ataraxionlogs | happy anniversary [open]

Entry tags:

happy anniversary [open]

CHARACTERS: Rey and YOU.
LOCATION: Various.
WARNINGS: Blood and violence for the third prompt.
SUMMARY: Rey Does Stuff: The Log. Just the kind of stuff you'd expect on your fourth year anniversary, woo.
NOTES: I've got some prompts, but if you want a super special awesome starter just for you, I can whip one up as well. Or you can. Whichever.

I. Make Your Bed The River (Outside the Tranquility, Early December)

It's strange every time Rey thinks about how she's not living alone anymore. She had only ever lived with one person on the ship, and they weren't around to make sure her head stays on straight.

She is used to living a spartan lifestyle. Having too much useless stuff was never her thing. But now that she isn't the only person living under the roof she's made out in the jungle, she figures it's worth going scavenging for extra supplies. At least in the places she can immediately access...

The Tranquility creaks and groans before her, sunk into the earth and teetering over the ledge of the cliff. She assesses the damage first before she begins climbing into the opening, leading into the medbay.

II. It's A Trap! (Jungle, Anytime)

Max may have given a public service announcement about his similar endeavor, but Rey hadn't been quite so thoughtful as to give warnings about her traps just yet. Mostly because she's still working on them. Hoping that she could catch game or, even better, whoever or whatever is out there that they haven't been introduced to yet.

Plus, she's convinced that whoever murdered that crew member the previous month was not one of their own. This much she was positive when she found the spears in the stampede not too long ago. With the masks and the storm, though, you can never be too certain.

Red X marks have been placed near her little pet projects. You can either find Rey digging a hole somewhere with a makeshift shovel she's put together, or setting up a wire trap or a tree spring noose made from things she's collected from the jungle and the ship.

Either that, or you may find yourself taking a seven foot plunge down one of those many holes she has made.

III. Oh, To Be An Animal... (Anywhere, After the 17th)

It isn't the first time Rey has encountered subjects of horrific diseases. Hell, at a few points during her tenure aboard the Tranquility, she had been a victim of some of those illnesses.

Suppose it was a matter of time before something like this would happen. After all, they're aliens to this world, introducing new bacteria and such to the wildlife. It's just a surprise that the natives have fallen prey to these mutations first.

One can either be passing by when they happen upon a tree-dome made of wood and metal overhead. There's a noise of frenzied, animalistic screeching coming from the inside. A window opens, and the corpse of one of the sickened creatures come flying out.

After a while, she has come to observe the mannerisms of these afflicted animals, watching their behaviors from a distance. You can also find her lurking among trees -- above or below -- watching one of them ripping into their own faces.

Whether one of them is attacking you, or you stumble upon her putting one of them down... Well, the timing is pretty unfortunate, either way.

The worst part is, it isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened.

She's seen something akin to this before.

And that never bodes well. For anyone.

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"And what if she can't be happy around me? I'm not--"

Before she can finish that self-deprecating sentence, she just slaps a hand over her forehead. There are a hundred reasons she could list why Faye shouldn't be happy around her, but all it would do is upset Firo. And then further prove her point.

"Just... How do you make someone happy?" Because right now, Rey feels at a loss that it'll ever be a thing.

Rey is right on the money. Firo's mouth flattens into a line, and he eyes her seriously. Though this may be a point they should address. "We already went over how she hasn't told you to buzz off, right? Not that that's always a perfect way to tell... But you could ask."

Firo's not so blind as to think that a woman would just feel safe telling someone to leave her alone. That's why he prefers to treat them like land mines and keep his distance. That's a surefire way to be respectful!

"And as for how, it depends on the person. My friend Keith'd be happy if you just left him alone to spend time with his wife Katie, but my friend Berga'd probably die if you left him alone with Kalia."

"Just because someone hasn't told you off yet doesn't mean they're going to be happy to have you around. Maybe they just feel obligated, or they're too nice. Not that she's always nice, but... It isn't like we were stuck together half of the time because she wanted to be."

But that doesn't speak for the other half in which they were together, and Faye still wasn't inclined to tell Rey to leave her alone.

