

[Granted, at some level, she already knew. She'd seen members of her own crew come and go often enough, but...frankly, there was just enough denial at work to complicate things.]

He cannot be gone, he is not one to just abandon anyone without a word!

[And somewhere near the top of today's list of things that will not end well: this conversation.]

[Audio] oh dear indeed

[bryces_pup]

[Aaaaand this conversation is one she's been dreading. From what little she knew of Looma, she knew this was not going to go over well. It breaks Riona's heart to have to be the bearer of this bad news, but Looma would find out one way or another.]

I'm so sorry, Looma. I wish it weren't true. You know if he had a say in this, he'd be here. Or at least would make sure we all went back home.

private video.

[rebuildyourruins]

[He was off the ship when Riona's video is sent out and-- damn it. Just damn it. Thor considers himself fortunate that he hasn't watched too many people he cares for depart yet. Peggy had been tough recently, knowing what he does, and Loki's first disappearance had him fuming. But Sokka was one of the first people he knew in the Fleet. A good friend.

He mulls it over for a while before responding.]

I am sorry, Riona. He will be missed by all of us.

private video.

[bryces_pup]

[She's not the only one who's going to miss him, and she knows the crew will be hit hard, too. The ship hasn't been run by anyone but him since the beginning. He left big shoes to fill, and pain in quite a few hearts.]

Very much so. When I became first mate, it was solely to help him. After how long he's been here, I don't think I ever seriously considered that I'd have to step in his shoes.

[ video ]

[tempredmental]

[Keith knew the difference between gone and missing. He and his team had gone missing a couple of times, but they'd also completely disappeared a couple of times. Pidge was the only one so far to come back.]

Wow. Yeah. That's... [He wasn't good at words or comforting people... but...] I'm sorry to see him go, but it's good he's home.

[ video ]

[bryces_pup]

[Riona's expected a handful of strangers (to her) to respond, but she's glad to see how many friends Sokka had. Though she's sorry that they're hurting as well.]

As am I. He had his doubts that people got sent home when they disappeared from the fleet, but I sincerely hope he's wrong and that's where he is.

Re: [ video ]

[tempredmental]

Yeah. I hope so, too.

[Having gone through that, having seen his friends from home go through it, Keith was probably more convinced that Sokka that going home when disappearing was a thing, but he still had his doubts, too. After all, some of them just fell asleep and didn't wake up for a week, so... could be either, he supposed.]

Thanks for letting everyone know.

[bryces_pup]

Of course. I'm sorry I had to do it all.

[ private audio ]

[watermarks]

[ A very, very dull voice: ] Thank you for making the announcement.

[ An audible breath, a bit more infused will in her tone. ] Sokka had a lot of faith in you. I'm sure you'll be a good captain. I can serve as medic until Alistair wakes up. I have training and healing ability.

[ And she'll... just stay on the ship until that's taken care of. ]

Re: [ private audio ]

[bryces_pup]

[There were two people she knew would be hit hardest by this. She already heard from one, and Maker only knows what Looma is going to do. Katara was the other. Riona's heart really breaks for her, and she wishes she had more to offer her than apologies.]

I'm sorry I had to make it at all.

[The implication in her words isn't missed. Riona won't blame her in the least for transferring.]

Thank you, Katara. If you're willing to stay, then of course you're welcome to and I'll appreciate it, though please don't feel like you must.

video

[monolike]

Are you okay, ma'am?

video

[bryces_pup]

I'm all right as I can be. I've known him for years now, and he's been my captain the entire time. And my friend.

video

[monolike]

Yeah...he's been here forever.

-and he even made a this thing called a jetpack, which was really cool.

[bryces_pup]

A jetpack? I know he's made a number of things, but that one I hadn't heard of.

video;

[youdontneedapictureofme]

I don't exactly know you, but I've been in your shoes. It's hard enough losing crew mates but losing someone who was your Captain, only for you to suddenly take their place, is hard enough.

[Takeshi's disappearance still fresh, but Maggie has had Glenn with her to keep her from lingering too long on feeling sad or worrying too much about it.]

The only thing keeping me going is my crew needing me and having people close to me to rely on. I'm sure you have people like that too, among your crew or otherwise.

video;

[bryces_pup]

[And here's a total stranger out of nowhere, though one who sympathizes. They're kind words, and Riona appreciates them.]

Thank you. I do care about my crew and I have friends. I don't lack support. He just left big shoes to fill.

Re: video;

[youdontneedapictureofme]

Mhmm. It can feel that way at times. Having leadership just dropped in your lap an' all that isn't exactly the best thing when you add that on top of a grieving process.

[She sighs a bit, running a hand through her hair.]

Anyway, I'm sure he'd be happy you're the one filling those shoes. Not everyone takes to leadership as well as some people.

[She's seen it first hand from people like Gregory. Luckily she hasn't met anyone like that around here. Everyone here seemed like genuinely good people.]