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

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

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?”

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[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?

[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.

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

[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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Edited 2018-10-21 14:50 (UTC)

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.

I found my voice. My real one and not the one that had been lashed into me by others who wanted me to be docile and meek. [He holds the necklace tight in his hands and sniffs loudly.] There are a lot of things that are entirely my fault. I learned to lash out at others and Nyoka showed me how to lash out productively. You can feel better about being angry when there's someone to be angry for.

[Bull nods as he pulls his shuttle into the Bishop's docking bay.]

Yeah. I feel that. It took me a long time to find my voice, too, and you fight a lot harder when it's for somebody else. Sit tight, I'll be there in a minute.

[Mantis's body starts to shake and he nearly doubles over where he's sitting. There's something like a laugh in his voice, but it's far from happy.]

I don't know what I'm feeling anymore. This is supposed to be what I do to other people. I am the frightening one who rains down deep seated pains and terrors upon others.

[When he replies again, Mantis may hear his voice down the corridor as well, as he makes his way to the bunk rooms.]

Sometimes the scariest thing to remember is we're just as vulnerable.

I want it to stop. There's too much buried, too much locked away. I need to get away from it.

You can't get away from it, Psycho. It's inside you. You have to learn to live with it.

I live with it every day. I don't have to enjoy it. [He gets onto very shaky feet and looks around.] Where are you?

[And it was then Bull decided to stop communicating and just knock. He's a cool guy like that.]

[The feed closes with a small flick of the fingers and Mantis triggers the door to open. His gaze goes up along with his head and he leans on the door frame.]

For a second, I almost thought I was looking at Vulcan Raven. He had a tattoo of a raven on his forehead, but you are far more decorated.

[He chuckles at that, crossing his massive arms across his massive chest.]

Vulcan Raven sounds like a real subtle guy. [He Shakes his head slightly.] People have no feel for subtlety anymore.

Subtle as a broken limb, but that's what made him a good coworker. You knew what to expect when he walked into a room.

[He takes a deep shuddering breath and sighs.]

I don't think anyone on our team knew the meaning of that word. Wolf and Octopus, maybe, but we all had something that made us a little strange.

[It was good he was talking instead of sitting on the edge of losing it. The Bull smiled, arching an eyebrow.]

What about me? You think I'm subtle?

[Grey eyes flash to attention behind orange lenses. Mantis felt his mouth trying to turn into a grin, but it didn't quite make it. Instead, he let out a breathy noise that could be a laugh on a better day.]

Depends. Personality is like a broken thumb. Physically...even elephants can move with care and silence. You could make an assassin if you really wanted to. Even your personality has quiet parts. I could tell you in detail, but not a lot of people like mind readers.

Yeah, no. I like you, Psycho, but you stay out of my head.

[He doesn't even like when Cole rooted around in there.]

Hey. You comparing me to an elephant?

[He if finds that offensive, he's hiding it pretty well behind a smile, though.]

[Mantis shrugs and starts wandering to the kitchen. He beckons for Bull to follow.]

Whatever it might sound like, please do not mistake my comparison for derision. Elephants are wise and emotional. They care for all around them, even if they are not one of their kind. [His hands drag along the walls.] They are better than all the lions and hyenas you could ever find.

[The Bull mulls that idea around in his mind for a moment before his smile takes on a gentle nature.]

Okay, that's kinda sweet.

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