Die Another Day [Post-Death Open Post + some closed]

[be_seeing_you]

Who: Number 6 & YOU
What: Waking up from death after a sliiiight miscalculation
Where: Cabin 113 + Other places around the ship, just going about his day like nothing happened
When: The day after the beach party
Warnings: discussion and depictions of death, trauma, grief



That was unpleasant.

Pain is the last thing he remembers. Pain, and the distant sounds of screams. One of the voices may have been his. The black abyss they'd tipped into was akin to being swallowed whole in a nightmare. Fittingly, when you die in a nightmare you wake up. So too, does Number 6 awaken again at exactly 6:00 am the next morning, safe in bed. But not safe from the memory of the black and the way it scraped at his mind like a dull cheese grater.

He lies there a moment reorienting himself. Above him, the sight of his familiar cabin roof is both sickening and a comfort. He's alive. He's... unharmed? Why does that fact make him furious? He'd hoped, foolishly, that if he did meet death out there on the water it would be the kind that lasts. It would free him from the fate of being tied forever to the Eterna. No such luck. But if he's here then... Arthur! And young Steve! They must be just waking up as well.

There's no time to wallow in his failure. If he must continue to live here, then he may as well get on with it. He should go see how his fellows are doing. He thought he saw a group of people lingering on the beach after the last call went out. Were they planning their own escape, or was there something else going on? The only way to find out is to get out of here and go see for himself.

Number 6 can be found all around the ship, going about his day like he didn't just fall off the edge of the map like a chump. And, no, he really doesn't want to talk about it, thanks very much. (So definitely bring it up to him, wink.) He kicks off this brand new day with his usual routine of training on the sport's deck. Does he seem like he's hitting that punching bag just a little harder than is necessary?

After training and then a long shower, he'll go down to Sand Dollars to order himself a coffee (yes, you heard that right) and a cake. Today, apparently, he's making an exception about his no sugar rule. He'll stay there for an hour, reading a book with an aura radiating off him that threatens violence to anyone that approaches. (But when has anyone let that stop them?)

Full of caffeine and sugar, he'll spend the next part of the day pacing the decks and the promenade, feeling the need to just move and keep moving. During that time, he will realize with dismay that he knows neither Arthur nor Steve's cabin numbers, so he will either have to ask someone else or wait to find them on his own. Mostly, he's choosing the latter.

He finished the book Clara gave him this morning over his coffee, so once the pacing gets too tiring, he tries popping back into the library to find something else. All he ends up doing is staring at the titles without hardly reading them. He's not really in the mood.

Eventually, he will drag himself to the Windjammer for an evening meal. And sit alone. As one does when trying to avoid talking to anyone about their first death experience. He's got himself an entire plate of bangers and mash but he's mostly just pushing it around his plate. He just keeps seeing the black. Over and over. How is he going to sleep tonight? He supposes he will cross that bridge when he comes to it. Which won't be until well after midnight this time. He's got some more pacing on the deck to do first.

But he's fine. Really. He's fine. There's no need for anyone to talk to him about this. Ever.

Comments

[be_seeing_you]

[He pauses after his last punch. A grin turns up the corner of his lip, but it's not a friendly expression. It's a slightly deranged one.]

On the contrary, I slept like the dead last night.

[goodweather]

[ Having seen the raft in passing, but not what happened to it nor why they were boarding, Phil has no reason to automatically assume that 6 Straight Up Died and is being sardonic about it. Instead he takes it as bitter sarcasm--which is something he's very, very familiar with, and so it does nothing to deter him. ]

Drinking game get to you? [ he asks as he takes a drink from his water. Phil doubts it, but it's an avenue for Six to explain himself. ]

[be_seeing_you]

[In fairness to Phil, nearly half of all Number 6 says is in bitter sarcasm, so he's not far off.]

I may have let myself get riled by a few of the rowdier teens.

[By "may have" he means definitely. He shouted and stomped off after they all laid into him about not looking his age. However, most of the steam had already blown over on that.]

I'm sure they are all enjoying their hangovers this morning. I was lucky to avoid that fate for myself.

[But that doesn't explain the state of him this morning either. Not exactly.]

[goodweather]

[ Oh, Six was that guy, huh. Hrrrm. Phil hates prying. He also loves getting to know what other people's deals are. ]

Must've been pretty bad if you're still miffed about it the next morning.

[be_seeing_you]

My temper is quick. But I do know they meant it in good humor.

[A long sigh seeps out through his nose.]

No, it isn't really about that.

[Even so, he isn't sure how ready he is to explain the real reason to a near-perfect stranger.]

I don't believe I know your name?

[goodweather]

[ Ahh, there it is. ]

Phil Connors. [ He holds out a hand to shake. He’s practiced in the way of the firm business grip. ]

Well, I’m not gonna make you start offloading on a stranger unless you want to. You looked like you could use a distraction or something though.

[be_seeing_you]

[Number 6 accepts the handshake, matching the grip with practiced ease.]

Peter Smith. I'm a private individual. [Who doesn't want to admit how embarrassing last night was all-around.]

What kind of distraction did you have in mind?

[goodweather]

Anything that isn't wringing yourself out when you're already as exhausted as you look. [ Really, now. They're on vacation. ]

You don't exactly strike me as one for the arcade. What is it that you do with your time?

[be_seeing_you]

[It might be telling, how long it takes Number 6 to think of an answer to this question. What does he do? He trains. He paces. He stops for tea. He sometimes reads. Sometimes has a drink before bed. He leads a very boring life here in comparison to his life as a spy.]

I seem to be lacking in social hobbies that don't involve some form of physical exertion. What is it that you tend to do?

[goodweather]

Social hobbies? Well.

[ He thinks for a bit. ] I'm admittedly pretty limited by what's on the ship. It's all shops and restaurants out here. But... I give out music lessons. I pull out card games. And I... do whatever want, I guess. Mini ice sculptures, painting with coffee, some makeup brushes, and a toothbrush. I usually have to get creative.

[be_seeing_you]

I'm more an enjoyer of music than a player of it, myself, but I do happen to like drawing. I do decent portraiture. I procured some pads of stationary to sketch with recently.

[goodweather]

Oh, really?

[ Equal parts inquiry and challenge. Phil stands, stretching as he does. ]

I never did get the hang of portraits. Mostly a lot of trees and buildings. I’ll never say no to learning something new, though.

[be_seeing_you]

I have been seriously considering offering lessons of some form. I cannot vouch for what sort of teacher I could be, but if you are willing to chance it, I could be persuaded.

Perhaps a trade? You could help me brush up on my music?

[goodweather]

[ Phil offers an amiable shrug. ] Hey, we've got all the time to spare, right? I don't see why not.

But I would need to grab my books. And you've probably got to go get whatever tools you use. How about we get outta here, get what we need, and meet somewhere, what do you think about that?

good place to start to wrap i think

[be_seeing_you]

That sounds like a reasonable plan. Shall we meet in the piano bar?

[goodweather]

Sounds good to me. [ Phil stands, grabbing for the water bottle he'd brought. ] I'll see you in fifteen? Unless you need more time.

and FTB

[be_seeing_you]

No. That should be plenty. Be seeing you.