ataraxion | Video

Entry tags:

Video

[Charles is sitting in one of Tranquilities mess halls, slowly stirring a mug of tea and staring down at a chess board. His face is pale, expression set in a resigned sort of calm.]

It is with great regret that I must announce that Erik Lehnsherr is no longer on the Tranquility. It would appear that he went among the missing sometime around the last jump.

[His voice is level as he relays these facts. He had hoped that Erik might have surfaced from the jump beds and gone about some project or another but as time had passed, Charles had looked more closely into the matter and found that his hope was for naught.]

I hope this means he is free of all of this and has returned to our world to continue along his path there.

[Even if that path was one that could potentially lead to war, it was better than the other possibility niggling at Charles’ mind; a possibility Charles did not want to consider too closely.

Setting aside the spoon in the mug, Charles reached up and brushed his fingers through his hair, then reached to move a pawn, pausing and then spinning the board around so he could play the other side.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He hesitates to reach out to Charles, but - well, he gets it. ]

I had thought, maybe, he put on that helmet of his.

[ Or Shaw's. ]

I had considered that as well or that he was simply out of reach somewhere within the ship.

[Charles exhaled a deep breath.]

That was why I pursued other avenues to confirm my suspicions and discovered that his comm has become completely inactive.

Then...

[ What's there to say, really? 'I'm sorry'. ]

It's good for him.

If he truly returned back to our original point in time and space, yes. Yes, then that would be good for him.

audio.

helpmeguideit - 2012-08-17 01:43 (UTC) - Expand

audio.

excessivehubris - 2012-08-17 22:14 (UTC) - Expand

audio.

helpmeguideit - 2012-08-19 01:18 (UTC) - Expand

I'm truly sorry for your loss.

You're right, it's better not to be here. But I imagine there's not much comfort in that.

Thank you.

[There is genuine appreciation in his tone.]

I truly hope that he has been taken back home, though you are correct, it is a cold comfort at this moment.

I read your theories on our present situation when you shared them with the network some little while ago. I wasn't equipped to understand most of it -- to be honest, I may never be. Where I come from, the closest man gets to flight is on the back of a griffon. But if I've grasped even the smallest part of what you were saying, is it true that your friend will never have left your place of origin to begin with?

[Mention of his last network post draws Charles a little out of his current melancholy and he'll smile, warmly.]

I was a bit abstract with that theory but I yes that was the essence of what I was saying at the time. We no longer observe him here so his state of being in relation to this universe is 'gone'.

I'm sorry but did you say flight on the back of a griffon?

Is that common? [ Sorry, he's slow. ] People disappearing during these jump things?

I am not sure if I am the best one to ask. I've only been here for the past two jumps but yes I believe there have been losses with each jump.

Well, I just got here not too long ago. Some people are being stingy with need-to-know info, and you seemed like the perfect person to ask considering. [ A wave of his hand. ] I really don't get this place.

[Charles arched an eyebrow, thinking that actually Erik was the better person to ask, before remembering that his friend was gone.]

If I can answer, I will. Was there something specific you were asking about?

video;

lacksgrace - 2012-08-15 00:02 (UTC) - Expand

video;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-15 00:05 (UTC) - Expand

video;

lacksgrace - 2012-08-15 00:09 (UTC) - Expand

video;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-15 23:52 (UTC) - Expand

video;

lacksgrace - 2012-08-16 00:10 (UTC) - Expand

video;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-19 01:53 (UTC) - Expand

video;

lacksgrace - 2012-08-19 03:53 (UTC) - Expand

video;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-23 21:02 (UTC) - Expand

Oh. [If Bela looks disappointed, it's because she is.]

Thanks for letting all of us know.

I will not say it was my pleasure. I hope you understand. [He looks equally disappointed.]

Were you a friend of Erik's?

I do. [She replies, nodding.]

Mhm, I was a friend of his. One of the few people I've actually befriended on board.

As he does not make friends easily, that was quite a feat. [Charles said with a small but genuine smile.]

I'm Charles by the way Charles Xaiver. I do not know if you met a previous incarnation of me but I do not believe I have had the honor.

video;

onsilksheets - 2012-08-15 00:33 (UTC) - Expand

video;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-15 23:47 (UTC) - Expand

video;

onsilksheets - 2012-08-16 00:00 (UTC) - Expand

video;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-19 01:40 (UTC) - Expand

video;

onsilksheets - 2012-08-19 22:04 (UTC) - Expand

You're fucking kidding me.

Right?

[He knows that Charles isn't. But he just can't deal with this, right now. It's Promenade all over again, but doubled. Worse.]

I would not joke about such a thing, Alex.

This--

--Charles--

[There is a long pause, then.]

Do you need me to come over?

text;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-14 23:57 (UTC) - Expand

text;

redhotsummers - 2012-08-14 23:58 (UTC) - Expand

text;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-15 00:02 (UTC) - Expand

text;

redhotsummers - 2012-08-15 00:04 (UTC) - Expand

text;

excessivehubris - 2012-08-15 23:50 (UTC) - Expand

text; -- action

redhotsummers - 2012-08-17 00:17 (UTC) - Expand

action

excessivehubris - 2012-08-17 22:26 (UTC) - Expand

action

redhotsummers - 2012-08-18 02:21 (UTC) - Expand

action

excessivehubris - 2012-08-19 02:16 (UTC) - Expand

action

redhotsummers - 2012-08-20 01:18 (UTC) - Expand

action

excessivehubris - 2012-08-20 02:14 (UTC) - Expand

action

redhotsummers - 2012-08-21 01:45 (UTC) - Expand

action

excessivehubris - 2012-08-21 02:23 (UTC) - Expand

action

redhotsummers - 2012-08-22 01:49 (UTC) - Expand

action

excessivehubris - 2012-08-23 21:09 (UTC) - Expand

action

redhotsummers - 2012-08-25 01:02 (UTC) - Expand

[ the words coincide not quite with expectation, but rather- as the days had progressed and the silence had stretched onward- with dark understanding. an acknowledgement of possibility that has become fact. Spock cannot pretend to understand the complexities of the relationship between these men- what their pasts, and futures, would hold. but loss is a universal experience, and Spock too, counted Erik a friend. ]

I grieve with thee.

Thank you, Mr. Spock.

And likewise, I am sorry for the loss you and the Captain have suffered this jump.

[He knows that Kirk has lost quite a few friends recently. The cruel whims of unstable points of the universe such as this one or Coruscant.]

[ there is plenty for him to speak to, of the inevitability of loss. of the best possible scenario- that they would each return to their native continuums- and that at that time, relationships would become severed regardless. that this is a possibility that he has long since accepted- as all members of Starfleet have.

but nothing of it is relevant, in the end.
to understand loss does not trivialize it's experience.

there is the barest nod of acknowledgment- not quite gratitude, but an awareness all the same. social niceties to be obeyed coupled with the helplessness inherit in the circumstances. ]

Is there anything I may provide?

[An interesting accent you have there Captain Sparrow.]

Thank you. Were you a friend of Erik's?

[Why thank you, sir. It's British. And Caribbean. And mostly pirate.]

Aye, I knew him. Was here when he showed up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

audio.

audio.

audio.

audio.

video

video

permavideo

permavideo

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

text;

text;

text;

video;

video;

video;

Video

Video

Video