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[purrtagonist]

username: PURRSONA

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puts this here bc i'm shy....

[bestaround]

[ It's been a few days since they've made it back to Oska, and frankly, 9S couldn't be happier for it. Back home, he always prefered the Earth's surface over the dullness of the Bunker and space itself; similarly rings true for his new surroundings, he finds.

The thing about Oska, however, now that they're not preoccupied with both steering the ship back to ALASTAIR's home base and trying to keep some one thousand enemy agents from revolting, is that they're left with plenty of free time. This generally isn't an issue; there's lots for 9S to see and do... there's also lots of time for him to be lost in his own thoughts, drifting back to that he's left behind.

Coincidentally or otherwise, Akira would find 9S somewhere nearby the greenhouses, kneeling next to a batch of colorful flowers in bloom. Every so often, he'll brush gloved fingers along the stems, but it doesn't seem like he's admiring their beauty so much as he's trying to make some sort of decision.

And as always, Pod floats quietly overhead. ]

OH NO ANAIS....

[purrtagonist]

[at least now they have the proper manpower to keep the prisoners fed, watered, and taken care of. it'd be a lie to say Akira wasn't somewhat baffled that their small group of sixty or so managed to a) commandeer a giant spaceship all by themselves, and b) prevent the some one thousand Zymandis passengers they captured from killing them all during their two week journey back to Oska. but somehow? against all odds, they had done it]

[maybe he should just. revel in their victory, rather than wonder about the mechanics]

[at any rate! Oska doesn't quite feel like home nor a "home base" to Akira just yet. he's too new for that, but he has taken to wandering around the grounds in order to familiarize himself with his surroundings as much as possible. that's what brings him to the greenhouse this fine day, which is just in time for him to catch 9S admiring (?) some of the plant life]

[he hesitates (it sort of looks like 9S is having a moment, and he doesn't want to interrupt) before he thinks "ah, fuck it" and approaches]

It'll grow more if you don't pull it up.

👀

[bestaround]

[ He's... having a moment, yeah. Enough that when a voice ventures into the silence, 9S' shoulders jerk, abruptly torn out of how deep in thought he was. He turns to see who it is— ]

—Oh, Akira...

[ His demeanor settles, averting his gaze back toward the flowers. ]

I guess they would, but I was hoping to take a few along with me.

[purrtagonist]

[the smile he gives is apologetic, but he glances back at the flowers 9S was so intently inspecting earlier]

Eh. If you want to, it's probably fine. I doubt they'll miss a couple of flowers.

[bestaround]

No, I didn't think anyone would.

[ There's so many here, after all... More than any he'd ever seen gathered into one place—different kinds he had never seen, so vibrant and saturated. They're beautiful, and 9S wonders if Earth ever had areas like this. The world must have looked so much differently when humans still roamed it. ]

I... have a question, if you don't mind answering.

[purrtagonist]

[Akira finds himself drawn towards a few plants with pastel pink petals. flowers were never really Haru's specialty (she grew them, of course, but she loved vegetables and coffee plants the most), but it reminds him of her nonetheless. a slight pang of nostalgia from home]

[he reaches out to pinches one of the petals between his fingers, touch soft, not nearly enough to damage the plant]

Sure. Shoot. I'll answer as best as I can.

[bestaround]

[ He nods once, then, ]

Another android had told me that humans had rituals to mourn the dead. He said they used flowers, sometimes... [ There's a beat, and 9S adds, with a tone less curious and more hopeful: ] Is that true?

[purrtagonist]

[that--]

[that is. a surprisingly heavy question? and it brings up so many more, each of which flash briefly at the forefront of Akira's mind. because of that, there's hesitation before he answers]

Yeah. That's true.

[he responds, voice suddenly quiet]

They're called "funerals." Flowers and incense are often placed on the deceased's grave afterwards. [a pause] . . . why?

[bestaround]

[ Akira's hesitation doesn't go unnoticed; it's heavy, for sure, but for some reason 9S didn't expect the question to catch him off guard. In turn, reluctance bubbles up within himself, as well. ]

I... [ Hm. ] There's memories of someone I'd like to keep close to me while I'm here.

[ Because he's so far away from the only world he's ever known—a cruel, harsh one where war rages on even after he's lost everything dear to him. He can't destroy all the machines, so long as he's within ALASTAIR, nor can he kill A2. But at the very least, he can cherish the one thing that gave him light in his life, even if it hurts. Even if he doesn't know how to deal with how much it does.

