(no subject)

[unbearablynaive]

Who: the Vision and YOU
Broadcast: Video
Action: On Lyndia
When: Video is now, action through the duration of the system

[Video Broadcast]

[The video clicks on to a tunnel opening up to a spectacular cavern with what looks like a lava waterfall, casting an orange-red light onto the surroundings even though it's fairly distant. After a good long moment, the view swings back to the tunnel where a few sparkling rocks are embedded in the gray stone walls.]

I'm pleased to report that one can indeed find diamonds down in the lower mines, though they tend to appear rather close to lava flows. I'd advise caution if you'd like to seek them out, but I am reliably told the natives will craft them into a number of tools for you if you can acquire them.

[There's a brief hissing sound from behind the camera, and he quickly sets it down. The sounds of a scuffle and a high-pitched screech are heard, and after a moment he picks it back up again.]

Ah, and do watch out for the cave spiders if you traverse this deep. They're rather large.

[Action throughout the month]

[The Vision doesn't spend all of his time looking for underground treasures, of course. This is a great planet for some flying, especially when it means checking out some staggeringly giant trees and looking for novel fruits to bring home for testing, or gathering wood for various construction projects. There's also all of the neat tech to be found in the populated areas underground, so he can also be found shopping for upgrades, new media for the library, spare parts, and of course creature comforts. Maybe they even have some donut powder! And since it's been so very long, he can even be found at the water park wearing a ridiculous little yellow Speedo and looking like he's thoroughly enjoying the screaming crowds of young people on inflatable tubes.

Lastly, for those few who might remember, his birthday was officially set as May 16th last time he was in the Fleet, and it's quickly approaching....]

Comments

[sassy_assassin]

Is there anything you can't do?

[ she's teasing lightly ]

[unbearablynaive]

[He smirks, although there's a sadness in his eyes. But it's dim enough maybe she doesn't see it.]

You mean, aside from fitting into my own home society?

[sassy_assassin]

I think that's a concept that's oversold to people, anyway.

You fit in here. You fit in with the people who matter.

[unbearablynaive]

I wish I could retain that understanding, but the last time I returned home and a few years passed there, I remembered none of this. It would have been...a very different two years, if I had.

But for now, I will keep moving forward with what I have. That's all we can do, in the end, isn't it?

[sassy_assassin]

Yep. Live in the moment or something.

[unbearablynaive]

Not that we shouldn't prepare for a future, of course.

[That someone will be around to take advantage of any improvements he makes to the ship, or the quality of the Fleet life in general, is a fair assumption to make. That he (or anyone in particular) will be one of those people, well, he can't say for sure.]

[sassy_assassin]

That's never actually been my strong suit. Tactical planning, yes. Five-year plan? Not so much.

[unbearablynaive]

Five years is a lifetime for me.

[And Vash has been here nearly that long - always sobering to consider. But he looks thoughtful, and after a moment he continues.]

But for others, it's only the blink of an eye. As long as there are a few people around with long-term planning, it's no bad thing to have most of the population focused on day-to-day activities.

[sassy_assassin]

I need you around to mediate my next serious relationship discussion, clearly.

Is that how long ago you... I don't know how you'd want to put it but—Five years is your lifetime?

[unbearablynaive]

It's been approximately that long since I awakened, yes. About three years at home, another two or so here. [He blinks.] Actually, no, it's May, is it not? Then I'm approaching six. I've been here almost as long as there.

[sassy_assassin]

Well, happy birthday, then. Are you going to have a party?

[unbearablynaive]

It won't be until the sixteenth, but thank you.

[He thinks about it for a moment.]

Unlikely, though I suppose I could arrange a meetup at the famous water park for anyone interested. I don't require food, and I wouldn't ask anyone to buy me a present.

[That and he's feeling rather down about his friend-making skills after he'd had the fight with Remy.]

[sassy_assassin]

Oh, come on. You have to have a party. Complete with presents.

Maybe Wanda will pull something together.

[unbearablynaive]

Oh, I've no doubt she'll plan something, but the rest of you might not exactly be invited to it.

[sassy_assassin]

That's probably for the best.

[unbearablynaive]

[That gets a smirk, and they walk around in silence for a bit, interrupted only by another batch of spiders. Not all that hard to deal with, when you're trained fighters.]

There, that wasn't too terrible. Do you suppose we ought to try and harvest the venom sacs?

[sassy_assassin]

Are you volunteering? Because honestly, it seems so gross.

[unbearablynaive]

[He reaches toward the spider, and it twitches again.]

Perhaps not, after all. Surely any medical value they might have would have been mentioned to us by the bounty post if it had been worthwhile to collect them.

[sassy_assassin]

[ she makes a face. And also stabs the spider again, then wipes the blade on its hairy leg ]

Yeah, I think that's the right call. I don't know how we'd transport it, anyway.

[unbearablynaive]

Carefully, I imagine. Though I have a set of antidote here, just in case.

[sassy_assassin]

I'd ask if you were a Boy Scout, but you're entirely too young.

[unbearablynaive]

Captain Rogers is the Boy Scout of the team, actually. I was never a boy.

[sassy_assassin]

[ that's it, that's the joke ]

So what would you say you are on the team?

[unbearablynaive]

Very little that isn't duplicated by someone else, unfortunately. Aerial support, hand-to-hand, electronics. I'm more resilient than most, but I'm neither the toughest nor the strongest. I can hack slightly faster than Mr. Stark when he has AI assistance but significantly faster than when he does not.

I'm not certain what that makes me, except the backup in case another role is not filled.

[sassy_assassin]

You really aren't completely AI, are you? I don't think I've ever heard Gideon speak with that much deprecation. It's a very human trait.

If you really didn't have a place on your team, besides being a "spare", you wouldn't be on it. Tactical organizations don't tend to carry dead weight.