fonomena: DNS; coloring commissioned from <user name=doomherald>! (ok back to being serious now)
Jade Curtiss ([personal profile] fonomena) wrote in [community profile] come_sailaway2024-01-14 01:05 pm

iron bridges, melodic chimes; things i made for you back then

Who: Jade Curtiss & you
What: You ever wake up from a nap so long and ill-advised that now it's four months later and everything's been on fire and the apocalypse apparently may or may not be incoming--
When: Latter half of January, we're wobbling timelines as much as we like for this one folks
Where: Cabin 133 --> Cabin 109, various locales of the ship afterwards
Warnings: Potential high volume of gross feelings and unexpected hugs from unexpected places, also mad teenaged punching probably, but otherwise uuh probably nothing terrible??


(closed to steve & natsuno); folding chairs and building blocks
[For the first thirty seconds or so, Jade doesn't notice anything amiss. This is on account of not actually opening his eyes, and not actually thinking about anything, for the duration of those thirty seconds. It's quite nice.

The perpetual rock of the ship still sways, as it always has. All is quiet, as this hour of morning always is. This has been...a rather deep and dreamless sleep, which does happen for him on occasion, though it's a rarity. The couch-bed is oddly quite comfortable for once, as well. All told, this might just be the best night's rest he's had in possibly years--

And then he opens his eyes, and turns his head, and the serenity promptly evaporates.

(Gets up from an--actual bed, which is ostensibly Natsuno's bed. The rest of the room--all articles of furniture technically where they should be, yet there's a clean and distinct emptiness, more akin to inn quarters freshly turned over by housekeeping than a place two people have lived in for well over a year. Nothing in desk drawers, or the wardrobe. And all that before stepping out the cabin door, and into...a portion of the residential hall that's far further along than it ought to be. "133", reads the placard on the wall...?)

It's more an automatic impulse than practical sense that leads Jade's highly disoriented self down the hall to cabin 109. Are there...singe marks, on some of the walls? A scattering of debris even here, that he's rather certain hadn't been here yesterday? Later, worry about it later, whatever has transpired overnight. First things first. He reaches for the handle and the lock...does not budge. So.

Jade knocks crisply on 109's door instead, frowning slightly and arms folded expectantly. Surely not a particularly alarming sort of person to find on your doorstep at just a few minutes past six in the morning: a tall man in some sort of teal military uniform, unnaturally red eyes peering critically behind a pair of glasses, when the person on the other side of the door is revealed to be...hmm.]


...Well now, you're certainly not Yuuki. [It's not meant to be accusatory, at least?! ...Well, alright, it might be a little accusatory. Sorry Steve--]

(open i); magic mirrors to pretend
[The rest of the day progresses along, of course, as days tend to do. At some point Jade manages to make it out of the cabin hall (if not probably without sustaining a good punch or two from potentially multiple emotionally compromised teenaged youths in the process), but his feet take him around on something like autopilot while the rest of his thoughts still reel from the inevitable news reunion brings. Months, several months of absence. All while events continued transpiring, the situation upon the ship slowly but surely unraveling ever further out of hand, and now...

It really is as if some sort of disaster has swept its way through the majority of the public areas, residue from the chaos of the "launch" yet to be entirely cleared. Jade wanders from the atrium to sundries, the dining room and the library, the sprawling mess of the promenade and all the way up to the sports deck, a rough mimic of the route he'd always take in semi-daily walks of the ship to canvass its status in the past. The strangest part, of all this, is how it still feels as if he'd taken such a walk just the other day...and yet.

...Lingering overly long upon it only makes it increasingly, stiflingly disquieting. As his wandering progresses, Jade is increasingly wearing an air of searching for something, though it's difficult to divine exactly what that might be from a distance. In the interim, he can be accosted just about anyplace: perhaps squinting at the new shirts in the Bric-a-Brac, or opening the door to the Tommy Bahama and nearly tripping over the small wave of hot dogs that pour through it (???????), or peering pensively at the single lonely signpost holding sentinel between the pool bar and the adult pool. "The signs have been hidden. If anything comes here, it’s better that we tell it where we come from or where we want to go on our own terms..."

It really does seem that he's been returned none too soon. But whether it's entirely too late...well. Perhaps there's no point in fretting over that now.

Perhaps...]


(open ii); seismographic data in our hearts
[In the end, it's the memorial that finally makes it feel truly and unnervingly tangible.

He almost misses it in weaving carefully around the other various keepsakes left here, yet in the end it's the ridiculous rappig-shaped sticker affixing it to the little display that catches the corner of Jade's eye and holds it. Recognition sinks in as he approaches, the shape of the notebook paper, the densely narrow handwriting that's his own. Then, legible as he draws to a halt in front of it...the actual contents of the words. A partial argument proposal draft, started long ago, never finished. "On the societal integration of living replicas..."

