driftfleet | ♦ from the start

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♦ from the start

Who: Kravitz and YOU!
Broadcast: Yes!
Action: On the SS Bloodsport!
When: After the last shuffle!

1) [ action -- SS Bloodsport ]
[ Hello, Bloodsport, you have a new crew member! He's... very confused, wondering why he keeps getting yanked around -- honestly, it's kind of rude. And definitely not the kind of rude that can be made up for with pudding and confetti. Oh well.

He brushes the colorful bits of paper off of the sleeves of his suit coat, straightens his tie, and... starts walking. There's got to be a reason he's just suddenly appeared in this place, right? ]

Hello? ... Is there anyone actually here?

[ Because geez, it's quiet - and not the kind of quiet he likes. ]

2) [ video ]
[ So far, Kravitz's entire experience here has been 1) wake up in a giant spaceship. 2) attempt to regain bearings. 3) almost immediately end up whisked away onto some other ship with a *Pop!* and some confetti. 4) try the pudding. ... It's mediocre at best.

So when he finds this... very complicated Stone of Farspeech... and sees others using it to talk, of course he's going to give it a try. He turns it on, angles the camera well enough to get himself in-frame, and clears his throat. ]

-- Right. Well. I've pretty much gathered the short of what this all is, so beyond that, I have to ask: how cut-off are we? Because there are several people that I really should call right now, and I have a feeling the answer is going to be, "That's impossible". So... how impossible?

[ He's been stuck alone and cut-off from everyone and everything before. This situation is, arguably, better than that... but that doesn't mean he has to like it. ]

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[ Gods. It doesn't help that he really does just want to tell her everything, but he just can't shake the worry that something might go horribly sideways somehow. Time is just... one of those things you try not to mess with. Isn't it? ... And then again does anything really matter out here? ... Ugh. Who knows.

That question, though, he's fine with answering. He shakes his head, laughing a little. ]

Oh, no. Still doing the reaper thing, not about to quit that anytime soon. It's just that after, um, everything, we talked, and I sort of... struck a deal, and it's fine.

[ ... His smiles fades a little and, frustrated, he presses two fingers to his temple. ]

And it's-- I'm sorry, it's just really bothering me that I don't know how specific I can be. I... Do you know how all of this works? This... being here, being from different points in time -- I don't want to cause anything catastrophic, but... well, I don't want to ruin anything by not saying things, either.

[ This might be something they could figure out together - at least, he hopes so. ]

[Struck a deal? That sounds like a very Kravitz thing to do, based on what she's seen of him thus far. He digs that sort of stuff. She can't imagine what that deal could have been for him to be "fine" with a lich, but... okay, whatever, she's not going to complain or antagonize him. This is the ideal scenario- peace between the two of them, and cooperation for handling the whole Taako situation. And Taako's always going to be top priority for her, so she's okay with this.]

I get the concept, yeah. I know about stuff that Taako doesn't, and you know about stuff that neither of us have experienced, yet. People have said that time can be wacky here, and I've had to keep my mouth shut about some things around Taako. Bad enough he knows I'm a Red Robe, and the face-sharing weirds him out... if he knew I was in the Umbra Staff the whole time, I can kiss that budding friendship goodbye.

[The whole everything comment sticks out to her, because yeah, she's guessing it's a lot. And a whole lot of bad, that... apparently was followed by some good? At least, enough good that they survived the aftermath and had a conversation about less world-ending issues. The Hunger was definitely on its way, so she can glean from that one very crucial fact: they... won.

They won against the Hunger. Maybe temporarily, maybe for real this time. It's hard to say. But it's a weight off her chest.

So... hmm. She kind of hates not knowing.]

I don't know what sort of catastrophe you think you can cause when you're talking to someone who's literally still stuck in an umbrella back there, but... I'll take the extra intel if you feel like sharing, Bones.

I... definitely understand.

[ Having it laid out in front of him all at once like that really drives home the gravity of Lup's situation... He knows it can't be easy, that she's definitely hurting underneath it all. This isn't a great situation... but, well, he can alleviate some of the hurt just by sharing what he knows, it seems. So that's what he'll do.

He folds his arms, leans against the wall of her shuttle - closest available wall for leaning, after all. Might as well settle in, this could turn into a lengthy one, depending. ]

I think sharing sounds like the best idea we've got right now. [ He cracks a small smile. ] Especially if it helps with Taako, and the fact that there's things he literally can't know.

[ Taako is his priority, too. Just how it is. ]

The Hunger came. In fact, it cut me off in the Astral Plane just before it reached your plane, and I was trapped there for a little while. Taako got me out. [ Another smile. ... Before he's serious again. ] Anyway -- the boys did find that second voidfish. They figured it out. And you, Lup... Taako really figured it out. He broke the umbra staff. He freed you.

