Happiness lies in the past. Ahead waits only empty SPACE!

[beholding_archivist]

WHO: Remaining Vanquish Crew [ Jon, Teddy, Raphael & Chikai ] & Network || Open to potential visitors
WHERE: The one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism. SPAAACE
WHAT: The Vanquish's pilot has vanished after its start and one Archivist begrudgingly addresses the network.
WHEN: Shortly after the ships leave Agra 10 + the happy space trip that follows
WARNINGS: Moody Archivist
NOTES: Basically a Free For All sort of things for everyone on the Vanquish. Our Pilot!Bucky is on hiatus, and Raphael will fill in for him so we don't crash into any planets! Bother Jon, make your own TLs or have sleepovers while we fly through space~

Missing Pilot
If it were up to him, Jon would have rather stayed back in Temba, hiding away in the basement of the library and not having to deal with anyone or anything. And yet, here he is. Standing quietly next to the miraculously empty pilot seat of the Vanquish, staring at it with a deep frown.

That's... Great. He briefly eyes the controls and the monitors and the many, many buttons. Thankfully, the ship's course has been set before the man that has gotten them off the ground has simply- How does that even work?!

With a brief sigh and a displeased mutter the Archivist taps a finger against the recorder in his hand, then turns back around to find the rest of the people he is stuck with in this dreadful contraption.

"So. We may not know where he is, but we do have a second pilot. That's... Acceptable for now, I suppose." Acceptable. Still, if Jon hasn't appeared very pleased before, his mood certainly has dropped even further.

Visiting Hours
It's a long trip they have ahead of them and of course people are bound to get bored. And it's notably worse than being stuck in the tunnels. They had more space there. Finding a quiet corner has been easier. And quiet corners are what Jon yearns for.

It's especially bad when people from the other ships decide to visit and he has to try and avoid more people than his own crew. And every darn time someone requests to enter the Vanquish, the Archivist flinches with a little grimace, dreading that the person about to board their ship is the one person he just can't bear facing right there and then.

So he tends to watch from a safe distance whenever someone shows up and in most cases simply retreats either into the crew quarters or the cockpit, depending on which happens to be empty at that moment.

The remaining crew may be happy to see some friendlier faces than his, however.

NETWORK

[ audio ]

[ There's a brief flicker of static before Jon's voice cuts straight through it, crisp and somber. ]

Right.

[ He's putting in a lot of effort to hide how tense he really is - And just how much being in a space ship freaks him out. ]

Jonathan Sims reporting from the Vanquish. Our pilot, Bucky has vanished. We do have a replacement on board, however. We're fine.

[ He pauses and there is the faint sound of paper rustling. ]

To the ships' medical personnel:
I assume you have found and picked up the bag of medical supplies I left at the entrance of each ship. Be mindful with these supplies and refer to the included instructions. Any questions can be directed at me.

I am well aware that the medical data point did not magically teach you about human biology or basic first aid. These were originally set up to use the equipment in the hospital which has never been designed to be used on humans. So again: If you run into a problem you don't know how to deal with, I will try to assist as best as I can with what I know.

[[ ooc note: The bags Jon is referring to contain a couple of bandages, sterile cloths, two bottles of disinfectants - one for surfaces, the other to be used on wounds - and three bottles with medications in liquid form. None of the bottles are labelled directly, but have differently colored caps on them and can be identified with the mentioned instructions: One is a basic painkiller, one is a simple anaesthetic that can also be used to help people sleep, the last is basically the opposite. There is also a bag of tea made from herbs native to Agra 10 that supposedly helps with nausea and has an overall calming effect. ]]

Comments

[beholding_archivist]

And I- I guess I'll be here.

[ Not like they have an awful lot to do. ]

-> [action] ?

[out_of_order]

[It takes a bit, but Cal wants to make sure he's not going to cause any inconvenience for anyone in taking one of the shuttles. The transfer itself isn't too unusual, and soon enough he's there and aboard the Vanquish once he's been given permission. BD-1's beeping can be heard as the little droid looks around eagerly.]

[action]

[beholding_archivist]

[ And Jon will be right there, standing a little misplaced next to the button to lock the door again after Cal and BD-1 entered the ship.

A small smile crosses his face once he catches sight of the little droid and he crouches down to beckon him closer for a pat and a proper greeting. ]

... Thanks for coming over.

[out_of_order]

[Cal smiles, watching as BD-1 zips over to borble a hello at the Archivist.]

Hey. Never a problem. We're always glad to see you. Isn't that right, BeeDee?

[beholding_archivist]

Well, I... Enjoy your presence.

[ Jon gives the droid a few light pats on his head, then looks up at Cal. ]

Can I offer you some tea?

[out_of_order]

[BD-1 beeps happily, giving a little bounce after his head-pats. Cal nods.]

Sure, tea sounds good.

[He gestures for Jon to lead on.]

[beholding_archivist]

[ And with a nod himself Jon leads the way to a small common area near the crew quarters where he has set up a little corner to brew actual tea rather than relying on what the kitchen produces. He picks two mugs and a thermos flask and heads over to a nearby resting place bearing something that may be considered a couch, gesturing for Cal to take a seat before doing so himself. ]

...the stuff they have here can hardly be considered tea.

[ He mutters while setting down the mugs and filling them with tea. ]

[out_of_order]

[Cal follows, smile broadening at the sight of Jon's little brewing space. He walks over to take a seat, BD-1 hopping up beside him.]

