[action/broadcast] I don't know how you were inverted

[ginger_firebird]

Who: Mantis and All

Broadcast: Yes

Action: Bishop

When: Today

It’s not the biggest box in the world, but the overall size suggested at least a few items inside. Mantis took it up from the cargo hold after recognizing his own name written upon the delivery slip. He appears in the broadcast feed as he makes his way to the bridge. The feed bobs as he walks and the box itself floats in front of him as he turns it over trying to find out how to open it correctly.
 

“Not used to things like presents. I think this is one of those legendary sponsored gifts, or maybe something from a fan.” He turns his head to the feed and shrugs. “I doubt it will launch any hazardous materials in my face, so why not?”
 

The bridge of the Bishop comes into view and he finally hones in upon a latch and succeeds in opening the box. Confetti pours out initially and he pauses, camera feed and all as he pulls out an item wrapped up in yellowed newspaper. He lifts his mask slightly out of the way, revealing the downward curve of his mouth in the process. The scars pull in different directions as he holds the item close to look at the printed words.
 

“This is from my planet. The year… The seventies?” The mask slides back into place and he gently pulls at the paper by hand. It tears here and there, but gives way easily.
 

Mantis gasps loudly. It’s a gas mask not unlike his own, but sized for someone far smaller than him. The box and feed stop still as he stares at the smaller gas mask. He falls to his knees, taking the communicator and the box with him. There’s a bit of static as the feed corrects itself and shows that Mantis’s hands are shaking as he runs his fingers over the mask, touching the lenses in particular. Then he looks to the fallen box.
 

He sets the small gas mask gently upon the floor and pics up two other items from where the box had fallen: bundles of brightly colored and patterned fabric that had been folded up. Mantis sits cross-legged on the floor and slowly opens them up. He makes a choked sound at the back of his throat. The first bit of cloth reveals a necklace made of cord with a wooden charm shaped like a lion. The second is a necklace decorated with several small and sharp teeth. At last, his head turns back to the communicator and the feed re-orients itself as he sets it right. His breath comes out in short gasps that seem to send shivers down his whole body.
 

“I- How did they…” His voice cracks with a sob. After taking a deep breath, he manages to whisper: “Why did Atroma do this?”

Comments

video;

[theirondragon]

[He knows those sounds, and he's pretty sure the Atroma are being even bigger dicks for letting people see it.]

Hey. Psycho? You okay, buddy?

video;

[ginger_firebird]

[It's like an emotional kick to the groin. Only everyone can see how much it hurts.

Mantis lets out a very breathy laugh and shakes his head.]

N-No? This- These are... This is my childhood. [He's rocking himself where he sits, just a little.] Shabani had the lion. And the teeth were- Were Nyoka. Nyoka ya Mpembe. That was Liquid.

Please keep talking.

video;

[theirondragon]

Hey, hey. You want me to come over? Maybe you can tell me about Shabani. Was she, uh, a sister? Older?

video;

[ginger_firebird]

[He shakes his head.] Only child. Mother...died.

Shabani was dying too. He had these bugs in his lungs and I remember his anger. [The lion necklace floats up and he takes it gently between his fingers.] I wasn't myself then. No one would let me.

...Come to the Bishop? If I can- Can talk through this, maybe...it won't hurt as much.

Re: video;

[theirondragon]

I'm on the way. He had...bugs in his lungs?

...so you guys were orphans, right? That's what I'm getting...

video;

[ginger_firebird]

A parasite. It responded to language. Shabani...was an experiment. [He nods.] Nyoka and I tried to used one strain so we could fight the whole world.

We're all orphans to one end or another. Mine are dead, Shabani was separated, Nyoka was abandoned. [A shudder rocks through his body.] Nyoka and I shared a hate for our fathers. That's why I liked him.

video;

[theirondragon]

...That's some scary shit. Were you, uh, at an orphanage? Is that where you met these guys?

video;

[ginger_firebird]

I didn't realize how much danger I had been in until years later when I could comprehend it all.

[He shakes his head at the questions.]

We were kidnapped into armies run by men with violent motives. I met Nyoka when we were brought close to each other on accident. [He picks up the necklace with the teeth and rubs his thumb over them.] He gave me my freedom by accident. I thanked him with loyalty.

He- [His voice catches in his throat.] He was my friend. When his brother turned up at Shadow Moses, he had never been in more danger. I don't know what happened to him, or the others, but...if I'm gone, they're all going to follow.

video;

[theirondragon]

That's not your fault, you know that, right? And...it may seem that way, but things have a way of working out, and people have a way of finding things in themselves they didn't know was there when they need it.

Video

[luckyescape]

[She has no idea what she just watched but she likes weird-mask-guy with the cool emblem and he seems like he's in distress.]

Hey.

[Freya sucks at comforting people.]

What is that?

[Yup, super bad at this.]

Video

[ginger_firebird]

[He's feeling a lot of old and painful emotions. Happens to everyone after a while.

Her voice is a distraction that he accepts with more willingness than usual.]

Childhood memories. Myself and- And two boys I met.

Video

[luckyescape]

Oh. That sucks.

[Freya goes to great lengths to forget most of her childhood.]

Want to talk about it or a distraction because I can think of at least three things that might provide decent distractions.

Video

[ginger_firebird]

[A shiver goes through him, partly sorrow and partly laughter he can't really express in this moment.]

Either one? It's...shocking. I thought these were all lost.

Video

[luckyescape]

Why did you think they were lost?

[It sounds like he wants to talk about it so Freya figures they can talk about it.]

Video

[ginger_firebird]

[He does want to talk, even if it hurts. It's been a long time since he's been consumed by an emotion that isn't blind rage.]

The last time I saw any of these, I was...ten? Maybe eleven years old. I thought they had been destroyed, but they barely look old.

Video

[luckyescape]

What happened?

[Freya shifts and pauses to give him her full focus. She's usually multitasking but she's getting that this is important.]

Video

[ginger_firebird]

Shabani died. Nyoka and I were separated. We grew up, and these little things from when we were barely strong were lost.

Video

[this_loser]

[That's not good.]

Hey bro. Need a shoulder?

Video

[ginger_firebird]

[He makes a noise that mixes a laugh and a sob fairly well.]

More than that, but yes. Atroma stabbed me in the back with this.

[this_loser]

Sucks, dude. I'm sorry.

[He's been fortunate enough to have not had any part of a disturbing or traumatic event thrown his way.]

I can stay on the line or head on over. Whatever you need.

[ginger_firebird]

There are more people than I expected offering just that. Humanity isn't completely dead...

You're Prompto? We didn't talk much, but I remember that face.

[this_loser]

People are good like that. [Not all people. He's met some pretty awful people.]

That's me! Thanks for remembering.

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis counts himself among the awful people of the universe, but there's something soothing in hearing someone else's optimism.]

I don't forget people easily. [He sits down more comfortably on the floor and lifts the items up to go around his head in a little circle.] Psychological and emotional triggers make that difficult.

[this_loser]

[That's always going to be neat.]

That, um... must be useful?

[ginger_firebird]

[He lets out a breathy laugh.]

It's like how you don't just remember the face and the name of a person. Their face and name brings along memories like their voice, their clothes... Everything is tangled up in a mix of triggers that react to each other.