The one good deed he hoped he'd ever accomplish. It had felt pointless to complete the draft, upon learning that this existence was likely simply an offshoot of the man still undoubtedly pursuing this cause back in the world of Auldrant. That other Jade who would certainly, ideally, strive to remedy the plight of replicas in his own stead. Yet still, someone looked at this paper here and now, and decided it was still a cause that could represent his memory--even here.

...Ah. Perhaps this is how it must feel, then, to stand before a grave with a heart that isn't numb. What a chilly and sinking sort of sensation. Or is this just a particularly unique sort of experience one gets, when visiting the metaphorical coffin you've all but literally been buried in?

Jade stands and stares at the paper for far too long, and even when he does reach out eventually, fingertips only pinch at a corner and do not pull--uncertain whether it'd be better to take it back, or leave it here.]


(wildcard); let's invent them all again
[Feel free to bring a prompt of your own if none of the above quite fit! πŸŽ‰ Jade can be found pretty much anywhere on the ship rn so, go wild go crazy]
inhairently: (lorem ipsum (16))

[personal profile] inhairently 2024-01-27 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
( steve stares down at the foot blocking the door and can't help but wonder what he ever did to land in a place like this, where so many people seem determined to be as annoying as humanly possible. he's barely listening to what this guy is saying, but the "not an early riser" bit gets his attention. like yeah it's true but something about the way he says it ruffles steve's feathers (it has nothing to do with the fact that he's sleepy cranky precisely because he's not an early riser ok). his gaze snaps back up to jade's face and he opens his mouth to argue β€”

β€” but the guy's still talking. steve huffs and runs a hand through his sleep-mussed hair instead.

but something else he says gets steve's attention now, and not in the "i'm going to argue with you until i'm blue in the face" way, but more of an "oh damn this is something significant" way.

his grumpy expression melts away into a thoughtful sort of surprise.
)

Holy shit. You're...

( what was his name again? )

...That guy. The- the guy. The one who used to live here.

( how does he put this kindly )

I'm pretty sure you disappeared, dude. I'm talking a while ago.
neverleave: (eh?)

1/2

[personal profile] neverleave 2024-01-27 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Natsuno Yuuki is still here. In fact, he's returning to the cabin after a night of doing nothing in particular. He played some mindless game in the arcade, chased down a library book until he managed to wipe off the blood sigil that gave it legs, then spent the rest of the night on the pool deck. He stared at the sky and the fake stars, wondering where the probe was now. Was someone coming their way at those very moments?

The crack of fake dawn is his cue to head back to 109. Maybe he should do his laundry, or take an unnecessary nap before he starts the same dull routine all over again. Passing time, waiting for the other show to drop, the next disaster to strike.

He can hear familiar voices down the corridor, and looks like there's someone at 109's door. For Steve? That's weird, he never wakes up this... early...

Natsuno stops in his tracks, staring at the figure by the door. Crisp blue uniform, shiny long hair, a sardonic lilt that's both unmistakable and so, so annoying.

He doesn't know how long he stands there - probably mere moments, though it feels much longer. Natsuno doesn't even realize he's moving again until he's right next to - ]


Jade?

[Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. Disappeared passengers were trickling back over those last few months. Steve was one of them. So there's really no reason to be surprised - or is he surprised? Natsuno can't quite figure out the sudden surge of emotion. Actually it's emotions, in plural, but it really is a bit too much right now so he'll have to settle on one - ]
neverleave: (really hate your guts)

[personal profile] neverleave 2024-01-27 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You asshole.

[Yeah, let's go with anger.

Natsuno's hands connect with Jade's upper arms, and for one terrifying moment it feels like the prelude for a hug. It's only a moment though, so brief you can comfortably ignore it later and Natsuno will deny anything if it's ever brought up. A moment - and then he shoves Jade forcefully, right into 109. Hope he doesn't stumble on Steve on his way!]


You absolute asshole - !

[And here he comes, fists clenched, to punch Jade in the shoulder. Try not to get blindsided, because Natsuno's high beams are back on. It's been a while since he lost control of his sun magic like this, he must be rather upset...]
inhairently: (lorem ipsum (232))

[personal profile] inhairently 2024-01-28 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
Hey! Watch it! Whoa whoa whoa!

( Steve shouts as Jade is abruptly pushed into him. He staggers back, completely caught off guard, and instinctively reaches for anything to catch his balance. Unfortunately Jade is also the only thing within arm's reach so Steve grabs at his jacket, potentially pulling them both down onto the floor in the process. )
neverleave: (get out of here)

[personal profile] neverleave 2024-01-28 09:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Hold on, Jade says, and it makes Natsuno want to punch him even harder. Why the hell should he get a moment when Natsuno never did? There was no warning, no premonition - Jade was there, and then he wasn't. Now he thinks he can just stand there with that infuriating smirk of his and be calmy explained to? Fuck this.

