[ It doesn't matter that death doesn't last here -- it's still horrible, every time. And 'falling off the ship' sure sounds like somebody looking for a way out, doesn't it? He doesn't have all the details and won't ask for them, but he doesn't need to know the nuances of what happened to be symathetic to his friend's pain. ]
Well, if it's not helping then let's do something else! I know when I'm upset the last thing I want to do is talk about it! ...Mostly I just want to drink about it, which also isn't something I recommend. Or there's the Enclosure, if punching something would feel good?
[ There's a short delay as Vash texts Reno to ask for Enclosure access -- can't get in without a warden item, after all -- but then he's back on the line, cheerfulness turned up another notch already. ]
the Enclosure it is, then! I'm heading over now, so I'll see you there!
[ He's not going to hang up, though. No, Ekko's in a terrible place, so he's not getting left alone, even virtually. They can talk and walk, can't they? ]
..And I'll have you know that I'm an excellent drinker! A professional! One might even say an alcohol artiste. I've simply chosen to refrain recently, that's all!
[ And here's the Enclosure! Let's see... what's a good distraction? He'd suggested letting Ekko punch his feelings, but that might not be the best option. When he's feeling bummed out he programs in a forest next to an ocean, and walks for hours through the cool greenery, or turns on zero g and just floats. He doesn't know Ekko well enough to know what kinds of things he likes to do, he's realizing, and that's a shame!
Snowball fight? Baby animals? Racecars? There's too many options! ]
[ He shakes off the question about vampires -- that's a topic for another time, maybe. For a conversation that started with the death of his friend, talking about Vash's death seems tactless. They're here for fun, and distraction! ]
Oh! I know!
[ It's not his favorite, but it'll be a good one! Vash taps out a couple commands lightning-quick on the console, and the Enclosure shimmers as it fills with warm, clear water. Vash and Ekko have air bubbles around their heads like diver's helmets, and buoyancy here isn't quite accurate as their feet stay light but steady on the sandy floor, but they're definitely at the bottom of the ocean.
And there's fish. Fish of every shape and size and pattern, and the colors! Every tropical fish the ship's computer knows about is represented here, and not just Earth fish either! There's swarms of little flickering silvers ones, and big solid reddish creatures, darting blue and yellow ones that move so fast they're barely visible, and at their feet are corals and starfish and the waving faces of annoyed eels. It's a giant fishtank -- isn't it cool! ]
[ The fish don't seem to notice them at all. Even when they get close, they just swim around the two of them with as little care as they'd swim around a piece of rock. It's incredibly peaceful, isn't it? ]
But one of the first things I saw when I got here was the fish tank in the Lounge, and I couldn't stop staring at it! Really, [ he adds as a winking aside ] I wanted to climb inside! So I made this giant fish tank that I could climb into!
[ Vash nods to Ekko's first question -- yup, every square foot! At least, everywhere he'd been, and he'd walked that world for more than a century. It's possible that there were pockets here and there of foliage and water, but if they did exist, they were well hidden. ]
And they're friendly, too!
[ With a kick Vash bounces up into the water (where far, far above there's a gleam of a distant sun. It's high noon, wherever they are, but there's enough water between them and the surface that the light is diffused and soft. It's a gentle, calming place, and it's that way by intent. ]
I didn't want them to be scared of me, and I didn't really want me to be scared of them either, see?
[ Gravity is merely a suggestion in here, apparently, as Vash is able to drift up a few feet and then stop, reaching out to run his hand alongside a tremendous (and silly looking) fish, petting the car-sized sunfish as it drifts by. It doesn't seem to take any notice of him. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-10-07 04:04 pm (UTC)[ It doesn't matter that death doesn't last here -- it's still horrible, every time. And 'falling off the ship' sure sounds like somebody looking for a way out, doesn't it? He doesn't have all the details and won't ask for them, but he doesn't need to know the nuances of what happened to be symathetic to his friend's pain. ]
Do you want to talk about it?
no subject
Date: 2025-10-12 10:23 pm (UTC)I've been talking... Not sure it's actually helping much.
But... when you got some time, yeah.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-13 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-17 11:03 pm (UTC)Didn't take you as the drinking type.
Sure, Enclosure sounds good. Your choice.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-17 11:17 pm (UTC)the Enclosure it is, then! I'm heading over now, so I'll see you there!
