Another fine day (Open--can do gathering if desired, tag Desire?)

[faramir_hurin]

The autumn continues here in the village, coming earlier than it would in Minas Tirith but... about the same as north Ithilien. I have a number of things keeping me busy* but still have enough time to read and enjoy the weather outside. Sometimes I do both of those at once, but today I'm just out

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Couldn't help myself.

[onewho_willbe]

John had mostly recovered from his injuries. He'd cracked two ribs in the struggle at Z'ha'dum, and still had obvious bruises on his face, but the chance to sample honest to god fresh air, instead of recycled air for the first time in five years was too good to miss.

He was out, walking through the streets, trying to figure out who ran this place, what kind of people were there, and why he was there. He'd fallen back on the uniform which Delenn had gifted all the command staff after Babylon 5 broke away from Earth. It was something to remind him of the place he called home, of her. He saw the other man out and smiled at him as he slowly walked through the village, looking at the plants he'd gathered. "Excuse me?" he asked politely, pointing at one of the plants. "If you don't mind me asking, what's that?"

[onewho_willbe]

"They stow away in food shipments, and creep on board," John said, shrugging. "No matter how much we try to stop them, they always manage to evade us."

John nodded. "The changes from this time to where I'm from is immense. It's difficult rethinking how to do things without most of the technology I'm used to."

John nodded. Right now it was a break for him, and given what he'd been through, God knows he needed it. "Oh I'm sure there will be a place for everyone. It's just a case of finding it."

He thought for a moment. "I think I saw it. I have walked around the village, trying to get my bearings." It's something he always did wherever he was, find out as much of where everything was so he knew.

[faramir_hurin]

"And rats have no technology at all. I wouldn't have thought they'd be able." Perhaps they have space-ship cats in the future.

"All of this has been new to me. It's an adjustment learning the new things. And learning to do things if you have more technology to less, because that was always taken care of before." Like how most of the people on the island could not get their own food. Markets always provided it for them.

"Compared with your station, this place is very small. When I say it's on the far side of the village, that just means it's right over there--to you." Just to remind him, not that he could not walk the whole village quickly and get there or ask at the hotel desk. Perhaps he wishes to go right now. I can 'shut up' as they say.

[onewho_willbe]

"Where there is an easy source of food, that's where they are. You don't need technology for that," John pointed out.

"Well as long as I don't have to cook," John said with a small laugh. "I've been told I can't cook well." Anna always said it, and he knew Delenn was hiding how much she didn't like it when he cooked for her.

He glanced around. "I'll get used to it," he said. "At least there is fresh air here." He was fine waiting, finding out more about life here.

[faramir_hurin]

"I'm not a very good cook, in my own opinion, but I'm getting much better at it. All rangers know how but I know I'm better than the rest after having done it so much here." I smile. "I'd have to assign myself that detail, if I wasn't captain."

Then again, I haven't been cooking over a fire here. I learned that way, but I've only 'cooked out' a little bit.

"The fresh air is something I'm accustomed to. It seems so strange that people aren't." I remember Richard. "My friend from space ships was always so pleased to eat fresh food and have clean air. It's like how much I'll miss the hot water when I go home. That's a technology I very much wish we had."

[onewho_willbe]

"Yeah, if the opinion of my... friend is to be taken into account, I'm a lousy cook," John said, nodding in agreement.

He shook his head. "Well, if I'd gone home when I could, I would have, but my job got too busy, and never had the chance. And actually, not everyone has hot water showers on a spaceship or space station. Water is too precious a commodity to be wasted like that." It was generally command staff, and ambassadorial rank. The rest got to use sonic wave showers, or other such facilities.

[faramir_hurin]

I'm not certain of the hesitation on the word friend. Either not a friend or more than, I cannot say which.

"Duty has a way of keeping us from where we would rather be." But we do as we must.

"We don't have the technology to have hot water, so it's not a matter of it being too precious. I will miss it very much." I wonder what the rest do if they cannot wash with water. Richard spoke so little of space travel. "Some things to remain the same--the need for water. And duty."

I smile at John.

"The little things like that remind me that we really are not all that different."

[onewho_willbe]

Oh Delenn was definitely more than friend, but John wasn't quite ready to admit that in public, though most people could probably guess.

"Yeah, well my duty... I'm not sure what it is now." After all, by rights John should be dead. He wasn't entirely sure he wasn't right now.

"The need for water has caused wars," he said, nodding. "It will never change."

He laughed. "Some would argue that underneath it all we are all the similar, but I know what you mean."

[faramir_hurin]

"Here in the village, do you mean?" Our duty here isn't as clear as at home. "I have taken it as a chance to learn all I can, including things that will help when I return home. But the sense of urgency is not so great as when I have to fight every day."

I just keep the training up so that I can fight when I get home.

"Some are quite different, but we have basically been able to get along here. We're brought in the same and I think most realise that fighting amongst ourselves won't bother the village at all." Or whoever is behind it.

[onewho_willbe]

"In part. There are other factors at stake though," John said. Mainly the fact that he was dead back home. There was no way he could have survived the two mile fall he'd just undertaken. "It will be interesting seeing what I can learn here."

"I'd rather not fight amongst ourselves. We're in the middle of a major war back home, and a break from it, although worrying, might be needed."

[faramir_hurin]

"There is so much to learn, even for people who know the basic technologies new to me. People are from many places and times, with so many ways to look at things." It still amazes me. "It can overwhelm at first, though less so for you because electricity isn't new. For those of us from simpler times it can be harder

[onewho_willbe]

"I seem to be from further in the future than most people," John said, shrugging slightly. "My views are likely to be totally different to everyone else."

He nodded. "Yes, it will. It's already difficult. Just the little basics," he said. "There's a lot I take for granted."

"I don't know what will happen if... when I go back," John said. Would he go back to die? it wasn't the most pleasant thought.

[faramir_hurin]

"I am from a time more likened to the past and a different world entirely--my views can be very different." The island was much worse. "People here do understand, most of them, and are usually willing to listen even though you are different."

What he's said and how he's said it makes me a little more understanding.

"I was in another pocket world before I was here and there were many more people who didn't understand or care. I had to be the one to chance, to adapt to their ideals." I'm shaking my head. "This place is better and I am very pleased to be here even though..."

A deep breath helps.

"I had to die there to come here. It seems from your words that you may be returning home to die, or have you died already there?" I ask quietly and politely. "My brother was dead at home. He moved along to another world when he left the village--another planet, with someone we met here and became as family to us."

It is not the end.