revivalproject | Hot Summer Days and Karaoke Nights

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Hot Summer Days and Karaoke Nights

WHO: Cayde-6 probably and you
WHERE: The Deep End
WHAT: Absolutely nothing
WHEN: Through this month
WARNINGS: N/A

I. BYOB

Things have been slow and quiet, both things of which Cayde never trusts, especially around a place like this. Naturally it leaves a Hunter bored, but when there's nothing to be found or done around the city and even less beyond, it's almost enough to make him desperate to do even paperwork.

Almost. He's not that desperate.

At least the temperatures don't bother him, but he knows the heat makes things miserable for a lot of people. The lights are always low in the bar, the water out the window at least keeping it from being too warm since the light's got a whole lot of gallons to filter through.

Cayde doesn't spend too much time behind the bar counter, so it'd be easy to think the bar's empty as it more often than not is. The Exo himself has parked himself at the table nearest the bar however, over by the window. Sometimes he'll be shuffling cards, or he'll be balancing them in a precarious cardhouse with Colonel settled in the opposite chair if she's not roaming the bar floor for inspections.

He looks up when he does find himself with company other than a chicken, flashing a grin. "Hey, you busy?" This may not be the Tower but he's not beyond handing out a quest or two if someone's just as bored as he is. Although it probably isn't much of a quest so much as it is an errand.

II. Music Makes the People Come Together. Yeah.

There's an off chance one might come across the Hunter in the opposite corner of the bar, feet propped up on a chair as he idly strums the guitar Tony had made him what seems like ages ago. It's been more of a communal sort of instrument by now. Cayde's at least managed to learn a few chords enough to play a song or two, which is enough for him to add to the subtle western vibe he tries to evoke now and then.

He's better with a harmonica, although it's anyone's guess as to where he gets the breath for it, much less manages a tune with no lips.

"Oh, didn't know I had an audience. What's with the face?" He smiles crookedly. "Thing's all set if you have something else in mind," he says, nodding towards the karaoke machine.

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Fifty-two card pick-up isn't his favorite game, but twenty-something card pick-up is at least a little better. Cayde gives another shrug before he starts gathering them up again, first the ones on the table and then the ones that had fallen to the floor.

"Things don't end after big changes. Still matters what you do afterwards."

Knuckles helps with picking up the fallen cards, looking deep in thought as he looks at one without really seeing it.

Coming here was a big change. He'd kept trying to go on as he always had, keeping to himself unless others needed help. Losing Sonic was a big change. Now he's trying to integrate more into the team, for whatever reason.

"Yeah," he says gruffly, setting the cards back with the others. "You're right, it does."

The Exo murmurs a thanks as he collects them, gathering them all together and setting the stack on the table.

"Anyway, it's all about attitude. Has quite the effect on things. I know things may not be all that great, but looking at anything with a hopeless sort of perspective just makes it seem a whole lot worse, you know?"

"Sometimes it seems like the realistic way to look at things," Knuckles says. "But I understand what you're saying. We wouldn't have beat the Meterex if we'd just felt there was no hope."

"See? You know what I mean. It's easy to just not realize or think about it at the time," Cayde says. "But you know what they say, hindsight is twenty-twenty or something."

"Yeah." Knuckles can think of a lot of things he would have liked to do differently. Maybe even to have not been as antisocial while Sonic was here.

"... Do you know how often people end up back here again when they've left?"

The Exo gives a headshake as he idly picks his cards up to shuffle between his hands.

"Nope! Odds for repeat arrivals are pretty slim. Not impossible, but I think I can count the times its happened on one hand, if even that."

"Well, that figures," Knuckles grunts. "I wonder why it happens at all."

"That's like asking why any of us get chosen once," Cayde says, amused.

Knuckles rolls his eyes. "I've wondered that too. Is it really completely random like they say?"

"I think that applies under my previous point," the Hunter notes, cards seeming to fly between his hands as he brought them apart in his continued shuffle.

Knuckles sighs in frustration. "It feels so pointless in that case, like no one's being brought here for what they can actually contribute."

Can he really contribute anything? He doesn't feel like he has so far.

"That what you think? Because I'd personally take offense to that," Cayde replies, his tone still light for the most part, at odds with his words.

Knuckles grunts. "How else can you explain it if it's really random who ends up here? Unless maybe they have a computer that at least sorts through a list of values or personality traits they want the people to have and then it looks for people who match those...."