But then Jade offers to help Steve up, and Natsuno realizes that oh, this guy's still here and it gives him just enough of a pause to pull himself back together. Natsuno forces himself to school his expression back into his usual stoic mask.]


Four months.

[Good, his voice sounds normal enough. The white glow in his eyes dims slowly into red rings around the irises - that burning sensation was definitely the sun El and not something awful and embarrassing like tears.]

I gave your stuff away.

[I thought you were dead for good. You JERK.]
inhairently: (lorem ipsum (257))

[personal profile] inhairently 2024-01-30 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
( Shit, this is awkward.

Steve accepts the helping hand with gritted teeth, scowling in the way only someone who's been woken up before their alarm and thrust into an undesirable social situation (oh yeah and also pushed onto the floor) can. His eyes dart between Natsuno and Jade as he stands there, momentarily unsure of what he should do.

Say something? Stay quiet? Uhhhh

He finally slips over to the closet to gather an outfit for the day.
)

Don't mind me. I'll just be, uh. Yeah, ( he mumbles with a nod towards the bathroom. He slips inside and latches the door behind him, fully planning on taking the world's longest shower β€” at least until he hears at least one of these dudes leave. )
neverleave: (facepalm)

[personal profile] neverleave 2024-01-30 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's vaguely aware that Steve retreated into the bathroom and turned the water on. Yeah, that was supremely awkward and he should probably pretend it never happened the next time he sees his new roommate...

The expression settling on Jade's face is... well, it's something. Looking at it makes the knot in his chest even tighter, so Natsuno turns to exit the cabin.

When he speaks, his voice is flat, the bitterness almost imperceptible. Almost.]


I'm still here. Like always.

[Always the one who survives, who keeps coming back while watching everyone else die. Jade exits the cabin, and Natsuno keeps listing facts in clipped, flat sentences. If Jade wants to catch up, he should keep up -

Huh. He's extremely angry, isn't he.]


Clarke's gone too. Disappeared a few days after you did. But Rita's still here. We went on an excursion, and it sucked.

[Natsuno used to be adamantly against it, but both he and Rita felt like they should do it, at least once. They had to keep the ship going, at least until Tayrey could launch her probe. Both he and Rita thought, if we signed up earlier, maybe the ship would've had enough energy to keep Clarke and Jade around.

The memory burns hot in Natsuno's chest and he grunts in frustration.]


We thought you were gone -

[Here comes that second punch, to the other shoulder this time. It's less forceful than before, more to punctuate the words than anything.]

For good.
Edited (changed my mind, punch first and plot later) 2024-01-30 21:45 (UTC)
neverleave: (pensive)

[personal profile] neverleave 2024-02-08 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Likewise, Natsuno wants to punch Jade again so he wouldn't have to deal with those faces he keeps making, but he knows it won't help. There's no satisfaction in lashing out, no vindication in seeing Jade struggle to fully grasp the situation.

It takes an active effort to shove his hands in his pockets, where he twists the fabric between clenched fists.]


I don't need an apology.

[I needed you to stay. But - he's being childish and unfair. The words come out too sharp. Natsuno tries again.]

I mean, there's nothing to apologize for. I know it's not your fault you disappeared. [Quietly:] It's better that you don't remember it, anyway. The nothing. I'm just -

I'm glad. That you're back.
neverleave: (meh)

[personal profile] neverleave 2024-02-21 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[I don't intend to now either. While I am still here...

His rational mind knows this is an empty promise, as childish as his anger at Jade for disappearing. None of them has control of their existence on the Eterna, not even the captain. And yet the words are like a salve, because unlike Jade, Natsuno never had an issue understanding his feelings. He may not know how to handle them, may intentionally push them away, but he's honest with himself about what they are.

The truth is that he missed Jade terribly, and he feels less lost now that he's back.

The other truth is that he wouldn't mind if that hand made contact, but... well, best to move on from that, for both their sakes. Jade is still clearly at a loss, but four months of absence are a lot to take it. Natsuno pulls himself together.]


You probably want coffee, right? [Since it's early morning and all. Plus it's an excuse to leave this corridor.] And catch up on what you missed.

[Relaying information was always easier than dealing with awkward feelings. Natsuno turns and heads to the elevator, offering bits on information along the way.]

We stopped getting new people for a while now. But some of the disappeared came back, like you did. My new roommate's one of them, too...

[Ping! Sand dollars it is.]

The biggest news is that Lieutenant Tayrey managed to send a distress call beyond the barrier.