▓ １7 Ｐｔｓ．► video ► I l0v3 y0u

[throwsdown]

[It takes a lot of days for Takeshi to feel brave enough to put something on the network. He's almost done it a few times before, but he was scared — scared and sad and not sure what to do, what to expect of the future. His mom is hurt so bad in the heart (and for really real, she hurt herself on the hip, and he needs to make sure she doesn't strain herself. But it's scary. It's scary when her mom reminds him of how his old mom had first started: sad, disconnected, sleeping lots and just doing whatever people needed her to do. 

It's so, so scary. But Dad's gone, and they need to try to survive, because that's what Netherlands would have wanted from them. To keep living and trying to be happy. When Takeshi feels like crying, he reads the Miffy book in his room and goes to another place for a little bit. He imagines what Heder and Ned would look like as rabbit people, sometimes, and it makes him feel better a little. 

Now's a good time, though. He gives the camera a small, nervous smile and then takes a deep breath.]

My Da — Um, Mr... Mr. Netherlands, he... went home. [He looks down, fidgeting with something off-screen.] I know he woulda' wanted us to keep taking care of things, and when he's gone it's harder to make sure the garden's okay, so if... if people are good at agr-a-culter, you should come be a part of the — the team! We're a good team. We'd get a lot of points in a game. Even though we're all sad, because we loved Dad a lot... he's okay. He's just... not here. He's prob'ly got real important stuff to do at home, too. He's always real busy here, so I think he's busy there, too. He's probably making all kinds of faces where he is, 'cus nothing's getting done jus' right. 

[He sniffs hard, but he keeps his eyes dry and clear.]

M'sorry I only got bad news. 

[Quiet for a moment, his expression brightens a fraction, and he rubs his nose before he lifts up a small wooden dragon, carefully sculpted.]

This is Mattie. She's a dragon Dad made. She was bad before, but then —

[He holds up a fair maiden sort, sculpted with a lovely dress.]

Miss Princess Reika trained her to do good. And now they fly together a lot...

[He drifts off, smile fading a lot.

I love you, Dad.]

It's good, to work together. It's nice to be friends. We're all a team. So — it's up to us to do good things, for people who leave, who worked really hard! And loved us so so much, so much they say they love you, even if they never use those words 'cus it makes them feel weird. So we should do real great things and keep working like they did. 

[He smiles and nods. Keep smiling, he thinks.]

If you see my Mom — Heder — say hi to her, 'cus she's hurting, too. 

.... That's all.

[Disconnected.]

Comments

Super private Video

[toomuchtenacity]

[Congrats, you've made her break her no voice ever ever on the comms. But some thing are important. And it hurts as well because Ned was the first person who talked to her here.]

....We'll keep the gardens going great Takeshi. I promise. You're right, we're a team. And teams work together.

I'll say hi to Heather if I see her. And....and I'll bring you guys something to eat if you don't feel like making anything.

Private; baw chell

[throwsdown]

[He gives a nod, relieved at hearing Chell's response. He was afraid he'd say something wrong, or scare everyone away because he's sad; he's not sure why, but he just feels that way. So the reply is soothing, makes him look a bit more vulnerable as he nods.]

We work together.

We gotta make sure Heder eats. Eating is important, isn't it...? She'll get sick if she misses lunches or dinners...

Private; tiny garden brother is worth the risk

[toomuchtenacity]

It is.

You know when I came here....I didn't feel like eating much so learnt how to make some really simple but good meals.

Do you want to help me make some stuff that we can store away for Heather? That way there'll be something she can just grab even if she doesn't feel much like eating.

Private; //////

[throwsdown]

[His expression brightens a little at the offer.]

You'd do that?

[Because that's so, so nice. It makes Takeshi's chest hurt a little less, thinking about giving his mom some food he helped make for her.]

video so takeshi knows it's him :|

[dewittinvestigations]

[ Well shit. ]

Hey. It's me, it's - Booker DeWitt.

...I'm sorry about your...your dad.

video

[throwsdown]

[O-oh. Booker. He looks up, surprised by him being on the entry — he thought he'd probably want to keep to himself instead of talking to Takeshi, after what had happened... but it's nice, to know he's there.]

It's... I'm gonna be okay. I know Dad wants me to be happy... S-so... I'm, I'm trying.

[Trying and failing a bit, but y'know. Fake it 'til you make it.]

video

[dewittinvestigations]

I think...you're right. He'd want you to be happy.

[ Booker's a little quieter since the last incident in the hallways, a little more thoughtful. Most of his memories are still fuzzy, but he remembers Anna.

