Aᵁᴰᴵᴼ

[ancestor]

...Hello?

Hello. I am not supposed to be here. I am supposed to be—

[ The voice that speaks is so quiet it's nearly a whisper; quiet and lilting in a way reminiscent of whale song. Her words are cut short by a wavering intake of breath. When she speaks again it's with the fervent confusion of a person who has recently experienced something very traumatic and can't quite comprehend it. ]

I'm supposed to be... I'm dead? I'm meant to be dead. I remember it. I remember— It hurt. I remember that. It—hurts. They were all screaming. Everyone was—

All of them—

[ A small, choked sob. ]

My people.

I'm supposed to be with them.

Comments

audio

[ancestor]

[ There is silence for a few, long moments, and then: ]

I'm not afraid.

[ She is many things right now, but that is one of the few things she knows for sure. As for the offer— ]

...Tea? Is this one of the hells?

Is there a hell that offers tea?

[ She mumbles, mostly to herself: ] There must be—it's tea.

Re: audio

[albatrossomen]

Good.

[The response is... weirdly monotone. Neither approving, nor disapproving, with no hint of sarcasm or humor.

He does cluck his tongue thoughtfully at her question.]

Unlikely. If this was a Hell, I am fairly certain I would be aware.

As for the latter, yes.

[Yes there absolutely is.]

Would you prefer something else? I am afraid alcohol is in short supply at the moment.

[This is a totally normal, not strange conversation.]

[ancestor]

[ If she's at all bothered by the demeanour she doesn't let on. ]

Oh.

Do you need alcohol? I can make some for you, if you like.

[albatrossomen]

Myself? No, though that news will likely generate some excitement among the other passengers. Have you watched your debriefing?

[It does help explain things better than he really can.]

[ancestor]

It's just basic biochemistry. We learn it as children.

First tea and now debriefings? I would question your certainty now, as this could only be some sort of hell.

[albatrossomen]

A primary source of income?

[He hasn't yet grasped quite what she means yet.

There's a laugh, it's not quite as monotone as his normal speaking. A small hint of genuine amusement there.]

When you put it that way it does fit the bill, but no. I'm afraid it's not quite that simple. A pair of gentlemen have gone to the trouble to record a message briefly explaining the situation we find ourselves in here. Some manner of temporal interference and random chance, as it were.

[ancestor]

Income?

[ She pauses. Temporal interference? Random chance?

Her attempts to maintain some level of nonchalance and humour finally fail, and she's left struggling to contain her fury at the situation. ]

It is that simple.

My people are dead. All of them. Every adult. Every elder. Every child.

And yet I am here. I should be dead. I should be with them.

[albatrossomen]

[The question of income is set aside, unimportant. She's upset again, he's pretty sure he did that. Has no idea what he's supposed to do about it, though.

Hm, right, mentioning that that happens will probably not go over well. He knows that, but he's not sure what else to say. Jack help.]

Something has transpired.

[It's not really a question, but it is an invitation if she would like to shout some more. He's heard that's cathartic.]

3.4 & 5.0 spoilers

[ancestor]

They were all screaming. The star and the souls. All of them. Everyone. Deafening, agonized screams as we were all torn asunder. It was a—a sundering, yes. That's what it was. A sundering. The Sundering.

I could feel it and I could hear it and I couldn't stop it.

[albatrossomen]

[Ah, yes, that description was a bit... uncomfortably familiar. Not precisely, and Sunder wouldn't have been the word he'd have used for his own experience, but he recognizes it enough to understand something absolutely terrible happened.

And that it wasn't something one could very well recover from. Not here, not like this.]

I understand.

[It's all he could offer. No empty words of comfort, no reassurance. What happened could not be undone.]

[ancestor]

Then you understand wanting to be with them.

[albatrossomen]

I do. Unfortunately that is, for the moment, out of reach.

cw: suicidal ideation, of a sort

[ancestor]

It wouldn't be difficult to finish what was started. The cracks run so deep... A little bit of pressure is all it would take... But could I find the Lifestream from here?

[albatrossomen]

There is no guarantee that you are even in the same universe, much less close enough to touch upon what you seek. The veil is not so easily crossed by will alone.

[ancestor]

I am the Traveler. Distance is no obstacle. What do veils have to do with it?

[albatrossomen]

The separation between unaligned universes. Is this a risk you would so wantonly take, when it is just as likely you'll be left alone to the void?

We are currently en-route to something that will assist in returning us from whence we came.

[ancestor]

If I was brought here there is an connection. The void does not frighten me.

There is naught to return to.

[albatrossomen]

Your arrival here was not an act of will.

[A thoughtful sound. He doesn't have much to disagree with on that point.]

[ancestor]

I don't care what 'act' brought me here, willful or not. All I care about is dying like I was meant to. Like I deserve to.

[albatrossomen]

I suppose that decision is ultimately up to you, I would still like to suggest not acting in haste. If there is a purpose to your being here, there may yet be courses open to you not yet readily apparent.

[Hard to act when you're dead and all.]

[ancestor]

They were my purpose! I want no other!

[albatrossomen]

[Why is everyone slow? Sigh.]

And if there is an opportunity to undo what has been done?

[ancestor]

An 'opportunity', or false promise given to ensure compliance?

[albatrossomen]

Hardly. Obliteration will be awaiting you whenever you wish to grasp it. I am merely suggesting taking a step back to examine what may exist around you. None among us are natives here, only the ship themselves. Could it not be worth a single day's restraint for a chance?

[ancestor]

I should not be here.