reach the residents

[ximilian]

● ● ● REACH THE RESIDENTS

For any questions you want to ask Viveca or Degar and receive an IC response, please direct them here. Please indicate in the subject line who you are trying to contact.

// VIVECA

Hi, what can I help you with?

// DEGAR

Today was gonna be the day, but they'll never throw it back to you. And by now, you should've somehow realized what you're not to do.

▶ NAV

Comments

audio; un: raddude5000 (degar)

[heroooic]

[Truthfully, Finn needed a shower. Maybe some detangler, too. Definitely a nap. They'd only just arrived back a few hours ago, his mind buzzing with too many thoughts and worries to count. Over all of them, it was Viveca's words that managed to rise up against the din. Please talk to him, she'd said.

It was a task. More than a shower, a brush, or his bed, a task sounded... really good right now. Jun's sword feels heavy in his grip as he steps away from the crowded infirmary, determined to silence the noise in his head the only way Finn knew how.]

Yo, Degar? [He isn't sure if he'll get a response or not, but Finn begins wandering in the direction of the man's quarters anyway.] I know stuff's kinda crazy right now and if you wanna be alone that's cool, but I have something I gotta give you. I can just leave it outside your door if you want, too, it's chill.

[stationmaster]

[ a response doesn't come right away. truth be told, degar considers just ... letting it wait for a night, because he's still reeling from some pretty earth-shattering truths.

still. viv did tell him to expect a few of the crew to check in on him, and ... he's grateful for that. honestly. ]

Hey, Finn. [ he does make an effort to sound cheerful. ] Crazy's kind of an understatement. What ... exactly did you bring back?

[heroooic]

[The effort is noted and mirrored, Finn's own voice ratcheting up a few degrees warmer in kind. Maybe they were both putting on a bit of a show for the other, but wasn't that kindness? Or, at least, an impression of it.]

Um. [Finn turns a corner, pause stretching out a few beats too long before Finn decides to just cut to the chase.] It's-- it's, ah... it belonged to Jun

[Okay, so maybe not a clean cut. Finn hastily adds:] And look, dude, I can throw it out the airlock if that's what you want right now! I seriously don't mind, it's just like. Whatever you want!

[stationmaster]

Hey, he fooled you too.

[ degar's voice is ... gentler, especially having seen some of finn's journey on alydhion like he was looking into glimpses of his own past. no he'd never been much of a fighter himself, but he remembers what it felt like to start out believing the best in the person you looked up to. that's the way he'd felt about his brother.

it's understanding in a way that feels a little tired. ]

He played us all. And whatever it is, maybe there's a better use for it than garbage floating around in space.

voice --> action;

[heroooic]

[ Having it turned back around on himself isn't exactly what Finn was expecting. He frowns, certain memories running through his head like photos in a particularly grim slideshow. His speedy jog towards Degar's room slows to a stop. ]

Yeah. No, you're right. [ Finn shakes off the memories and is about to start back up again when he realizes where he's stopped; Degar's door only a few down from where he now stood. His brain was so thoroughly on autopilot he failed to realize. After a few more steps, he knocks on Degar's door. ]

Uh, hey. I'm here. Want me to leave it outside, or...?

[ Or did Degar want to talk. Finn realizes in asking what he hopes the answer will be, for all he can't quite bring himself to voice the rest of the question. ]

action;

[stationmaster]

[ the usually locked doors of the north wing slide open a moment later. finn might remember being here once before, around the holiday season, around the time when a certain corrupted AI tried to take the station down, and degar needed help to keep the orbs they had in their possession safe.

the large container looks robust now. calm, even. the glowing bulbs of light are now joined by an additional, greenish-blue one; another successful mission. but at what cost?

nevertheless, it's curiousity and empathy in sharing a similar sense of betrayal for someone they admired that has degar relenting to a little company. but judging from the dark circles under his eyes and the tightness in his posture, he doesn't look great either. unsurprising, that. ]

Come in. Let's see what this thing is.

[heroooic]

[This part of the ship always held a sense of mystery. And, if Finn was honest, fear. He didn't like to admit he still had that; call it a side effect of upbringing or pride or simply his age. Whatever it was, Finn jumps at the opening of the normally-sealed door.]

Oh. Oh, wow. [The words come unbidden, meant for the orbs rather than Degar himself. Being so close in proximity, really sensing their number. That green-ish blue orb represented so much to him. The thought of what all the rest could represent to the rest of the crew, to Degar and Viv and everyone who came before and was now gone... it was a little much to contemplate for a kid in an extremely introspective mood.

He recovers quickly, refocusing on Degar. It's not a much more comforting sight, but at least it was a recognizable one. Finn forces a smile, lifting up the sword as if he were presenting it to a waiting knight. It was dinged up and bloodied, but then again so was Finn. Nothing Jun touched manage to come away clean, this time.]

He dropped it. When everything happened. [Finn explains, tentative. That forced smile doesn't last long.] I don't know why I picked it up, I guess I just... I dunno. It doesn't matter.

[He holds it up higher, indicating Degar should take it.]

I know he was a bad guy, in the end. And he did some really bad things. But I swear when I was talking to him... I saw he still cared about you, man. I know it doesn't matter what he wanted, but, I just--I really think he would want you to have it. If you want it.

[stationmaster]

[ degar reaches out to take the sword, accepting it from finn.

it feels ... heavy in his grasp, but then he was never much of a swordsman even while he was in the peak of his hero days, preferring small blades, his magic, and his lute. mostly his lute.

right now it all just feels weird. ]

If he did, he had a really funny way of showing it. [ there's no bite to degar's tone. it's really more just ... tired.

there are probably a hundred more things he could say but all he does is find some flat table surface to lay the sword down, blood and dirt and all, and turns back to look at the kid. ] You okay?

[heroooic]

[It's a tiredness Finn recognizes, for all it scares him too. A weight was draped over the man, it was obvious from how he moved through the energy-charged air that permeated through the orb room. An anxious need to relieve that weight somehow is all that buzzes through Finn's mind watching him; equal parts desperate to help and completely clueless as to how.

What else was new?]

Me? [The question surprises him out of his own train of thought, answering with semi-automatic breeziness:] Yeah, man. Always.

[What else was new?]

Are you? [He hesitates, nervous.] Um, okay, I mean?

wow i'm so sorry for the delay

[stationmaster]

[ he's not sure he buys it, but far be it from him to argue with anyone just trying to fake it till they make it — or however the saying goes. and finn might be young but he's every much a crew member as the next person here, he and viv recruited him after all, and he deserves to feel whatever he feels without anyone pushing back against it.

degar's smile is wry and it doesn't quite reach his eyes either when he nods. ]

I will be. [ and it's not a lie either. ] I have to be.

omg don't worry!!

[heroooic]

[ The sentiment is appreciated and shared. Finn smiles back, mirroring the man's tired energy. Unlike Degar though, his smile did seem genuine enough. He'd done what he came to do, for both Degar and for Jun, whatever it was worth to him.

He holds up his hand in a truncated wave; a bit of an odd sight, considering how caked in blood he still was. ]

Heh. Yeah. We all got your back, dude. [ Finn's smile tightens a little at the corners in wordless parting, drawing himself together as he turns back down the corridor. ] And if you ever want to talk about him, I... uh, well, you know where to find me.

[ Empty offer or veiled hope? It's hard to say, and Finn doesn't stay long enough to watch Degar's reaction, already turned to trudge down the hall toward the sunlight room. He had his own thinking to do. ]