She slides her hand from her forehead down her face and sighs. "Depends on the person... Now this is just confusing."

Part of him wonders if she wants this not to work out. Maybe she honestly is confused, though, so he musters more patience with a sigh. "That's why I said to ask. Find out when you can and don't be a jerk for no reason in the meantime."

Confusing? Now he's just barely holding back a chuckle. "No, it's not. Come on, you figured out the things I like, right? So just do that however you did it with her."

Things are getting serious if Firo's risking comparing himself to Rey's girlfriend.

Knowing Rey, it's probably no surprise that there is a part of her as well that just believes that there's no point in trying to make it work. The situation is already complicated enough to make her head spin.

"I'll try. I... I don't think I want to talk to her that way again, anyway." In the same way Firo saw her talk to Faye, that is -- and being a jerk about it.

She blinks at him.

"That's because we live together, though. We practically see each other every day." She cants her head, not quite adding up that that's exactly how this whole social thing works. She's slow at these things, okay?

Firmly, "Good. That's a start, because nobody's gonna like bein' talked to that way."

Rey'll always come first in his heart before this other lady--she's his friend, and an incredibly close one--but that doesn't mean he can't admit when a friend is wrong. The fact that they won't have to argue over the nice way to talk to your crush means they're headed in the right direction.

He raises an eyebrow. "So before we lived together, you wouldn't be able to tell anybody what I liked?"

Just remembering Faye's response to her harsh words at the time, even Rey can tell that she didn't like being talked to that way. Not that that was a major priority at the time. Pushing her away was. But, at the end of the day, that wasn't what Rey wanted for her. She didn't really want to hurt Faye any more than she already had. She understands this a little better now than she did the day before that.

At Firo's question, Rey just purses her lips and shrugs a shoulder. "I'm not sure... Maybe. I knew you liked to spar, and you're good at playing cards. Also drinking..."

God, she misses the space booze. She could really use the whiskey right now.

Edited 2016-02-08 07:11 (UTC)

"See? You still knew stuff about me. It's just the same with her." And, of course, there is the option once again of just asking.

"If she was here right now, what would you ask her to do if you wanted to... uh, hang out or something?"

Good point, Firo, good point.

Rey bites her lower lip as she tries to think, glancing away for a moment.

"I don't know. It isn't like there's much to do like there used to be." Except that there sort of is and she hadn't really thought much about it. Sorry.

Firo stares at her as if the fire in his eyes could bore holes into her head. "Are you just tryin' to make this harder than it has to be?" He was not made for this kind of thing. "Okay, fine. What would you do if you were back home when things weren't completely crazy?"

He's sure if he didn't add that last part that Rey would stubbornly insist that they couldn't do anything due to Faye being dragged away or something. He's learning your ways, buddy.

In a way, Rey is stalling, because she really doesn't know how to answer Firo's question right away. She just scoffs at his first comment, realizing that, yes, part of her is intentionally making this more difficult than needs be. What of it?

But then she puts some actual thought in the query, and in her reply. "If things weren't crazy...?" It almost seems to be an impossible prospect, really. She crosses one hand, fingers clasping over her other arm as she mulls this one over. "I don't know. I think I'd just like to do something normal for once, like the way things almost were in Chicago, just... without the being totally insane part."

Having her faculties in check would certainly be a plus, yes.

"Just do something to help get to know her more. Like going to a restaurant or something, perhaps."

Being not insane is pretty sweet. With someone else, Firo might assume that there was an element of a joke in there, but he knows that’s not the case with her. It’s something of a saddening reminder of the parts of the past that may still be hanging over her.

But maybe there's a grain of promise in that statement… if Rey’s saying that Faye was with her then and stayed with her, could that say something encouraging about the woman? If she’d been the type to abandon Rey in a rough time, she wouldn’t be worthy.

He smiles; he knew you were smart, Rey. “That sounds perfect. See? You can do this.”

Provided that she does get to see Faye again.

Shit. Faye hadn't been the type to abandon Rey back when she had been a total stranger and had nothing to gain by doing so, if that speaks for the sort of person Faye Elms is. Rey never fully appreciated that fact because she was empty back then; caring very little for her own self as well as others.

