ximilialog | Open; October

Entry tags:

Open; October

CHARACTERS: Finn & You
LOCATION: Various places on the station
DATE: All of October
CONTENT: Finn's got his eye sight back! Also, come take his gun safety/self-defense courses.
WARNINGS: fighting and guns and things?

I. Seeing for the First Time, a Second Time

[ Finn's got a headache that slowly wants to transition into a migraine but it's like the best migraine ever if there is such a thing. It's caused by the sudden amount of light and information and everything that his eyes are suddenly getting. Because he can see now. After being blind for a few weeks, he can see.

In a way, it's almost like just became blind all over again considering how much it's knocked him off-balance. He'd just managed to get used to navigating with the Force and now--

Well, now he's kind of gawking. Finn's already gotten Blue and James seen to in the infirmary, and now he's just sort of wandering around. (He's going to go back soon, though, since he didn't really want to leave them in the first place.) What Finn should maybe do is go to his room, rest his eyes, slowly crawl back into the world, but that's obviously not what he's doing.

It's just. Everything. Everything is so pretty and shiny, and how did he forget all of these little things? The floor is so polished that it's practically reflective. There are tiny little lights on the doors that blink bright colors when they sense movement. And don't even get him started on the view outside the windows.

He spends a lot of time in the sunlight room for the next few days and can be found squinting at the fake flowers and fake trees and fake sky. There's a dopey grin on his face, even if he's trying to find tells that prove these aren't real.

During the station's evening hours, however, he's usually in the common living area. Finn's found a window with a couch in front of it and usually just sits there in the dark, watching the outside. There's not much to see if you've seen this view a million times like he has, but it reminds him of the rare glimpses of space he'd get during his childhood. Weirdly, it took all this to remember why he treasured those sights so much.

... For anyone that argued with him back in Braccia, though, this is absolutely not proof that he wasn't fine being blind. Because he was. It was fine. Everything was fine. This is just... better. ]

II. /plays that one mulan song

[ True to his word, Finn can be found in the training room during the station's morning hours. This is where he goes for his own training, anyway, so it's not like he's going out of his way to wait on someone that may not appear.

But if they do appear, they'll be met with a bright smile and a lot of questions. After the whole "how are you? how was your morning? did you sleep okay?" since he's in such good spirits lately, he'll actually ask the real questions. What do you want to learn? What do you already know? Have you ever been in a fight before? Have you ever used a weapon before? Etc.

If you're a seasoned fighter and just here to spar, he's down with that, too. Everyone needs to keep their skills sharp.

Want to learn self-defense? Well, the first lesson is to know how to fall properly, because you're going to fall a lot. You should also know how to take a punch, how to give a good punch, how to break defenses, how to disarm your opponent, how to handle the weapon you just disarmed them of, all of that good stuff.

Want to learn how to use a firearm? Be prepared for a lecture before you even so much as see a gun. Don't point it at people, always assume it's ready to fire, don't point it at people, keep your finger off the trigger unless you're shooting it, and, for Force sake, don't point it at people. If he trusts you enough after The Lecture, then he'll let you give it a go with every single safety precaution he can think of, but don't expect to use one on your first day with him.

>> ooc. He'll be doing this for the entirety of their downtime, so feel free to start a thread at any point of the learning process you prefer. ]

III. Wildcard

[ ooc. Want to do something else? Go for it! PM me if you want to plot something. ♥ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe. But right now, that's not really possible. The North Wing has been sealed off since the first of us arrived. It only opens to let a new Orb in after a mission.

Or that's the only times we've seen it open.

[his expression hardens a bit. stubbornness, perhaps? maybe indignation, too, in his own, quiet way.]

Doors...shouldn't stop me. They never did before...

[he draws in a slower, deeper breath, before tensing up, willing his legs to start to move a bit under the covers.]

Help me. So I can get there...

[ !!!! UUUHHHHHH-- Finn helps him move around to sit on the edge of the bed and to stand if Blue tries to attempt it himself. ]

A few people have tried to get in. Powers and magic doesn't seem to affect it. We can try, I'm not saying we shouldn't, but I don't want you to hurt yourself over it.

[BREAKING: studies show local space men inherently allergic to chilling out for a second, even when physically obligated to. more at 11.]

Hh. Finn-- [ah, that's no good. hoarse. he grimaces.] What else...can I do? I don't understand. If I'm meant to be here, it can't just... [it can't be to waste away slower than the death he'd been snatched from, can it?

his head bows, legs dangling just shy of touching the floor. this is frustrating. emasculating.

pathetic.]

Hey.

[ Nope, no depressing thoughts. Not on his watch. Finn cups Blue's cheek, tries to get him to look at him. ]

We don't know why any of us are here yet and that's okay. The most we can do is help each other, and that's exactly what you've been doing. Taking some time to rest is okay. It's not a failure.

[Blue lifts his eyes, peering through matted bangs over at him. this scenario is all backward, he realizes: he shouldn't be the one needing consolation here. the realization comes with a pulse of shame, pushing aside the frustration he feels.]

I slept for fifteen years, Finn. I don't know how much more I can stand.

[ Finn, for his part, feels pretty useless. This is something he's not sure he can help with. ]

That doesn't sound like rest, though. [ Regardless-- ] I'm not saying you shouldn't try. There's just no rush, not right now.

[Blue closes his eyes and lets out his breath in a slow sigh. Finn has the right of things, he knows...but he doesn't have to like it. he can't help but wonder if there being no rush is better or worse than the near-breakneck pace set on Braccia.]

