ataraxion | ▓ ０８Ｐｔｓ．► video. ► cant g3tchu outt@ my head :)

[The screen is showing a very anxious little boy. He doesn't use the comms very often for just anything at all - no, Takeshi's all about being practical, using it for when he has a question or something to that effect, or maybe threatening somebody. So it's no surprise that he's kinda serious right now. Like he's working on summoning up the courage.]

Um... I dunno if - if it's bad to ask right now, but... Uhhh... I wanna... talk to some doctors...

I'm not hurt! I'm okay! But - can you - check my head? 'Cause at home... I had a chip. It's called a chip, my dad said. They put it in my head, and it makes people's heads a'splode. I don't think it works no more, 'cause - 'cause I talk about stuff I shouldn't talk 'bout, and I'm okay still, but I don't want my head to a'splode. Someone said I need to see if it's okay. So I am!

[A pause.]

I'm okay, though! Heder - Ned - don't worry.

[Because it's TOTALLY NOT A BIG DEAL

RIGHT? RIGHT.

oh lawdy, child.

Suddenly the camera turns to a panda bear, sitting on Takeshi's second bed, chewing quietly on a stick.

He looks at the camera, pauses, and then goes right back to his task.]

And!! This is Hoi Hoi! Please don't shoot him! He's a nice bear. He just likes hugs. I gotta find bamboo for him. I think he'll like that more than the people food he eats.

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[ ... They have kids on this ship. Roy rubs at his eyes, and hisses out a breath before he switches on the communicator. ]

Hey. [ Look what's behind him: medbay. Yay? ] That's an interesting bear you have there. He's come pretty far from home, hasn't he?

[ He's not even going to think about a kid with a chip in his head jesus. ]

[This is a good change from all the other replies; not that they're bad — Takeshi just... didn't expect so many, as strange as that sounds. He's admittedly a little more nervous after hearing a few. So he breathes out and smiles hard and nods.]

He's very far! But I want him to be a happy panda. And happy pandas need lots of bamboo.

And trees, I think. I think he likes trees; I like them, too...

[ Roy figures the poor kid can use a break from all the endless questions. He has some himself, but eh, there are more important things than asking about what he can't change.

He leans forward, nudging the tablet away from him with a finger. ]

I don't know about bamboo, but I heard that the oxygen gardens has trees. Big ones, even.

What kind of trees do you like?

The tallest trees. I like tall ones.

I climb lots of the ones here; I'm good at climbing. I can go to the very, very top.

Just for the sake of climbing the trees, or because you can see everything from the top? [ Roy grins a little. Odd, isn't it, that the mention of climbing doesn't make him collapse into a pile of rage at the thought that he will not be able to climb again, ever (and so no one in the goddamned world should be able to climb-).

Must be the kid. ]

Can your arms reach the branches, though? They look kind of small. [ He's teasing. ]

I can see everything! I'm short, so I like to be tall.

[He smiles, all cheer and happiness, even with the topic of the entry. You'd think the 'I have an explosive head' precursor would put a damper on his mood, but... nah.]

I'm a weird kid. I'm really weird. I can jump high. Super high.

[ Both eyebrows fly up. ]

How high is high? 'High' is very small when you're small, you know.

Very high. Higher than the growed-ups.

I just jump! And boom — I sit down on the tree. I can jump taller than a door. Really!

[ Roy laughs, and he surprises himself at how genuine it sounds. ]

That's really impressive! Where did you learn how to do that?

[ (But he still doesn't say that he wants to see it. Because, really, he's not going there. Not yet. )]

I learned it - I dunno... Maybe I didn't learn it. I just know how!

But I learned how to throw stuff from my dad. My dad from home, he's like me; he's really strong and jumps real, real high.

Your dad isn't with you here? [ Blink. Slow trickling of dread... ] What about your mom?

[ OH JEEZ. ]

I, um, my dad from home's not here. My mom didn't want me, so my new dad took me, but he's not here...

But I have — space parents. I got space parents here.

Space parents? And who might those be?

I, um - [Netherlands never actually said he was his dad, not officially, not vocally. So he flounders a bit.] Well, Heder and Mr. Ned's my - I don't call them mom and dad a lot, but they take care of me. And read me books. And take naps and eat with me.

[ He doesn't know Heather, but... ] Mister Ned? The one who has the rabbit with the long and complicated name/

Yessir! That's the one! That's him.

His rabbit's really cute, huh?? Sometimes I pet him, 'specially if I'm not super happy. Then it makes me feel better. Or I hug Hoi Hoi now; he's real comfy.

But Mister Ned is really cool. He works in the garden; s'very important to work in the garden. That's where some food we eat grows in.

I don't think anyone's day can still be sad if they have Lode to hug. [ He smiles slightly. ] But I'm glad you have your own pet to hug now.

[ A pause, and he shrugs a little. ]

I haven't seen the gardens myself, but it sounds pretty important!

They're super important.

[A nod, like he as a PhD in the importance of gardens.]

If you wanna ever meet Hoi Hoi, I can show you him. He's not mean; he's really nice. He just likes to hug people.

[ Roy will take his word for it.

And he blinks a little, looking off to the side for a long moment before his eyes flicker back to the boy. ]

I don't think he's mean, but I don't know if he'll like me. [ Gently. He rubs the back of his neck. ] But if you'd like to show me to him, I'd like that. It can be a proper introduction.

[Takeshi just smiles, smiles like he knows 100% that his answer is true.]

Hoi Hoi likes all kinds of people. You'll be okay. He liked Izumi, but Izumi wasn't that nice, and you're nicer. So it'll be okay.

[He's so very sure of it.]

I'm gonna do to get my brain fixed! I'll come visit after that, 'kay? I'll come visit with Hoi Hoi.

[ You're nicer, the boy says, and Roy wants to tell him that no, no, he really isn't. He really, really isn't nicer. He's a bastard, really, a worthless creature barely worth anyone's attention, much less one of someone so sweet.

But he swallows the words and takes a breath instead. ]

You might see me when you come to the medbay. [ Quietly. ] I'm usually [ always ] here.

Then it'll be easier to find you.

I can bring my action fig'res. Or my crayons...

[ ... Wut. ]

Why would you bring them?

... 'Cuz in case we get bored!

Do you like drawling?

[ Drawling: ]

Sometimes I do, yeah. [ Yeahhhhhhhhh.

He's teasing. Kids. ]

Re: video;

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