So this is... a start. ]

It's not much– [ If anything could ever be enough. ] –but I'm not sure what else I could do.

[ So here he is. ]

text | after the announcement

[banded]

Hey, it's Scott.

[Obviously. Uh. Moving on.]

I don't know what you plan on doing after this, but I'm headed out of here. Would you believe I really miss my mom? I wasn't even living with her after I got back from a ... thing, but not being able to call her is really rough. Um, that's not all there is waiting for me, but I've got to go.

Anyway, it was really nice meeting you. You're an actual superhero! And you have all this crazy knowledge about flowers. I bet you could solve crimes and leave an oddly appropriate flower behind to let everyone know how you felt about it. It might be like a calling card.

Right. So, good luck.

[purrtagonist]

[after all of the hullabaloo, the commotion, and the arguing, Akira's made his way back to his cozy room in Oska. that's when Scott's text comes through, while he's lying on his bed staring up at the ceiling, wondering exactly how those who have chosen to stay (such as himself) are going to go forward from here on out]

[his mouth quirks into a little smile as he reads, and he doesn't hesitate to respond]

I wouldn't call myself an actual superhero, but. Thanks. And would you believe I learned everything I know about flowers from a part-time job I took back home? I'm not sure I want to use that extensive knowledge of the language of plants to solve crimes, though. I've always been a bigger fan of anti-heroes and villains.

[heh]

I'm sticking around. I have stuff to return to back home too, but. . . well. It doesn't feel right to leave things as they are. Take care, all right?

I bet your mom will be happy to talk to you again.

[banded]

I'm not sure how to take the villain thing, so I'll focus on the anti-hero part of it. [Maybe too honest, but he can't see Akira as an actual villain. Anyone with that level of focus on saving little aliens and so forth can't be bad.] I'm good with anti-heroes. They don't always seem to be doing the right thing, but they are. I tend to lean on the side of the straightforward goodness, which is ... what I have to go back to.

It's a long story.

Like longer than "I'm a werewolf."

I think a couple of my friends are sticking around, so ... if you haven't met them yet, you should try to find Stiles and Lucina. They're great. Like really great. And Stiles is kind of an anti-hero, too. You'll probably get along pretty well.

It was cool meeting you. Like, really. Even if you don't think you're a bonafide superhero, you are in my heart, I guess? Is that too cheesy? It's totally too cheesy, isn't it?

[purrtagonist]

[Akira can't help but laugh at that, honestly]

I think I have time for the long story, but only if you want to tell it. No pressure. And I'll look those people up first thing, too. Thanks for the advice.





Also, that's SUPER cheesy, but I'll allow it. Goodbyes always are.

[banded]

Man, I set myself up for that one, didn't I? I'm trying to decide exactly HOW long it needs to be, you know?

[purrtagonist]

Oh?

Does that mean you're contemplating coming back in the future?

[banded]

Nah, just ... sometimes it's a lot, you know?

I'd come back if I could, though. I'm just not sure I can.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . he's curious, but it seems like this may touch on something sensitive. still! he pushes forward nonetheless]

It's okay. I get it.

We might not know each other super well, but if you need to talk about it, I'm all ears.

text; idk somewhere around the tdm mission end ig?? shrug

[bestaround]

Hey, Akira! How's life on the water been treating you?

TIMEY WIMEY WIBBLY WOBBLY

[purrtagonist]

I feel like a real seafaring scurvy dog now.

Aaaaaargh.

PUNCHES THE TIMESTREAM

[bestaround]

A what? Is that a bad thing? ... Are you all right?

YEEEEEEAH

[purrtagonist]

[. . . right. android]

I meant, I feel like a pirate. Only less. . . ah. Shark-shaped.

How are you holding up, Nines?

[bestaround]

[ SORRY, AKIRA ]

That's a really weird say to say "pirate", but okay.

I'm, uh. I don't think I feel like a pirate myself, but I do better on solid land anyway.

[purrtagonist]

It's a more fun way to say "pirate."

[he laughs]

Fair enough. I like the open sea myself. Just looking at the horizon makes you feel like the world has endless potential, right?

[or maybe that's just Akira]

[bestaround]

Does it? I mean, it looks nice, but we know logically it isn't endless.

Sure felt like it on that boat though...

[purrtagonist]

In a "the world is my oyster and I can do with it what I want" kind of way, or a "I'm getting seasick, when will we find land" kind of way?