srwug_alpha_rp | Not getting rid of me that easily

[White Chalice just received a message. It's a video, addressed to friends of Devon and Cheng - but anyone can watch it should they decide.]

When I left, I promised to keep in contact.
So here I am.

[Look, it's Devon. And she seems kinda awkward, unsure where to start something that's supposed to be a casual conversation sent through a highly secure long-distance video feed. Also, the usually stringy Shifter seems to have gained some meat on her bones. You can see it even under her clothing - some kind of apron, though most empathically NOT a frilly one.]

As I expected, rebuilding Gucun requires... incredible effort. We are nowhere near done, and will not be for months - if not years. But... we make progress. Food, water, even power and medicine - they are scarce still, but present. People will not fear starvation, disease, or violence. We'll make sure of it, together.

It is not just my husband and me. We are not alone, many others support the rebuilding effort. Many - not all, not everyone shares the vision of how Gucun should be rebuilt, and there is friction. But I manage to keep them under control.
[Surely Devon does not mean she is punching out dissenters, right?]

I must be... thankful. If it was not for them, individuals of skill and knowledge, we would have achieved nothing. Thanks to them, there is hope. Cheng has... ideas. Ideas for the future, to ensure Gucun's prosperity without preying on other countries. He has adapted to the role of leader well. You would be surprised.

Our child is a girl. We decided on the name - Xue Yi.

That is all.

[Devon's eyes stray off, as if she was reading from a cue card.]

Gucun is not ready for a visit yet - it is a hectic and busy place. But soon... you will be able to visit, and I hope you will. It would make me and Cheng... very happy.

We will keep in contact like this until that time.

[End of video. The transmission was one-way only, so there's no way to respond. This is more of a reaction/mingle post.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... I fear for whoever decides to date Xue Yi. [ConsIderIng just who the gIrl's parents are, he'd be rIght to do so]

I dunno mang... It couldn't be that terrible. Not every child ends up like their parents.

[[Yanno, aliens, drug addicts, insane, dead...]]

Who said anything about the child causing issues? Can you imagine the third degree Devon and Cheng would give any would-be suitor? Balls of steel would be needed, man.

So someone like me then? Not that I would, I'm just sayin...

[quirking a brow at that assessment] Realistically, you'd be in your late thirties if you were to try and date Xue Yi, which would introduce a completely different set of problems for you, Devon, and Cheng to hash out.

Yeah, well, realistically I'd still be with Shirley and we'd have kids by then so... the entire fictional situation is moot. I'm just sayin that... I'm not one of a kind here.

Are YOU still scared of Devon?

[Not too long after Devon's message was another. Like the first it was a video.]

My Friends and Comrades, I suppose I feel somewhat irresponsible for not sending any word sooner.

[It's Cheng - and he looks rather worn out as he tiredly wipes his forehead. He's clad in what appears to be a combination of a longcoat and and his combat armor in addition to his sash of office.]

As no doubt you've heard I have been busy of late. Even with the steps forward we have taken the path we have ahead has been treacherous.

[He closes his eyes tiredly and breathes deep before regarding the camera calmly.]

But even then I still find time to pray for your safety. While Gucun recovers... it is difficult to know that my comrades are constantly moving towards danger.

[He gives a small salute.]

Everyone. Stay safe. When the day comes that you return to Gucun... I hope that the welcome you receive would be better than the one we had on my return.

[There's a small grin at that.]

We will speak again soon...

All I've done for the last fifteen years is try to stop the world from falling apart any more than it already has. Guess it's good someone is actually building it back up.

Protecting people who don't want to be protected is hard work. We're learning that first-hand.

If anyone can fix things, though... it's them. They're too stubborn to fail.

That sums it up pretty well.

Edited 2012-09-08 18:02 (UTC)

[When the message first arrived, Laura watched it right away on the nearest terminal she could get some privacy at. Now, in a corner of the cafeteria, she's rewatching it over and over, trying to extract as much information from it as she can regardless of Devon's inherent caginess.]

Hmmm... I think she might actually be telling the truth. They're doing all right.

Are you that suspicious of Devon? [Allelujah smiles as he approaches, though he doesn't sit down yet. He's not certain the two of them are good enough friends for that...]

Not that I blame you. She does have a tendency to speak only half the truth. I wonder how Cheng managed to get her in front of a camera though... much less how he kept her from her usual stone-faced way of speaking. They must be doing alright if she's capable of being even a little loose, right?

[Laura starts slightly, less at Allelujah's presence than at the realization that he saw the message. Well, it may not have been addressed to everyone but it's not exactly sensitive, so...]

When it comes to being honest about herself? Of course.

Still, she does sound cautiously optimistic rather than covering up any problems. And at a guess, if Cheng had a hand in it he just reminded her we'd worry if we heard nothing.

[She gestures at the seat across from her, inviting him to sit.]

I suppose that's the case. One way or another, I'm certain Devon wouldn't be contacting us because she thought it was kind... she's a bit too pragmatic for that. So you're probably right about Cheng.

[He takes the seat slowly and smiles across at her.]

It's good to know that they're doing well. Things can't be easy for them, so there's at least some level of relief to be had.

Ah, but she knows if she worries us too much, I might actually follow through on my threats to show up there. That's pragmatic, right? Keeping people from arriving while the place is still a mess.

[She smiles back.]

Those two together seem able to do things I wouldn't have pictured either of them even starting on their own. It's a relief that they seem to be all right, but I'm not actually surprised.

They are... interesting together, aren't they? They suit each other, in that respect. I can't imagine we'd ever fall in love with someone if they were too much like ourselves. [A warm smile alighted on his lips as something seemed to tease at his memories... but he was back in the real world after a moment.]

Well, whatever the case, I don't think we'll need to worry about them. It is... strangely lonesome without Devon's straightforward methods to keep us on our toes, but I don't think I would ask them back even if I could.

It's good to know things are working out. Progress is progress, and considering what they had to work with... that just makes things stand out all the more.

[On seeing the message, Samus listens attentively. When Devon finishes, she nods cryptically, and continues with what she was doing.

What might be going through this woman's head... anyone's guess]

Not getting rid of me that easily

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Second Video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject