driftfleet | [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?”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mantis would know about children ending up with scars... He sighs and pops more chocolate into his mouth.]

That worked for a longer amount of time than I thought it was going to. I had my life, a decent amount of good health, and a friend. Nyoka- Liquid did a lot of good for me just by existing as he did.

[The Bull nodded, but he didn't miss the implication, either.]

What changed?

Mental breakdown. Read a mind I should have stayed away from.

[He sighs heavily, but keeps on chewing.]

Lost my job, a source of income, but there were a surprising number of people who were still willing to pay me for my abilities.

[You know what, Pyscho? As long as you stay away from his mind, you two are good, okay?]

You seem like you got better.

[Mantis can do that easily. Bull is a charming and well spoken individual and that's the kind of personality Mantis could use a little more of in his life on the ships.]

I calmed down, learned to dance with the Devil instead of trying to push it down. Not the same by any means, but I feel...better. Secure.

Sometimes that's all you can do, Psycho. Sometimes...you wake up in the morning and you can't find one damned reason to keep doing what you're doing. You either turn yourself in to the Re-Educators or you run. Either way, a life without a reason for living it's no life at all.

I ran away from home, so to speak. The country that adopted me first. Then the one that let me be an expatriate until I could get citizenship. [He makes a tired, but amused noise.] All to end up at Liquid's side again.

[He nodded at that. To be honest, he's heard weirder.]

World's a small place no matter where you go, huh? So, what happened with Liquid after that?

Just small enough. [His voice trails off as he considers the question. His mouth falls into a flat line at first, but then his lips start to tremble. He shakes his head.] I don't know. We were down two men and one maimed when I was brought here out of our team of six. It wasn't looking good.

I want to believe he lived. That out of everyone, he somehow survived, just like his father did in the past.

[That was worse than Bull thought, but he nodded.]

Wanna know something great? When the Atroma send you back, it'll be like you never left. Has to be, because Cyril and Leilani, they're from after Dorian and me, and they never noticed we were gone. Neither of them is our Inquisitor, and that's some weird shit, but that's two, from two different worlds, who didn't miss us. That's a pretty good hint, right?

[It's a lot more hope than he's used to getting. Mantis feels a couple of wayward tears falling down his cheeks and wipes at them.]

It wouldn't really he a good thing if he won, but survival... Maybe I could bring him back down from that. Somehow. If The Sorrow can cling around the world of the living, I definitely can.

[He frowns at that.]

The...Sorrow?

A powerful medium who died before I was born. I have never met him, but all rumor and stories about what he accomplished before and after death have led be to believe he is a more powerful psychic than I am. If I stay dead at home, he will undoubtedly be able to kick my ass all over his plane of existence.

[He smiles.] He got it from his wife.

[He chuckles at that.]

Yeah, okay. That's not creepy.

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

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