[ He's not going to hang up, though. No, Ekko's in a terrible place, so he's not getting left alone, even virtually. They can talk and walk, can't they? ]
..And I'll have you know that I'm an excellent drinker! A professional! One might even say an alcohol artiste. I've simply chosen to refrain recently, that's all!
no subject
Date: 2025-10-22 07:28 am (UTC)Going that way now.
[Despite everything, Vash manages to get a small laugh out of him.]
How noble of you.
I'm not big on it, but hey, sometimes it's all you got.
[When you live in an Undercity, clean water can be an unfortunately scarce resource.]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 04:27 pm (UTC)Nothing noble about it! I just made some bad decisions...
[ He's almost to the Enclosure now, so he'll see about having a program set up and ready to go for when Ekko arrives! ]
...and other people made some bad decisions, and really, life's too short for that many headaches!
what is attention, can you eat it???
Date: 2025-10-23 05:07 pm (UTC)Heh. Let me guess, too much of a slippery slope to indulge at all?
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 05:15 pm (UTC)[ And here's the Enclosure! Let's see... what's a good distraction? He'd suggested letting Ekko punch his feelings, but that might not be the best option. When he's feeling bummed out he programs in a forest next to an ocean, and walks for hours through the cool greenery, or turns on zero g and just floats. He doesn't know Ekko well enough to know what kinds of things he likes to do, he's realizing, and that's a shame!
Snowball fight? Baby animals? Racecars? There's too many options! ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 05:34 pm (UTC)[What do vampires have to do with drinking...
He watches Vash stand there, tilting his head slightly after a moment... And then lightly claps him on the shoulder.]
How about you show me your favorite place from home? Or just your favorite place that you can make here.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 05:44 pm (UTC)Oh! I know!
[ It's not his favorite, but it'll be a good one! Vash taps out a couple commands lightning-quick on the console, and the Enclosure shimmers as it fills with warm, clear water. Vash and Ekko have air bubbles around their heads like diver's helmets, and buoyancy here isn't quite accurate as their feet stay light but steady on the sandy floor, but they're definitely at the bottom of the ocean.
And there's fish. Fish of every shape and size and pattern, and the colors! Every tropical fish the ship's computer knows about is represented here, and not just Earth fish either! There's swarms of little flickering silvers ones, and big solid reddish creatures, darting blue and yellow ones that move so fast they're barely visible, and at their feet are corals and starfish and the waving faces of annoyed eels. It's a giant fishtank -- isn't it cool! ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 06:07 pm (UTC)Apparently literally, it would seem.]
Woah...
[Wildlife was pretty limited as it was in the Undercity. This? This is unlike anything he'd seen before.]
Is this all from your world?
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 06:18 pm (UTC)No, my world's a desert.
[ The fish don't seem to notice them at all. Even when they get close, they just swim around the two of them with as little care as they'd swim around a piece of rock. It's incredibly peaceful, isn't it? ]
But one of the first things I saw when I got here was the fish tank in the Lounge, and I couldn't stop staring at it! Really, [ he adds as a winking aside ] I wanted to climb inside! So I made this giant fish tank that I could climb into!
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 06:34 pm (UTC)[He wonders if something happened to it, but he doesn't want to pry. That seems like it could be a touchy topic.
Instead, he drifts around, gaze flitting slowly, appreciating each detail there was to take in.]
I can't blame you there. [Quiet, in awe.] This is... unlike anything I've ever known.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-23 06:54 pm (UTC)And they're friendly, too!
[ With a kick Vash bounces up into the water (where far, far above there's a gleam of a distant sun. It's high noon, wherever they are, but there's enough water between them and the surface that the light is diffused and soft. It's a gentle, calming place, and it's that way by intent. ]
I didn't want them to be scared of me, and I didn't really want me to be scared of them either, see?
[ Gravity is merely a suggestion in here, apparently, as Vash is able to drift up a few feet and then stop, reaching out to run his hand alongside a tremendous (and silly looking) fish, petting the car-sized sunfish as it drifts by. It doesn't seem to take any notice of him. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-05 06:55 am (UTC)His hand comes up to greet an especially friendly pufferfish, and he gives a little giggle as it floats right in place as he pets it.]
You like that?
[As he looks at it, he responds to Vash.]
We have bodies water, but it's so polluted that nothing stays in it for too long. I never knew water could be so...
Full of life.