[She's quiet for a long moment, processing this new info. Trapped? That explains why Taako hadn't gotten a chance to talk to him before Wonderland- things had happened so fast that day that it'd been easy to assume he was just working like usual. They've known for a long time that the Hunger cuts off the planes from one another and swallows them as one as soon as the light of creation is consumed, but this is the first time she's gotten the chance to hear about it from someone in another plane. She nods slowly, taking it all in, and then- then he goes and says it, confirms what she'd suspected when he recognized her. There's a sharp intake of breath as she closes her eyes.

She knew... she knew he'd get there eventually. She knew he'd find her. It was just- it was taking so long, that...]

...do you know... [Her voice is faint, carefully controlled, to avoid sounding out the tremors she knows she's feeling.] ...how long I was stuck in that fucking umbrella?

[Gods. The culmination of a decade and then some of waiting, waiting, waiting, and then at the last second, at the end of the world, she's freed-

It's so appropriately dramatic that she has to laugh, burying her face in both hands. Fffffffuck. That's great. It's amazing. It's over. All the dread she'd been feeling about getting sent back like so many have recently, going back to that, losing this newfound freedom, and now this.]

I don't know exactly how long, but... I know it was -- um, is? -- a long time. Too long.

[ He hasn't ever seen Lup so... vulnerable. Expressive, sure, that's kind of her deal. She's been fiery and bold as long as they've been working together - no, ever since Taako first introduced her to him, honestly. Seeing her like this, trying to keep herself steady while navigating what is surely a crazy combination of both stress and relief, is new. But, as long as it helps her, and as long as she wants to know these things, then he'll talk. ]

And I'm not one to go around promising happy endings or anything [ ha. that'd be rich. ] but in this case, I mean, I do know there is one. For what it's worth. You do get out of that fucking umbrella. And you can even give him a hard time for taking so long.

[ It really was all very appropriately dramatic, including the way he learned about all of it - the parts he didn't see for himself, or hear directly from any of them, of course. But... it all ended okay. He's glad for that. He still feels weird about all of this - still doesn't know exactly how he's going to handle being about a dozen or so really big events ahead of Taako, timeline-wise. Right now, he's just hoping that at the very least, he can lean back on the reassurance that it all turns out okay. ]

[Her response is just a huffing laugh at first, rubbing at her forehead. She knows she's being absurd, taking a risk with a man - a reaper - who is barely above a stranger to her, so after a long moment and a heavy breath she steels herself, walking in a slow circle to center her heart. She thinks of Barry, and Taako, and that which keeps her strong, holds her identity stable. She thinks of the patience she'd learned to endure those ten years lost and alone in her own damned focus.

She finds her focus.

And then she spins back to face him, brows furrowed, lips tightly pursed, and she feels a little bit like herself again. Her voice is clipped- not casual, not flippant, but no longer trembling, and she's proud of herself for that one.]

Yeah, that sounds like me. And that must mean you're telling the truth, because going by my memory you've only known me for five minutes, so I guess your story checks out.

[So... okay. She gets out, Taako frees her. Taako remembers. Taako breaks Kravitz out of the Astral plane, which - more importantly - means he reconnects the planes. Which gives them a fighting chance.]

So if you're still alive after all of that... I'm not gonna ask specifics right now, because once I'm out I guess I can technically cause all that catastrophe you're so worried about. [Because if there's one thing she's good at, it's that.] Buuut I'm gonna take that as a given that we win, or flip the Hunger off, or... something. We fix what we fucked up. That right?

[ The shift in her demeanor is clear as anything, and maybe it would seem jarring to someone else, but given the circumstances (specifically, hers)... he gets it.

So. Sticking to business -- he can deal with that. ]

Technically you could, sure. [ When she puts it like that, it sounds a little silly. And he cracks the tiniest of rueful smiles. But anyway! ] But... yeah. That's right. The Hunger's gone. The world still needs a little, um, help recovering, but... it'll get back to good. Eventually. The world's saved, that's the important bit.

[Ooookay. That's a specific type of victory that she hadn't expected. He'd said it was gone, the Hunger's gone. Not beaten, not repelled, not distracted or blocked or anything less finite. Gone.

She wants to ask. There's a hundred new questions buzzing in her brain. She keeps her mouth shut, though, recognizing his last words as the absolute truth: that is what's important. Everything else is just the nitty gritty details, and if she starts asking now she might never stop, until every last moment is out in the open. As curious as she is, it would just mean more secrets, more stories she can't share with Taako, more things to remember not to bring up around him. She has enough trouble with her own memories, when it comes to that. She doesn't want to carry Kravitz's, too.

She's so fucking tired of lying.]

...Well, shit. That's something, isn't it.

[She brushes a hand through her hair, letting it linger there as she considers her options... then suddenly holds it out towards Kravitz.]

I guess that leaves us all on the same side, then. So- truce? And nice to meet you, I guess? Formally. With fewer Scorching Rays.

