Re-Entry 16: Video

[itstopped]

((Backdated to before Racetrack's disappearance, sometime after this thread.))

[Private to Trip, CC: Dean]

[Honestly, as remarkable as what's happened is, it's almost as remarkable that Felix is the first one to notice. He just really doesn't spend that much time in his own quarters anymore. But he stops by to pick something up, and that's when he notices the changes. Specifically, this one, which is why the camera is currently on what looks like a very standard shower.]

...Trip? [If he sounds completely bewildered, it's only because he is.]

[Friends filter (if you think you're on it, etc. Including you, Morgana.)]

I, um... I graduated today. [He still doesn't really sound like he believes it.] And for those of you who know what I was thinking about why I hadn't, I think I was right, because I'm not really sure what I'm going to do next. But... whatever happens, I wanted to say... thank you. To all of you. You deserve to hear that.

Actually, that's not entirely true. I do know one thing I'm going to do next. [He smiles slightly.] The CES showed me Picon once, just once... I'm going to go to the pub, get a bottle of something, and go sit there until it shows up again. Feel free to join me.

[Private to Racetrack and Claire Bennet, separately]

I'd like to ask you a question.

[Public]

[And this one is from the CES, later, when he seems to have found both his bottle and his world. He's sitting on a long stretch of beach, a low grassy hill rising behind him, the wind and salt in his hair; and even though the sun brings out all his imperfections -- how pale he's become under the olive tones of his skin, the shock of gray hair at his temples, the dark rings under his eyes -- he looks younger and softer than he ever has before. He takes a drink from the bottle and rubs a hand over his mouth.]

Does anyone know... has anyone ever stayed on this ship without becoming a warden?

Comments

[Public]

[mistconduct]

Holy shit, are you me?

[itstopped]

I hope not.

...Why don't you want to be a warden?

[mistconduct]

Yeah, for real.

Because I'm a fuck-up who doesn't know the first thing about wardening?

private -> spam

[youwillgotohell]

[But why Felix, that doesn't make sense. She almost says nothing, because she just doesn't know how to parse this in a way that's fair: it's her instinct to be angry, and hurt, and she knows that isn't right. But she had wanted to see his home, and wonders if maybe it would be easier face to face.]

Leave the door open.

[That's all, she doesn't wait for a reply, because if he'd rather not have her, she'll find a closed door and that will be that. She half wonders if it's only an accident that lets her see this.

Inside, she walks along the beach slowly, looking out at the ocean as she makes her way toward him.]

spam

[itstopped]

[Felix doesn't reply, either. There's a part of him that's not sure why he included her, because they're not friends anymore, because he himself made sure of that and she certainly didn't seem to have any objections. Except... if there's one thing he's come to grips with lately, it's that it's never that simple. She's stuck, and as long as she's stuck there's a part of her that will be dangerous, but there's also a part of him that cares about her anyway. That can't just write her off. That's missed her.

The world she steps into is honestly beautiful: apparently the Admiral finally gave him a break in more than one way. The sand is dark and rough, the sky very pale, but the sea is an endless and incredibly deep blue. The beach curves around into a great rocky outcrop in the distance, forming a calm little bay here, warm and sheltered. On the other side, the grassy knoll stretches into a series of long, low hills, eventually fading into distant mountains. Two moons hang low in the sky.

And here's Felix with his arms around his knees, barefoot with his pants rolled up, caught almost in a trance. It takes him a while to notice her coming up, but when he does he smiles, despite everything, and surreptitiously wipes at his eyes.] Hey. [He offers her the bottle.]

spam

[youwillgotohell]

[It feels as much like a fairytale as the young Felix must have thought she was; two moons, blue water, she can imagine stories being set on beaches like this. He takes a while to notice, and she wonders why - and when he wipes at his eyes, she at least does him the courtesy of dropping her own.]

Hello.

[She takes it, sniffing before she sits down beside him, at a comfortable distance. He's been missed, too; she's missed all the people she pushed away. It was easier with him, because he pushed too, and now that he's not, she's uncertain how to broach things.]

Is this what you always drink? [Is it that terrible, burning swill he gave her in the pub.]

[ Filter : Video/Voice/?? ]

[surfaceshine]

[What happens first is strange; Dean picks up immediately and then says something, and it's either a What?! or a swear or some wordless sound of an impossible mixture of surprise, pleasure, disbelief, and... panic. Then there is some fumbling, a muffled impact, definitely a swear, and then a view of the communicator falling. It clicks off when it hits the floor.

A minute or so later, Dean is back on the voice only function, and his is difficult to read.]

Felix?

[Video]

[itstopped]

[Felix is still on video, although he turns it back around on himself at all the commotion, peering at the screen.]

Are you all right?

[surfaceshine]

[Don't mind Dean, he should know better by now than to answer his communicator when he's working underneath things. Like sinks.

Impatience creeps into his voice, because wow is that not the point.]

I'm fine. Are you?

[deshabille]

[She maintains an audio-only connection, to hide her anger at something completely unrelated. Her voice is silk-smooth, a perfect cover.]

I've never heard of it. But I've never heard of anyone ejected, either.

[itstopped]

What would you call what's been going on lately, then?

[deshabille]

Not what I mean.

Ejected for what you're talking about - for staying on without a job. That, specifically, I've never heard of. Not that that means much.

spam

[landfall]

[ Excuse you and your networking, you are just going to have to deal with a Racetrack hunting you down and launching herself at you in a hug that may just bowl both of you over, or at least knock you into a wall. ]

You did it!

spam

[itstopped]

[oh gods what is this why are you squeezing me with your body

He's so startled for a minute that he doesn't really know how to react until his shoulder hits the wall, but then he laughs quietly, thumping her lightly on the back.]

Okay, okay. At ease, Lieutenant. [He's smiling, though, a little shy as he straightens himself out.] I was just heading to the CES. Do you want to come?

spam

[landfall]

I'm so happy for you!

[ She is ecstatic, actually. Beaming. ]

Yes. I do. [ She takes his arm. ] Are you bringing ambrosia?

[Private]

[inhistorybooks]

[Trip does think to check his item before he responds, so by the time he does, he's grinning, because there's really only one thing to say.]

Congratulations.

[Private]

[itstopped]

So... that's it, then?

[private, text]

[fridgetothefire]

I don't want you to go, but I'm glad you're free.

[private, text]

[itstopped]

Thank you.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet... I think I've just gone from no choices to too frakking many.

[darknessb4me]

Why, so you can end up dead in the next Silent Hill?

[itstopped]

[He's not going to answer this, but he doesn't hang up, either. He raises a brow, as if to say, okay, fine, go on. It's not as though he can argue the point, after all. It's not as if he hasn't been fighting for the opportunity to leave for that exact reason.]

Private;

[some_kinda_hero]

Anything.

Private;

[itstopped]

I hope this doesn't come across as... invasive, but has anyone ever studied you? Your blood, I mean? If there were a way to replicate the effects in a lab-- I don't have to tell you what an achievement that would be.

[godsays]

I think there's room here for more than just inmates and wardens.

[itstopped]

Do you actually know of anyone who's done that, though?