"I don't have the answers, kid. All we know is they expect whoever they drop into this town to be some idea of a hero. But the way you worded it just sounds like you don't think anyone here has any worth that would help things out here."

Knuckles flushes. Screwed up again.

"No, it's not that at all! It's just ..." He scowls. He didn't really want to say what he was really thinking, but he guesses he'll have to now. "... Maybe I hoped there was a specific reason why each of us was brought here. And if it's just random, no rhyme or reason to it at all ... then it's not like they pulled any of us away because they knew we were the right ones for the job. It's not like they deliberately picked someone like that bounty hunter ... or me...." He sighs. "Maybe it just goes back to how people wonder in general what their purpose is in life and they hope they're around for a reason. I had a purpose back home. I understood it, valued it with my life. But ... I just don't understand what my purpose is here. I don't understand why I'm here. And ... I guess I hoped someone did, that the aliens really chose me specifically, instead of me ending up here because of a game of roulette or something." He turns away, looking embarrassed. "Does that sound strange?"

The card shuffling stops, but Cayde fans the edges idly with something of a bemused look. Wow, where'd all that come from? That's... Looks like this kid's had a lot on his mind.

"Well, no. Wondering what one's purpose in life is a pretty common question in general for a person to wonder. Just usually when people are floating around when they're older." Or get brought back from the dead over and over again.

"Just because I don't know why we got chosen or the criteria for it doesn't mean there's no reason. All I know is that the Agrii figure everyone they've called upon are 'he rows' just like they saw on some series, and that was what they figured they needed so they could all finally come home.

"That's basically been our purpose- help these clammy pink alien guys reclaim what they figure's their home."

Knuckles does indeed. He's been thinking more and more about it lately.

"I never had to wonder back home. I knew my purpose was to guard the Master Emerald. And I can still guard it here, but ... it feels like I need to do more than just that, like when I had to stand up and help fight the Meterex so they wouldn't destroy the galaxy. But I just don't know what to do now." He sighs. "I hope I can really do something to help in this mess, so the Agrii can come home ... and we can go home too."

"Must be nice, having things so straight-forward back home. Not that easy for everyone, hell, some people are probably still trying to figure it out. So it doesn't really matter too much where you are. Hits you at some point or another, I think." Cayde shrugs. "Because that's what life is. Nothing stays the same."

He adjusts the deck so it's nice and neat before he sets it on the table again. "See, there's your problem. Hoping you can do something won't do anything. You gotta actually get in there and do something. Stop worrying about trying to find something tailored specifically to you because I guarantee, stuff like that doesn't conveniently come and boop you on the nose."

"Yeah, it sure doesn't."

Knuckles grunts. "I've tried to help out in all the fights we've had since I got here. And I tried to help find stuff at the space station. But during the downtime days, I just don't know what to do. I've looked high and low all over town to try to find clues to help us, but I haven't had any luck. Usually I'm good at finding things."

"You're trying too hard," Cayde laughs. "You're still looking for specialized functions when it's mostly common chores that need to be handled. You don't need to know how to build anything or cook to help clean up or get rid of some rubble that might look like it'll cause someone some trouble or a sprained ankle. You don't need to figure things out yourself either. So long as there's people around, I doubt anyone would turn down an offer to help out with something. Reeve's always busting his butt working on making this city livable. Radley probably won't complain if someone does the dishes for a change. This place doesn't get too dusty but I'm sure Eddie and Richie won't object to someone else taking a turn at the broom every now and then. These're just examples."

Well, Knuckles does try to make sure there's no rubble in the streets, but ... okay, he hasn't thought of most of these other possibilities.

"... I guess I figured things like that would already be covered," he says in embarrassment. "But if that's what's needed, I'll do what I can."

The Exo smiles. "Just because they might be covered doesn't mean it hurts to offer. You're hardly the only one trying to figure out how to be useful around here, and definitely not the only one thinking in bigger terms. But there's plenty of little jobs, and while we're picking away at trying to work out the big things, we still got the little things to handle. Don't forget that."

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Knuckles muses. "Alright, I'll start by getting those things you wanted."

With a laugh, Cayde pushes away from the table as he stands. Well, he's not turning down that offer.

"We can go together."

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thelastechidna - 2024-07-31 21:19 (UTC) - Expand

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