He remembers being a father. ]

If you or, uh, your mother need anything, just ask, all right?

video

[throwsdown]

[He flusters, his own memories of before making him a bit self-conscious.]

Only if that's okay, Mr. Booker! I don't wanna — bug you.

[He's sure you've got your own things to deal with. And stuff.

But...]

I'll ask.

[mikangirl]

[This'd be one of the kids Wash mentioned, then. Real dad or adopted dad? As far as she knows, actual families don't turn up here together.

Doesn't really matter, does it? She's sorry, kid. :c]

Ah... hey.

I grew up in an orchard. What kind of garden do you have?

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi manages a bigger smile at that.

Talking about the oxygen gardens, he can do.]

Our garden is all kinds of stuff. Like potatoes and carrots and all that kinda stuff!

Stuff everyone can eat.

[mikangirl]

[S'what Nami figures. She wants to know about the gardens anyway, so distracting a grieving child at the same time? That she can do.]

Sounds like we can all eat healthy, then. My mother used to grow mikan-- you know what they are? They're delicious, anyway.

My name's Nami.

[throwsdown]

I'm Takeshi!

I don't know what mikans are... but maybe they grow in the garden! We grow lots of stuff in the garden.

[voice]

[notyourutopian]

[Well that's heartbreaking. And after he had been so helpful at the pods. Eleanor knows what it is like to lose a father.]

Hi. [An awkward pause.] I, ah...I'm sorry. About your father.

Do you need anything...?

[voice]

[throwsdown]

H-hi.

I'm... M'okay! Just — a little sad.

[His voice is a bit quieter when he says it, like just saying it pulls the energy out of him.

It's been a rough jump.]

[voice]

[notyourutopian]

Mm. [She wasn't sure what to say really. Comforting wasn't really her strong suit, or at least, she'd never had much need to do it.]

I lost my father. Years ago. [And she had found him again, but that was a far more complicated story.]

If you ever need to talk or anything...just let me know, alright?

[voice]

[throwsdown]

... You lost your dad?

[That's rough; he looks sympathetic.]

When I was a little smaller, I losted my real dad. It made my mom a lot different.

video;

[songburdened]

Takeshi... [ Elizabeth chews on her lip. ] ... I lost someone close to me, too. She disappeared recently and it's very difficult to think that she might not come back.

I'm so sorry about your father. [ Her expression is deeply sympathetic; Elizabeth is a walking model of love and empathy and she wants, more than anything, to cheer up this poor, sad child who's brought so much happiness to others. ] And your dragon--Mattie--is beautiful.

video;

[throwsdown]

Thanks...

[He fidgets with the hem of his sweater, smiling a little.]

It's okay... I'm — I'm real sorry you lost someone, too.

... Maybe they'll both come back.

video;

[songburdened]

They could. Both of them could wake up with us at the next Jump, you'll see.

[ She smiles a tiny bit, heart going out to the little boy who'd lost his father. ]

I never got to thank you for helping my friend Booker. Without you, he... Well, I don't know what might have happened. Something very bad, I think.

Video:

[but_civilization]

[Oh damn. It's probably because he's spending so much time with Gavroche lately, or that what the kid says is absolutely true to a lot of extents, or that he hasn't found anything productive to do besides spending time with Eponine since Enjolras was gone, and has retreated for everyone BUT her and Gavroche since Courfeyrac. Or even that he was around the boy's own age when his own father died, nd he remembers the confusion very well. Either way, he's nodding, a small, sad smile on his face, before he speaks.]

I haven't known what to do with myself for a very long time. Since someone very important to me left too. I think maybe working to remember them...it could be a very good idea. I know a little about how to use plants that are already ready, but not much about planting them. But I'd like to learn.

And...I'm sorry to hear about your papa. That can be...really hard. You're a good boy to take care of your mother like that. It's very kind of you.

Video:

[throwsdown]

[He nods.]

It's import'int. Really seriously import'int to remember... even if it's sad.

But we should always keep doing stuff! To make 'em proud!

Re: Video:

[but_civilization]

You're right. I think they would like that...much better than the rest, right?

[muscovy]

[They aren't friends yet, he doesn't think - they don't know each other well enough yet - but he knows that pain, that exact pain, of a father who isn't from the same place being taken away without warning.

The problem is that he wants to do something and has no clue how to comfort someone. Hugs? Hugs usually work.]

Where are you?

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi clears his throat a little, rubbing his head sheepishly.]

M'in my room! Do you... wanna come over?

[muscovy]

[A nod.]

Where is your room?