Attempting to return Firo's smile, Rey just leans back. "So... You think there's still hope for me yet?"

Did I pass? is almost what her tones imply, like this was supposed to be some test.

"What do you think?" He would consider fooling around and answering sarcastically, but no. This is too important and that'd be too cruel. Instead, he grins and shoves at her shoulder. "Of course there is. You're gonna be fine, Rey, so long as you remember to treat her right."

He pulls back, "And so long as she treats you right."

These things should be a no brainer. But when you're someone who's spent most of your life with people treating you like shit, you tend to forget about the latter part of what Firo just said.

"Thanks for the advice." She's just going to return that shove by mussing up his hair a little with her two-fingered hand.

Becoming accustomed to a thing like that isn't something that can be healed or undone easily. Maybe it can't be done at all. But that won't stop Firo from trying for the rest of their time together. She may not be worth much to other people, but she's worth more than a king's ransom to him.

"Come on, what're friends for? You need somebody to teach you this stuff."

He looks up from the hair ruffling, still smiling but more serious now. "...Not that I really had to teach. You knew it already."

As far as Rey knows, there are only so few people in her life who would ever bother putting up with her in this way. Firo, she is grateful to say, happens to be one of them.

Her gaze flicks away for a moment before returning to meet Firo's. "Yes, well... Sometimes I need to have it spelled out for me." Rey is no idiot by any means. But when it comes to these things, there are some norms that just fly right over her head.

Shoulders curling inward, a small smile creeps across her lips.

"Have I ever told you that I don't know where I'd be without you?" She almost laughs.

Rey needing things spelled out? That much he’s noticed. He’s about to give that joking, sarcastic response when she continues on with something that deserves some more gravitas. He blushes a little even as he tries to shake his head and wave it off.

“Hey, you’ve helped me out plenty of times. I could say the same thing to you.”

Grateful that Firo doesn't just default to joking around in a serious moment such as this, she smiles.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that's what family does." Rey gives him a playful nudge. "At least, they're supposed to, I think."

She knows that's what her brother did, but it'll never feel like she's done enough for him.

The fact that he isn't trying to joke this away completely is at least partially due to Rey. She's convinced him that there is a need to talk about these things sometimes.

Is that an invitation for a lecture on Firo's favorite topic? No? Too bad. Firo bats her arm in return. Despite the playful gesture, his face is completely serious. "They are supposed to. That's what makes it family--you look out for each other and help each other out when you need it. Somebody who wouldn't do that doesn't deserve to be considered your family at all."

Well, she didn't expect Firo to get so serious all of a sudden, but she'll roll with it.

"Of course." Despite the subject matter, Rey smiles at his response. "That's why I consider my brother to be my brother, even if we're not quite the same... He's always been good to me, though I haven't always been good myself. I think you'd like him a lot."

At least Rey has one decent thing going for her in her world.

His grin broadens to be reminded that she has someone like that. Sometimes he wonders how things will be if they ever do get home... and hopefully with that guy, they'll be okay for Rey. "I think I would too. He sounds like a pretty great guy."

The kind of person Rey needs to be around her.

"He is."

Rey smiles, as she reaches forward to take his hand. For reasons she can't blame him for, she knows that Firo is never one to initiate contact. "So are you."

For her, he'll give up that hand without a fight, though he can't help his face coloring just a little. "Y-you don't need to say things like that."

It's surprising to have the compliment turned back on him, and he's not sure how deserved it is.

"Yes, I do." She gives his hand a gentle squeeze. "You've never given up on me even when things get hard. A moment ago you could've gotten angry with me over what you saw, but instead you wanted to help. I'll never forget that."

In some ways Firo does remind Rey a little of her brother. She may not be the most fun person to be around sometimes, but neither of them ever considered the possibility of abandoning her. It's a gesture she wouldn't know what to do with, but now the most she can do is reel her friend in to embrace him with her other arm.

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foundafamily - 2016-02-29 05:10 (UTC) - Expand

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