Phase Eight: Recrimination

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's in the brig.

It's at her own insistence, as soon as she was awake enough to insist. Once the medics were okay with letting her out of their sight, she went in to a cell. She's staying there until as much has been done to confirm she doesn't have any more surprises buried in the back of her mind as was done for Cheng, and then some. And it's noticeable to anyone who's used to her appearance that her ever-present amplifier is not on her wrist.

If you want to talk to her, it might take a while. Aside from the exhaustion of the fight, she's spending some of her time awake curled up in tears or otherwise unresponsive. Still - if you're patient, or time your visit right, she'll be able to speak, if you have something to say.]

Comments

[emorangerpink]

[Laura shakes her head.]

No. I... not until they've done their checks. But after that...

Yes. Let's get out of here, then.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren's eyes widen. She completely forgot about that. She rubs her head and blushes while laughing nervously, obviously embarrassed that she forgot.)

I-I forgot about those, sorry. Well then I'll wait here with you until then.

(Seiren sits back down, still blushing.)

[emorangerpink]

[So Seiren can fluster, not just keep up a brave face or have it break. That's actually heartening to see.]

Waiting won't be so bad, then. [Tea drunk, Laura takes Seiren's hand again, and absently scritches HUMMY.

It'll be some time before she's called up again to return to the medbay for further tests. The results, as far as anyone can interpret, show no further buried commands. There are some among the crew who can do further checks of their own, but for now Laura's as safe as she can be certified.]

So... where to?

[minorbeat]

Well, I was just thinking of walking around for now. Just see where our feet take us. Any sight would be better than the brig. Unless you have a specific place you wish to go.

[emorangerpink]

No. Just roaming is good, for now.

[There are places... but Laura's not up to facing them yet. Her flowers... and Frank.]

[minorbeat]

(Seiren and Laura walk aimlessly for a while before coming to the deck. Seiren looks over the view before turning to Laura.)

I think this is a rather good change in scenery. And the fresh air is very nice.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura breathes it in, eyes closed, just drawing in the air and letting the wind lift her hair.]

Yes. It's...

Frank wanted to stay here, to let this be his last sight. I see why.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren looks down a bit at that before looking at Laura.)

I personally didn't know him but he seemed like a very good man...You must miss him.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura looks out in to the distance, looking for the words.]

On my old team, none of us were older than sixteen. There were dozens of adults around to support us, staff and medics and scientists and technicians, but you could tell they all felt wrong sending us out to fight, even though there was nothing else they could do. Frank... it was his job to protect us, and sometimes even to fight alongside us. I suppose it meant he could afford to be a little closer to us. He looked out for us. His troops did, too, but he looked out for them as well.

[She smiles.]

We played basketball, once. I barely touched the ball, but I made it through the whole thing without tripping over myself once. I was proud of that.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren nods slowly as she listens to Laura's story.)

It sounds like Frank was a sort of father figure to you and your team.

[emorangerpink]

We were all family to each other. He was part of that. And here...

When... before I came to the Chalice, I had been... sick, for a long time. I just knew Devon was here, and the rest of the team were dead, the group disbanded. When I got here and found Frank, too, it...

It made things a little more bearable.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren looks down sadly.)

...I see...Having someone like Frank around must have helped...I can't imagine what you are going through...I'm so sorry Laura.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura smiles sadly at her.]

He helped give me the confidence to find the friends I've made here. Who are many, and wonderful. I think that might be what I'll remember him for most.

It's all right. Well - I mean, it's not all right. But I can live with it. He wouldn't want it any other way.

...Did you have someone looking out for you, when you started piloting, Seiren?

[minorbeat]

...I had my little sister support me when I started when I was young. She looked up to me and I took pride in that. It is what made me want to go as far as I could as a pilot...but one day we got in a bad fight with each other. In the end we stopped talking with each other all together.

[emorangerpink]

...I'm sorry.

Don't, ummm... if you don't want to talk about it, just tell me.

But... if you tried to contact her now, do you think...?

[minorbeat]

(Seiren shakes her head.)

Don't worry about it. It is something I should probably talk about...I don't think she would ever want to talk to me again...I hurt her really badly when we last fought. I doubt she'd ever forgive me for it.

[emorangerpink]

What was it about? Even... if she can't forgive you, it still might do some good to tell her you're sorry.

[minorbeat]

She got mad at me because I blocked her from going on a mission. It was dangerous and I didn't think she was ready for a mission like that. She thought I had no faith in her skills and thought I was cold and cruel. It hurt me that she thought that so I yelled at her out of anger...I tried to apologize later but she was still mad at me and threw it back in my face...I got mad and didn't think about what I did next...I slapped her. Before I could apologize for what I just did, she started to cry and screamed that she hated me...I tried to talk to her several times after that but she just blew me off every time.

[emorangerpink]

...I'm sorry, Seiren.

I was an only child, so I don't know, but... maybe... how long ago was this? Maybe... if you wrote to her, or...

[minorbeat]

That was about ten years ago. I haven't even seen her since then.

[emorangerpink]

Ten years is a long time, Seiren. I'm sure it might be hard to find her, but... don't be so sure she wouldn't be willing to at least see you. If you have any way to contact her... I'd say it's worth trying.

[minorbeat]

(Seiren shakes her head.)

I lost all contact with my family just about nine years ago. I have no idea how to get in contact with them or even a clue as to where they are...It's okay though. I've come to accept it after all this time.

[emorangerpink]

I... don't want to reopen old wounds. It's something you've had to live with and I won't say you were wrong in how you did it. But you don't need to give up hope. Of all the places to start looking again, this ship and the connections it has might be the best. If it's possible, then...

[minorbeat]

(Seiren closes her eyes in thought.)

...Maybe. It would be nice to see them again.

[emorangerpink]

I'd be glad to see it. If there's any way I can help...

...Well... I shouldn't be making promises right now. I don't know what's going to happen...