Can't say I disagree. The ship's provisions are questionable, but at least the ...food substances? Have some sort of flavor. I've had much worse.

[beholding_archivist]

Well... I'm just glad I'm not relying on solid food anymore.

[ He says this with a small sigh as he sets the flask down on the table and drags his tea to him. ]

[out_of_order]

[The padawan picks up the mug, feeling the heat start to permeate from the tea. He takes a moment to savor the aroma.]

Definitely better than what comes out of the dispenser.

[He watches as BD-1 hops up onto the table, inspecting the thermos.]

I know we've just started, but how's the trip been so far? You didn't seem very eager about the idea of space travel before.

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon holds onto his mug for a while, lightly turning it back and forth between his hands, then shaking his head. ]

I try not to think about where exactly I am at this moment. But- It remains true. I'm admittedly terrified of being up here.

[ He's silent for a bit, glancing up at BD-1. ]

But... There's something else.

[ As he speaks, Jon raises a hand up to run a single finger across the adhesive tape holding the temple of his glasses together. ]

Tony and I... We... We had a fight.
... Of sorts.

[ A fight without words or actual violence. But sometimes those are the most hurting ones. ]

[out_of_order]

[Cal sips his tea, nodding. He can see how space can be overwhelming a place to be in. Not thinking about it is probably the best tactic.

It's when Jon continues that he tilts his head at him. He's already sensed it, a cocktail of negative feelings, probably compounded because of everything that's suddenly been thrown their way. His attention drifts momentarily, noting the glasses barely holding together. He'd ask to see them, but maybe not just yet.

And then comes the admission.]

...oh...

[The hurt is there. The sadness too. And it hurts in turn because these are two people that Cal's come to care a lot about, and he can't fathom what might have happened between their diving misadventure and being called to arms at the Agrii's behest.

He wants to say something, but he's not sure what will help. He'd ask the obvious question but he doesn't want to prod that wound.]

...so what now?

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon spends a long while just staring down into his own tea while Cal works through the information given to him. Pressing his lips into a tight line, he just slowly shakes his head, not daring to look up. ]

...I- I don't know.

I'm sorry.

[out_of_order]

[Cal shakes his head. It seems strange to apologize, although he can understand why Jon says as much. The Archivist's answer isn't unexpected either, and he's sure he'd be just as without answers in Jon's position.

BD-1 hoots lowly, edging closer to Jon's side of the table before crouching to sit.]

What do you want to do, Jon?

[Cal's question is soft, not meant to press.

[beholding_archivist]

[ It may be strange to apologize, but an apology comes easy to Jon. As BD moves closer to sit nearby, he does manage a little smile for the droid before reaching to place a hand on the little one's head and pat him. There is a piece of comfort here at least and Jon's voice isn't entirely devastated when he replies. ]

I can't say, Cal. Part of me just wishes I were still able to just... You know. Sleep.

[ To just sleep for a while and not have to dwell over it for a few hours. That would be nice. ]

[out_of_order]

[In a way he can understand. When everything around you just goes wrong, the last thing you want to do is have to think about it, especially when you don't know what can be done about it. Cal nods slowly.]

I wish there was something I could do to help.

[His eyes flick down towards his mug a moment, then back towards Jon.]

I think at the moment the only thing I can offer is maybe seeing about those glasses. Are they broken?

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon gives a short sigh, then shrugs, then brings himself to cast a thankful look up at Cal. ]

You're here. And... I thank you for that.

[ That his attention is brought to his damaged glasses earns Cal a quick blink and a slightly inclined head from the Archivist. Though then he reaches up to pull the item from his face carefully and look at it with a frown. ]

Yes. I... It was an accident. Got it to hold together with some tape at least.

[ And he turns the glasses around towards the Padawan for him to see the questionable little fix. ]

[out_of_order]

[Cal smiles faintly at that.]

You're always more than welcome.

[BD-1 lifts his head as he peers at the glasses that Jon removes, beeping thoughtfully. He watches as Cal takes them to inspect.]

Hm. Yeah, I think I can do a more permanent fix. Won't take long at all.

[The padawan carefully removes the tape, studying the two pieces as he slips a hand to his belt to bring out his arc welder. After adjusting the output a bit, he glances at BD-1.]

Hey buddy, could use your help a bit.

[The droid bounces to his feet, waddling over. He settles again, if only so he can better offer one of his feet clamps to grasp the broken arm of Jon's glasses. He also provides some additional light so Cal can set to work with joining the two pieces together. Doesn't take terribly long at all.]

That...should do it.

[beholding_archivist]

[ Having left his glasses to Cal, Jon wraps his hands around his tea mug as he watches. The tool isn't one he's familiar with, but it clearly does the job that is needed and with a little help from BD, the item is quickly being made whole again.

Getting his glasses back in in one piece, Jon actually manages a little smile, taking a moment to inspect the spot where they had been broken and running a cautious thumb across it. Oh, it's certainly notable if one knows where to look, but that's fine. ]

Thanks, Cal. Thanks a lot. You as well, BeeDee.

[ What else can he really say? He doesn't have to worry about losing his glasses anymore, so this means a lot to him. ]

[out_of_order]

Not a problem.

[Cal grins, glad to see his work hold. He trusts it will hold better than a piece of tape, at least. BD-1 beeps his own "you're welcome" as he wanders over by Jon again, perhaps to inspect the glasses as the Archivist looks them over.]