Third Firefly - [Voice]/[Action]

[presumablyalone]

[Voice/Action]

[In the young boy's sleep, Seto tosses and turns, pressing a button on the journal so the voice turns on.  His choked sobs can be heard along with the soft rustling of blankets.  Then all goes silent...

A scream.  Not loud enough to be considered a bloody murder scream, though it obviously sounds like he's in pain or he's scared.  He

Comments

[Voice] | Can non-draftees respond if they have something to say? :|a

[semper_cogitans]

[Hello, fellow horribly-depressed-sounding person. Robert's voice is weak and broken and kind of sad.]

I-I... I was not... d-drafted myself, but...

[Softly:] M-Many of my friends, and my partner, w-were...

... My p-partner is a-alright, but... [- and here he chokes back a broken, wet sob -] ... o-one of my c-closest friends... w-was killed.

[And then he just cries a little into his hands. Probably not the best way to meet a new person, but...]

[Voice] of course :3

[presumablyalone]

[oaiwerjwa if Seto could hug you right now he so would. He's been through things like that plenty of times so he understands what this guy is going through....

There's a short silence as he bites his lip. His voice softens so it's no longer trembling] I...I'm so sorry...

[Voice] Awesome \o/

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert... might actually accept the hug at the moment. He's distressed enough to consider it, at least.]

...

I... I-I wish I... c-could have done s-something, but... [Pathetically:] I c-cannot f-fight... n-no self-respecting Terran w-would fight, and... a-and w-wars...

Th-there are not even a-any wars there... S-Sometimes I miss Terra s-so much here.

[Voice] \o\ /o/

[presumablyalone]

[Seto would hug him even if he rejected the offer. Another small silence. It's understandable why someone wouldn't want to fight, it's not something that brings pleasant memories...]

I know how you feel...It's a horrible feeling, knowing that you should have--could have done something...but always remember, your friend will always be with you.

[Voice] o/`

[semper_cogitans]

[It's more than just not wanting to fight. There's about two hundred years of anti-violence taboos talking through Robert, so much pressure not to fight that twice already he's almost died at the hands of people because he refused to defend himself. And before Luceti, he would've stood there and let other people die in front of him, too, because of that.

Now he isn't so sure.]

H-He... they come back, here. S-Somehow. It is... s-so difficult to believe, it seems irrational, but... b-but through whatever t-technology the Malnosso have, people c-can return from their d-deaths.

...

I-It does not change the fact that... that he was l-lost... and he will c-come back fundamentally d-damaged in some way, f-for awhile.

I-I... I miss him.

[Voice] \o

[presumablyalone]

[That part, Seto probably wouldn't be able to understand. He's pretty willing to fight just to save the life of a robot and even a single girl.

The Malnosso have that technology...well it makes sense, they did bring Crow back to life after all but he doesn't have any problems, that Seto is aware of at least]

I know you miss him...but just remember that he will come back! If what you say is true...that he's going to be hurt when he does come back...it's much better than not seeing him ever again.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Don't worry, Seto; it is hard to understand because it's... well, it's mostly indefensible. But Robert has an elaborate mental lattice of doublethink that keeps it entrenched... five months of Luceti has worn down at it, but the fundamental parts of it are still there, still grip him with shame and panic and self-hatred whenever he thinks about hurting somebody, even in passing, and even to protect those he loves.]

I... I know. And that... th-that keeps me... h-hopeful. As d-does the knowledge that eventually these problems can be... f-fixed.

...

I just... I have n-never lost anyone to war, before... w-wars are... non-existent on Terra, and.... [He trails off, slow and sad. Sometimes he really wishes Luceti was like Terra, and his old xenophobia rails at him all "your culture is clearly superior when it has no war" and he wants to believe it wholeheartedly.

He cups his face in his hands, and sighs.]

[Voice]

[presumablyalone]

I'm glad...It's better to look at the positive things! It makes things easier... [That's how Seto moves on with his life at least. He would probably break down if he let all of the negative things about his world get to him]

O-Oh...I'm not used to wars either...but things are so different here. It's painful to lose someone like that, but they come back eventually.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

I... w-would not generally consider myself optimistic, but... s-sometimes...

[Sometimes it's just easier to hope, even if it is illogical. And at least this time he's... reasonably certain Helios will come back.]

...

E-Everything is very different here. I... I a-am still trying to acclimatize myself, even after f-five months.

[Voice]

[presumablyalone]

Even if you're not optimistic, you have to make yourself look at the bright side! It lifts a lot of weight off your shoulders.

I see...well...if you ever need help, or need someone to talk to, you can always talk to me. Maybe I can help you feel a bit more at home! [He's determined to help this guy]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

I... I greatly a-appreciate the offer. [He really does. This person seems friendly and nice and kind of soft like he is. It's a nice change.]

... B-But, forgive me... I... h-have neglected to i-inform you of my name.

... I-I am Professor Robert Alexander Hastings.

I only w-wish that we had met under... more a-amicable circumstances.

[Voice]

[presumablyalone]

It's always open for you. [It's a natural thing for Seto, he hates to see people sad]

Oh! It's nice to meet you Professor Robert! My name is Seto. [He chuckles a little] It's okay, I just hope things turn out better for you...

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Unfortunately, he'll be seeing this one sad a lot, just because of the nature of this place - at least for the next while.]

It... it is a p-pleasure to meet you too, Seto.

... A-and I do as well. P-Perhaps, perhaps things will... i-improve, soon.

... For now, I... I s-simply hope for the best, for my friend...