41st Song: Requiem of Bordom

[ttlyisabard]

[The comm post opens up with her playing an electric guitar; the amp was a bit away, so it wasn't too loud. When last she overheard Pickles and Nathan talking, they had assumed she wasn't a good guitarist. With her shortened nails, she was picking at the strings with all her fingers, dancing a complex song along the neck of the guitar. The sound

Comments

[ixgideonxi]

I'm fine, Kate. I... I'm sorry about practice. I've just been preoccupied with... being annoyingly introspective. And retrospective. Been doing lots of, ah, thinking, in other words.

[He took some time to calm his voice before responding, so he's managed to keep it from sounding shaky or sad. The tradeoff is that his tone comes off as utterly dull and lifeless, which is equally atypical for someone like him. Whoops.]

[ttlyisabard]

Eww ... Gideon are you alright? You sound terrible ... you haven't been drinking have you?

[ixgideonxi]

[Aaand here come the questions. The steampunk sucks on his teeth briefly before clearing his throat and responding.]

No. I haven't been drinking. Like I said awhile back, I got tolerance for that kind of thing close to zilch. If I had been, let's just say I'd be doing less talking and more... puking.

[ttlyisabard]

Then what's wrong? You should talk about it ... you can come to my room instead of doing it over the com if that makes you feel better ...

[ixgideonxi]

[Looooong pause. He's torn between the "Oh God want company" and "I don't want other people worrying about me!" mindsets. Ultimately, his desire to not get in another person's way wins out.]

Uhhhh, sorry Kate, I-- [insert some obviously fake coughs here]-- I think I came down with something, actually. Did I mention that? Because yeah. I'm coughing, and... I think quarantining myself in my room will be for the best of the passengers! Don't want to spread it or, ah, anything.

[Hmm, did he just give away where he is? Maybe you should go and straighten him out, Kate...]

[ttlyisabard]

OH ... well ... have you gone to see the doctor? He reattached someone's hand earlier ... a cold should be easy ...

Do you know where it is?

[ixgideonxi]

What? No--I--it's not that serious-- I mean it is, but... dammit! I hate doctors. And robot doctors are even creepier. Okay? Besides, I mean, you know. This type of sickness... it's not something that a doctor can really... help with.

[ttlyisabard]

[She got up and left her room without holding the com button. She didn't speak until she was in the elevator.]

Well ... you know my magic can alter emotions, right? I can get rid of pain too ...

[ixgideonxi]

Pain? Who's in pain? I'm fine, Kate... really.

[Although he's doing an awful-ass job of sounding the part-- you can practically hear the uncharacteristic whine in his voice.]

[ttlyisabard]

Well then you will not mind me coming over. If I get sick, I'll see the doctor ...

[Knock knock Gideon.]

[ixgideonxi]

What the--

[He jumps and his comm clatters to the floor at the knock. She's here? Right now? Fuck, he'd better put a shirt on and maybe comb his hair up, it's messy as hell-- okay so he doesn't have time to gel it, so he just throws a shirt on real fast and opens the door for her looking flustered and breathless. His crazyhawk is down, unkempt with strands clinging to the back of his head and neck; he has rings under his bleary eyes. His goggles are discarded thoughtlessly on a chair in the corner of the room.]

You came..? I told you, I... I don't need anything, or... anyone...

...Thanks.

[ttlyisabard]

When someone says that ... it means they need someone the most.

[She offered a small smile to him.]

Now are you going to let me in and tell me what's the matter?

[ixgideonxi]

[Gideon starts to give her a small smile back, but it falters and he turns away quickly before she can see. He waves a hand, trying to act nonchalant.]

Yeah. You can come in. As for what's the matter, well... it's just a small... technicality... no... I mean... it's more than that, but. I'm sure I'll be over it soon. Y'see, it's just that... I've found myself... without...

[Groooaannnn as he sits down heavily on the side of the bed, rubbing his forehead with his palms. You're killin' him, girl, making him talk about his feelings! After a few long shaky breaths, he finally decides to stop beating around the bush.]

You know how people tend to... disappear from this boat at times, right?

[ttlyisabard]

[She politely listened to him, not wanting to interrupt until it was her turn. When he sat on the bed, she sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulder.]

I'm sorry Gideon ... sometimes people come back ...

[ixgideonxi]

Where have they taken her, Kate? Where have they taken Fatin? I... I want-- I need her back... I feel like a part of me has just been ripped right out...

[He looks directly at her for the first time, looking confused and lost and truly agonized.]

I said that I was always going to... be there for her, y'know. How am I supposed to make good on that promise now?

[ttlyisabard]

I don't know Gideon. But it isn't something you could control. The crew ... they say "the system failed" when this happens. Maybe there's something magical they use to keep us here. People have disappeared and came back many times, and they never remember anything.

[This wasn't the time to console him, she knew that.]

You did everything you could.

[She hugs him with one arm tighter.]