revivalproject | (Network & Log) somebody to lean on

[the video feed cuts in to show Clarice, freshly showered, wet hair pulled back, dressed in the silk pajamas she arrived in - because she needed a little comfort, a little piece of home. she's got a cup of tea cradled in her hands, and while she still looks a little tired, her eyes are clear and present]

Hey, everybody. I think I've met most of you by now, if only by seein' you at the community meeting a month or so ago, but if you don't recall, my name's Clarice Starling. I know we've all been through a lot the last few weeks, and this isn't a place to point fingers or blow off steam... I just want to let you all know that I used to work with victims of violent crime, so I now a thing or two about lending an ear after people've been through trauma. If you feel comfortable with coming to talk, my door's open. I'm two floors down from the Deep End, the one with the metal star hangin' on the door. I'll be happy to take the time.

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WHO: Clarice Starling & You
WHERE: Clarice's room (or anywhere else you might want to meet up)
WHAT: Talking out the aftermath of Bill-E-tropolis
WHEN: The week after they all return to Temba
WARNINGS: Discussion of trauma, flavors vary! Please label your top levels for folks.

A: Clarice's Room
The metal star on the door Clarice mentioned is a decoration she picked up on Coruscant - made of some sort of light, fine alloy that shines green like light underwater at the right angle. She hasn't done much else to make the little run-down hotel room hers yet, save for set up a bundle of blankets and pillows in one corner to sleep on, and put in hooks to hang her clothing on the wall. A few pads of paper sit next to the bundle, and there are a few extra pillows for company to sit on. She's already sketched a few things: vistas from Coruscant, a few rough portraits of familiar faces from home, before they're too lost to memory. She's no Da Vinci, but they're passable enough.

When the door opens, she's sitting on her makeshift bed, one of the pads in her lap, making herself a list of the tasks she wants to catch up on. At the sight of a familiar face, she smiles.

"Hey, come on in."

B: Dealer's Choice
(Start your own TL if you want, she's flexible.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"We lost some stock at the diner, just due to overripening and natural decay," she explains, holding the list up so he can get a look. "I have to figure out some meal plans with what didn't spoil, and make a strategy for replacements. Building projects and such are fine after a few weeks on hold, but food ... totally different story."

She shifts a little and gestures for him to have a seat. "How're you? Writing anything down for the Archives? Come to get my side of it on record, maybe?"

The loss of valuable resources like food is naturally a troublesome issue and Jon scans the list quickly before he nods. Actual food may not be a requirement for him anymore, but he is well aware that most everyone else in the city relies on it.

"Oh." Is all he finds himself saying, even as he follows her motion to seat himself. After a moment of silence, Jon admits: "I'm sorry, I... Won't be much help with this issue." Then he shakes his head. "It's also been a while since I recorded anything. Haven't had to in quite some time..."

"Haven't needed to?" She tilted her head, curious. She'd been busy with the diner when he'd made his return post on the network, and completely missed it, so she was unfortunately in the dark. But something about the way he paused was a red flag to her: something was wrong. "... Jon, does this have to do with when Tony couldn't find you? Did something else happen before the city illusion?"

He shrugs slightly. "I was back on Earth. My Earth. It was bad." Which is still not really telling her anything. "My world changed. And so did I. More than- Well. The obvious part." He lightly gestures up at his eyes, well aware of the slight, green glow they have come to emit. At least he didn't sprout any extra eyes.

"Oh, God." She winces. "So you were still coping with being brought back from that, and then ... this happened. Jon, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help? Even just listenin'..."

"Hmm." Jon muses audibly, an acceptance of the offer. He wouldn't have come to visit her had he not been willing to talk. And talking... Well. It sure can help.

"I have been wondering what I can do about this immense feeling of guilt." He starts. "I inadvertently caused a lot of suffering to literally every person on my Earth and may well have ended up putting every other world in the multiverse at risk of the same fate. It's... Not a great feeling."

Clarice gets up, gesturing to indicate that she's still listening as she starts another pot of tea. She has a feeling they'll need it, even if he doesn't need it. Sometimes just having something to occupy one's hands while talking helps, too.

"That's a lot," she acknowledges, the words feeling pale and lame as they leave her lips. "I think the most important thing there is that it was inadvertent, and that you do still feel guilt. It means you're still in there, somewhere, the person you were before whatever happened ... happened. You can't do anything to make amends at home, while you're here, and that's ... I won't lie, there isn't much you can do there. But here... I think ... putting your best foot forward here and taking it one day at a time could go a long way. Even if it's not the instant fix most people want when they've done something they're ashamed of."

He won't refuse a cup of tea ever.

Following Clarice's movements with his eyes, Jon nods slowly. "I'm aware there isn't anything I can do. Probably never will. It's quite likely that I will never be able to return. Sending me back to my world... At this point I don't even know what that means anymore. But I am... I'm trying to make the best of it. To be better."

She's concocted her own blend through some trial and error with leaves and fruits from the diner's stores, and what she's come up with is pathistery and a small amount of dried Star Bloom: light and sweet, with just enough of the latter plant's relaxant properties to calm frazzled nerves. As it steeps, and he talks, she purses her lips, considering.

If he doesn't know what returning means ... considering the rest of what he'd said, Clarice wonders if he was close to death when the Agrii brought him back to Temba. Or perhaps imprisonment or other punishment for the things he regrets.

"It sounds like making the best of things is the very best thing you can do. And if there's any way I can help you with that, I'd be happy to. You've always been straight with me, from day one, and I value that a hell of a lot, Jon. I've said this to a couple people here already, and now I'm gonna tell you, too: it doesn't matter what you've done elsewhere, or in the past. I consider my friends based on their actions in the here and now, and everything I've seen you do of your own will spoke to you being a decent man."

Having said her piece for the moment, she picked up their cups and began to squeeze out the little squares of cheesecloth she'd used as tea bags.

Jon remains silent for a couple of moments. Eventually his expression settles into a small, yet genuine smile and he mutters softly. "Thank you. I... I try." He manages to sit up a little straighter, but a certain defeat simply lingers in his posture.

"Maybe, if I am lucky... Maybe the Agrii allow me to go along with Tony by the time they send us ... Home. If that's possible..." And if Tony doesn't disappear before that. Which he doesn't hope and therefore simply tries not to think about. "At the moment that's the one option I have and even that is... It's not something I can plan for. I can only plan for the present."

"You and Tony?" She blinked as she handed him his teacup. "Now there's something I didn't know. It's good, though."

She settled back into her seat with her own cup and smiled at him over the rim once she'd blown on the tea to cool it a bit. "I'd imagine the two of you balance each other out pretty well."

"Ah, y-yes." Jon nods with a little smile and a small shrug while accepting the tea. Then the smile grows, gaining a soft warmth to itself. "We also fight a decent amount." Not as badly as they used to, but differences still happen. "I, ah- I'm glad I have him, to be frank. Him and everyone here I have come to call my friends." Which is a group he counts Clarice into as well.

"Sometimes the fights just make things stronger," she said with a knowing smile. "You remind each other what matters by the time it's all said and done. But I'm glad to have my friends here, too."

As Clarice raised her cup, she gave him a wink: her little sign that she knew she was among his group, and that he was in her own.

"Here's to friends, Jon."

(Network & Log) somebody to lean on - forward-dated

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