WEEK 1

[bathymetric]

Well, you've now met the brains of the operation, as well as the shockingly nice-looking young lady in charge of day-to-day business. Now all that's left is to get used to your accommodations - there's 24 other people in similar shoes to yours to meet in this building, you know! And who knows how much longer you might have them...

The daily routine in the facility quickly becomes obvious - the only way to tell time moment to moment is to check the strange device The Professor gave you, but at the same time every day the lights in and out of the facility go up, and at the same time every night they go down. Otherwise, it's almost maddening sometimes, how little happens in here. At least you have a few rooms with enough to hopefully keep you occupied. Who knows what secrets they might hold? And there's always that vending machine, if you can find something that fits in the coin slot...





MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
FRIDAY | SATURDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to Peace Week! Enjoy it while it lasts. Remember, office hours for The Professor's Assistant are over here if you're interested, while regains can be deposited over here! ]

Comments

[onefuture]

...Do you feel comfortable with telling me what you saw?

[It's a gentle question. If she doesn't want to, she won't, he's certain of that.]

[philoxenia]

[ She hesitates, and... well. The thing is, she's bursting to talk about it. Just... maybe not the whole thing. ]

It's... my brother. A picture of him. He-- he passed away, shortly before I came here.

[onefuture]

[Oh.

Lif's chest fucking sinks when he hears that, and honestly, it's hard not to flinch when the force of that hits.]

...I'm...incredibly sorry that you had to be reminded of such awful pain.

[He doesn't know what to say--how much to say, because he certainly can instantly sympathize with Mira in that regard.]

...I understand why you reacted the way you did. It's always a painful thing, to recall even good memories with those you've lost. Isn't it?

[philoxenia]

[ She draws in a breath, sharp and shuddering, and-- there's something about the way he reacts, the way he says that, that makes her think he really, truly understands. She looks at him, wipes at her eyes, and nods. ]

It's-- [ She almost says it's okay, but it's not. Is it? So-- shaky recovery but: ] I-it is.

I thought... I would be okay, if I saw even just a picture of him, but... [ She shakes her head. ] I-I guess I really wasn't, even if it's a happy memory...

[onefuture]

I understand. Sometimes, even the happiest of memories get tainted...by the memory of losing that person. It's as if you can't look back upon them without being reminded of...

[...]

...All the things you could have done better, perhaps.

[philoxenia]

[ ...

Oof. That's-- yeah. She gets that. She's tried to avoid thinking about it, but... it's hard, when she's got the reminder of what she's lost in her hand. And it's probably the shock of seeing it again, but... now she can't stop thinking about it.

And she can't stop thinking about how Aiden must be absolutely distressed, losing his fiance and with his best friend missing without a trace.

It's hard to keep her thoughts straight. So of course, before she can stop herself, she blurts out-- ]

You... lost someone, too? [ Ah, wait. She winces a bit. ] I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry.

[onefuture]

[...Lif should have expected that he was opening himself up to that line of questioning. And honestly, he should leave; he's already risked too much information being let out, and too much closeness besides, but...

That's not fair to Mira, is it? So, despite how rigid Lif goes and the fact that his gaze is anywhere but at Mira--]

It's alright, Mira. It's only fair given all I've asked you, all considered, but...yes. I lost my younger sister, years ago.

[And everything--and everyone else too, but Mira doesn't need to know that.]

...She meant the world and more to me. I never truly realized just how much, until she was gone.

[...]

It's...the same for you, I take it.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh. Well... she wasn't expecting him to open up. Especially about such a heavy subject; had he not wanted to, she would've understood, but...

She doesn't press him anymore than he'll give her. But it still means something to her, that he'd tell her this. They don't know each other well at all, after all, but she thinks she understands him a little more. ]

It-- y-yes. He... he did so much for me. He gave up a lot for me, more than I realized when I was younger. [ A pause. ] ... I'm sorry, Lif. Losing them, it feels like... you've lost a part of yourself.

[onefuture]

[He's only really doing that much because it's fair; no more information than she's willing to give about her own brother. It's taking an active effort to not say more, though, but Lif knows he needs to refrain.]

...Your brother sounds like he was a wonderful, caring man. You were lucky to have him in your life.

[...]

It truly does, though. And the hole they leave behind...it's one that you must live with, for the rest of your days. Whether you wish it or not.

Life is deeply unfair.

[It's not meant to be motivational by any means; Lif says all of that in an entirely bitter manner. Maybe he's projecting a little, but...somehow, he can't help but imagine she feels the same.]

[philoxenia]

... He was the best person I've ever met.

[ She absolutely does. Mira lets out a breath, shoulders slumping a bit. ]

... It is. But I wish it could have been more fair, to him. And-- I'm sure you feel the same. [ She pauses, looking at him now. ] ... If-- you'd ever like... I'd like to hear about your sister.

[onefuture]

I do.

[Lif states that much quietly, but Mira's next statement gets him to tense up. It's not as easy to recall the memories of his sister when he's outright said she's dead and can't at least pretend he has a shot at bringing her back to life, but--]

...Perhaps some other time, Mira. Recalling anything about her is...just as sore of a reminder, of what I was unable to do. [...] But...I'll offer you the same ear, if you so wish to talk about your brother. But only when you're ready--understood?

[philoxenia]

O-of course. I'm sorry.

[ But all the same, she nods. It strikes her again that she might want to open up to someone here, which is-- It's scary. Terrifying, to want to maybe be vulnerable with someone. ]

Lif, I-- Thank you... for listening to me. It... it might not seem like it, but... it helped.