[No promises, exactly, but she won't be attacking him first. And it's weird, but... she believes him. He's been showing her the same sort of gentle honesty that she's seen him reveal to Taako over time, as he edged bit by bit out of the formal bounty hunter shell and into boyfriend territory, as he showed a side of himself to her brother that probably neither of them saw coming. A side that shows he gives a shit about people, that he's actually a pretty nice guy.

It's... admittedly her own sort of test, too. She's still a lich, an undead, an abomination of the laws of life and death. He's a reaper for the goddess ruling over those laws. Deal or no deal, will he shake her hand?]

[ Yep, gone. Really, truly gone. ... If he has to be from the future, well, he's at least glad he can be a messenger of good news. It's a silver lining, at least. ]

Yes. It's definitely something.

[ She extends her hand, and he nods, taking it in his own. No hesitation, nothing he even needs to think through. ]

Truce. Of course. Nice to re-meet you, Lup. [ Beat. ] And I appreciate the fewer Scorching Rays.

[ He smiles. It's good that they're on the same page -- though he does have to make sure of one thing. His expression turns a bit toward serious. ]

Lup... I am going to tell Taako that I'm not from the same time. That I'm from the future. ... Still a weird thing to say. Anyway, what I'm getting at is, I don't think I can keep that a secret. And we're going to be navigating a lot of secrets around him anyway. [ ... Sigh. ] Which isn't ideal, but like I said, I understand.

[ It's... a mess. But. The last thing he wants is to hurt Taako, after all -- and that includes hurting Lup, and doing anything that would jeopardize them as a pair. ]

I hope it doesn't push him away somehow, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

[She's quiet for a moment as she stares down at their joined hands, genuinely stunned; it's easy enough to say that he's okay with her, but to physically prove it means a hell of a lot more. She's quick to break the contact, still wary of this being too much of a good thing, but she looks a little bit less on edge than she was a moment ago. Friggin' weird.]

I'm... fine with you telling him that. You guys would've figured it out on your own eventually- he acts different around you in your time than his own, we both know that. [He's a bit of a sap and a kisser and he's probably completely smitten with this guy. She's been on their dates, dragged along at his back or at his side because a good wizard never goes anywhere without their focus, so she gets it.] At least you've got the luxury of being honest about yourself with him.

[And it's impossible not to be salty about that, or to hide it from her tone. Taako may not trust either of them, but the future is the only thing that Kravitz has to hide. She has two hundred years of walking side by side with him that she has to keep buried.

She sighs, though. It isn't his fault, either.]

...Look, just... help me keep an eye on him, I guess. Maybe you'll have better luck than me.

[ Yeeeaaah, she has every reason to be salty. He's not going to hold that against her at all. He knows it's not the same thing, and that she's hiding and hurting a hell of a lot more than he is. As it is, he just appreciates her being okay with it. ]

Well, I don't know about better luck.

[ Blocked memories aside, she'll always be his sister. She came first, knows him best, and... on a less serious note, has a lot more practice actually keeping an eye on him, which is difficult. Like, "keeping track of 20 kittens set loose in a house all at once" hard. ... He gives another small, soft smile. ]

A different kind of luck, maybe. Like a different angle. But I'll help you keep an eye on him, yes. You've got my word.

Yeah, I'll hold you to that. Another deal, I guess.

[And they shook on it! Sort of. Ahead of time. Look, she doesn't make the rules.

Now she just feels awkward and vaguely confrontational, though, and she hates the idea of looking like some sort of bad guy in this situation: making demands, asking questions, calling him out like this. He's been a damn gentleman and she still doesn't know what to make of it.

And apparently he needs to go back and speak with Taako. So after a long moment she crosses her arms over her chest, glancing aside.]

Right, well... I'm gonna head back. Got some stuff to take care of. [And a lot to think about, now.] If you need anything, you can find me on the Heron.

[It's kind of abrupt, but she won't apologize for it, and... at least she's leaving a door open for him to seek her out later, if he wants? Ball's in his court now., unless something happens. Still distrusting- she's curious to see if he'll actually want to. Another test, maybe. Definitely.

Anyway.]

[ It's like a sub-deal. Part and parcel of the first deal. That's totally how it works. Yep.

But he does need to talk to Taako. He needs to figure out how best to talk to Taako, first off, but... that will come. And he can imagine she probably needs to think through some things for herself. He is, admittedly, a little surprised by her offer. It would be different if they were both from when he's from, but if he's essentially a dangerous stranger to her, then it means she's already putting some amount of trust in him. ... He's flattered. Honestly.

He nods, steps away from her and her shuttle. ]

Likewise. I'm on the Bloodsport, if you ever need me. And, Lup, thanks for talking things through with me.

Yeah, don't mention it. [A beat.] Seriously, don't mention it. Especially not to Taako.

[She points to her eyes, then points to him. Watchin' you, Skullman. So maybe don't be too flattered yet?

Then she climbs in rather than waiting for a response, because that's about as much as she can handle of this right now. Lup's officially checking out of here.]

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♦ from the start

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