Such a thing...it's hard to do, not knowing where I stand. Where...'we'...stand, I suppose. [he's in a collective, after all.]

I know. But that's part of why we need to take our time with this. We need more information than we have. Making the first move ourselves, and that might be how they view what you're thinking about, could backfire based on what we know.

[ They don't a lot but they do know how powerful these Orbs are and that this figure in the North Wing has at least two of them. ]

...I understand.

[a more lucid echo of his last words on Braccia. it's not followed by an utter closing-off this time, at least: Blue stays up and aware, reluctantly handling this measure of truth.

backfire, huh? consequences for others besides himself, he means. that's...valid. were it only something that could effect Blue himself, perhaps there'd be more cause for it, but jeopardizing the safety of Finn and the few who helped him is out of the question.]

[ Well, now Finn feels like he chastised him or something. ]

What if we start out with a walk? We can get the ground work of your idea together, find others that might want to be involved. You don't have to do it alone either.

[Blue blinks, looking over, tilting his head just slightly -- only just becoming aware of Finn's hand. that in itself is a mild surprise; connection usually comes with a bit more awareness? perhaps Finn's relationship with his Force comes with some measure of nuance Blue didn't anticipate...or perhaps Blue was simply too absorbed in his own negativity to notice. the truth might lie somewhere in the middle of that.

Physis used to do that: place her hand on his cheek in the midst of dialogue for comfort, for assurance. sometimes it was all she could do, but it was always more than enough of what he needed to keep going.

his expression softens a shade, letting some of his bitterness go; what good would it do him, anyway?

start small, huh...]

...Alright. [it's reasonable. fair.]

[ Well, that's something anyway. Finn smiles, small and warm, before tugging Blue to his feet. ]

Maybe we can find something to eat, too, yeah?

That--

[hold that thought, getting back on his feet is happening with more gusto than he can muster on his own. this does mean he nearly falls right into Finn, only really stayed by Finn himself.

after a moment to stabilize:] ...may likely help... I can't...remember the last meal...

[ Finn catches and stabilizes Blue with both arms, making sure they both stay up right. So far, so good. ]

That's probably not helping you feel any better, then. I'm not great in the kitchen but I can make something edible.

[ He kind of wants to ask if Blue can make it to the mess, if he'd rather have food brought to him, but this is mostly to get the guy moving and feeling like he can do something. If it takes awhile to get there, then it just takes awhile. ]

[as kind a gesture as it would've been, Blue's glad Finn doesn't suggest simply being a food runner for him. there's still some pride left in him, even if he knows it's futile to be too stubborn.

so let it take a little while. Blue hangs onto Finn's arm, able to be more grateful than demoralized simply by merit of Finn's earnestness to help.]

Things you said...before Braccia. You were right.

Some of the people here...do just want to help each other. [maybe that shouldn't be such a novelty? but outside of the Mu community, Blue's not really experienced that for himself.]

Told you so.

[ Finn smiles something a little more real and begins moving them out of the infirmary. That's step one of their quest. ]

I'd like to think that most people do, in general. Even people's regrets here, they probably have a lot to do with helping their homes.

Can you feel it more, then? The thoughts and feelings of others around you...

[there is a small twinge of shame, knowing that he'd been failing to keep his word to help Finn develop his extra sense.

...to be fair Finn did get kicked out and blinded, which hinders a few things, but...]

[ Yeah, no, Blue's not at fault for their lessons getting cut short, and the thought never once crossed Finn's mind. Now that they're back and safe, maybe they can pick it up again later. ]

Not really. It's like I can feel the Force as something more tangible now, like I can see it clearer, but my connection with others feels about the same.

Well, some of them. I think I'm somehow closer to my friends? Mentally. Does that make sense?

[Blue gives that some thought.]

Something I always noticed...about the way humans were different from me and the other Mu...is...something we call emotional resonance. Like...a harmony in music. Or color that blends...

Humans...they can resonate. But it's done blindly. Blind efforts to connect. To synchronize. To understand. Because...neither can see the true feelings of the other inside.

But when you can see the reverberations of others...you can find a way to synchronize your feelings with theirs. Forge stronger bonds.

I believe you can be closer...simply by knowing more than you did before.

[ Well, that's a lot to think about. But it doesn't scare Finn, at least. He actually thinks it's pretty interesting. Pretty incredible.

He's quiet for a little while, thinking about this, before looking back to Blue again. ]

And Mu? How do you make your bonds stronger?

[Blue's eyebrows lift a little. stronger? what's...stronger than strong? as far as levels of connection go, maybe he's not the most in-the-know Mu, given what's been happening in Nazca during his long sleep.]

How much stronger do you mean? When...people fully understand each other, what more is there?

... I guess that's a good point. Was it not overwhelming?

Or, maybe... does it feel lonely now?

[ Finn blinks, registers what he's saying, and clears his throat. ]

I'm getting too personal. I'm sorry.

[ He's curious and concerned, excuse him. ]

[Blue's mouth twitches into a soft, rueful smile, his eyes still on the hall ahead of them. he doesn't like the apology much, but he can't just slap it away, can he? it was given in earnest.]

Is it not in your nature or...culture to be personal?

That would be strange, given your power...the one connecting you to things outside of yourself...

... I suppose so... I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable with all my questions.

[ That, and he didn't want to bring up sad things that Blue may be avoiding. ]

Open; October

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