( open ) i'll fly you to the moon and back

[initiates]

Date & Time: September 21st - September 30th, 11:59 PM
Location: The Hold, the Moon Base
Characters: Any/all.
Summary: The Transports are evacuating to the Moon Base. Those on the Moon Base try to settle in and figure out their next move. Setting info can be found here.
Warnings: Talk of nuclear warheads and reference to immense loss of life. Please contact the mods should any individual thread get graphically violent or anything else of the sort.
Note: Use date and location tags in your subject headlines! Such as "On the moon, 23rd onward" or "On the spaceship, 25th" or "down at the Hold, 29th."

The Hold is a flurry of activity, grim faced members of the Initiative group directing supplies and people with the subdued air of people facing their own doom, and wondering at how to process the knowledge. None of the Initiative appears unaware of what will happen; their eyes linger on the Transports, expressions pleading, hopeful, doubtful, or immeasurably sad in turn.

Every eight hours, the space ship is sent back up with a load of people and supplies. The pilots are worked until they can't; the AI stolen ages ago by the Initiative greets and corrals people and supplies at both ends, and in the middle step between.

The network continues to broadcast on narrow channels between the Moon Base and Exsilium, up until the time that all connections are lost, with the carrier located en route to Exsilium. The first airship will pass by without dropping anything, but it's too early to celebrate. At a six hour delay from behind, the second airship arrives, and with it, the dark promise of the Black Code's nuclear weaponry.

The six hour window allows for time for those left behind, either by choice or circumstance, to be pulled to the Moon Base with the successful activation of the Transport Pad. New characters will ultimately arrive with the remainder of those not yet on the Moon Base, all in time to witness the explosive contact of the nuclear warhead with the ground of Exsilium live on satellite.

But until then, there's only the hurry, the silence, and the potential for full out rioting should the Transports spread word to the Exiles inevitably left behind to face this fate.

Comments

[bloodyantivan]

I am happy. As much as one can be, trapped on an island of perpetual gloom and fighting a war I have little interest in. [Not entirely true, but Zevran is small-time. He was moved when he saw Madrid burning, and perhaps he even felt regret for those that died there, but left to his own devices he would happily turn his back on it all. It is, after all, a human conflict between humans. Yes, Thedas could be in danger. But Thedas is in just as much danger from itself, always. Zevran would prefer to stick to fights he knows something about.

But the UE took his sight.]

You have... Are you angry with me, right now, in this moment? I do not wish to further it, and I know you are not quite so easily won over with gifts as I am.

[ladyspitfire]

I know. I know there's much more important things back home for you.

[And for her, though the thought of going back now, with so much pain and frustration awaiting her... She would be lying if she said returning now wouldn't sadden her. She will be alone again, away from her contingent of Wardens and wanting desperately to follow a friend she will not meet again in this lifetime. The thought alone is painful and she is glad, again, that Zevran cannot see her expression.]

No. No, I'm not angry with you. It's fine.

[She's angrier at herself.]

Let's just go.

[bloodyantivan]

[Zevran is silent for a long moment, and then just says:]

Very well then, my dear.

[And there is precious little more to do or say while they gather their things and wait for the shuttle to take them away from this land. This is when Zevran thinks, Well, we really could die this time, so...]

Elissa. I found something as I gathered my things... something I would like you to have.

[ladyspitfire]

[The silence settles and though she knows he must want to say something, he's acquiesced (as always) to let them gather their things and get ready to go. Elissa makes sure to pack some of their things - Zevran's and hers - on her dog so it's easier for the both of them. Atticus is just as apprehensive as his mistress and she thinks, again, that she is glad that Zevran cannot see how she acts, how shameful it all is.

But she looks up in surprise when he calls to her.]

Oh. You...didn't need to do that.

[Which is the wrong answer and she sighs at herself.]

I'm sorry. Thank you. What did you find?

[bloodyantivan]

Hold out your hand.

[Zevran opens one hand, palm out, so that he might find the hand offered. Once it is, he presses the prize to it: A gold loop earring, small and elegant.]

It is hardly a trinket worthy of the likes of you, but still, I wanted you to have it.

[ladyspitfire]

[She does and she waits until he finds it and presses something small into her hand. Looking at it, she finds it familiar and it takes her some time to place where she's seen it before.]

...Your earring.

[Her voice is quiet in its appreciation and admiration. But she doesn't know the story behind it. She doesn't know if this means anything to him.]

But why give it to me?

[bloodyantivan]

It seemed an appropriate moment to give it to you.

[Zevran withdraws his hand with a shrug.] I acquired it on my very first kill - well, my first solo kill, for money - from a Rivaini merchant prince. He was wearing this and only this when I killed him.

[A smirk.]

I thought it was beautiful, so I took it to mark the occasion, and I would like you to have it. It is only fair for us to exchange gifts, no?

[And this is the closest thing to a precious memento he owns.]

wow why are these tags so hard to write ugh

[ladyspitfire]

[So it's a piece of his legacy and something, she assumes, to be very important to him. But now he's talking about exchanging gifts and...she's not so sure she understands. He says it's an appropriate time for it. Why, because they may die?]

Only fair.

[She muddles through the implications.]

Why give this to me now?

[bloodyantivan]

Because it is important to me. [Zevran doesn't have mementos, precious things. His mother's gloves were taken. He never bought the boots. He couldn't take the risk of more being stolen from him, so this single earring is the one thing he kept.] But you are - you are more important. You have done so much for me, not just as a lover but a friend. Because of you, I am free of the Crows. I... I have little enough to show my gratitude, so I want for you to have this.

[This hurts, and so Zevran changes his tone quickly to that studied carelessness.]

Do what you like with it. I doubt gold will be of my value where we are going, alas, but perhaps someone would be willing to trade goods for it.

[ladyspitfire]

[He will not have to see her face to hear the horror and distress in her voice.]

Why would I ever do such a thing? Zevran, if this is important to you, then it is important to me. I would never throw it aside, let alone so easily.

[And it hurts that he's said as much. Her fingers close around the earring gingerly, as if afraid of ruining it if she clenches too tightly in her frustration.]

What I did for you, with the Crows, with...with everything-- [She shakes her head.] I told you it was selfish on my part. That things came through as well as they did was luck. But I'm glad you're free. I never want to see you shackled to anything you did not want to be a part of.

[Including her own cause.]

[bloodyantivan]

Then I hope you will keep it.

[Perhaps the relief in his voice is enough to make her understand Zevran said those things to protect himself, because even after all they've been through, all they've done, he fears he will be thrown away.

And he has to tell her that's alright for her to do, that it won't hurt him. He has to tell himself.]

It was not only luck. You could have... things could have gone differently, if you were a different sort of person. You need not discredit yourself when I praise you.

[ladyspitfire]

Of course I'll keep it.

[Long before, Alistair had given her a rose to express his affection. But since then, no one has ever thought to give her anything. Well, except for Pounce and Atticus, but they don't count. The gesture is more thoughtful than he realizes.

She works to put the earring on while she speaks again.]

There were better choices I could have made, Zevran. Much better choices. I was... I'm not what people in Thedas believe me to be.

[No true hero would jeopardize her friends as she did. They would not force someone she considers a sister to do something so selfish for her own means.

But she finishes setting the earring in and she steps up to him, taking his hand and leading it up to her cheek. With a brush of her lips to his knuckles, she lets him touch her ear and the earring set there.]

[bloodyantivan]

You speak as if regret is yours alone, and yet you have never woken up in a bed with Orlesian triplets, covered in what you can only hope is foul ale and soft cheeses, with a headache like a slap from the Maker himself and no memory of the night prior!

[Zevran laughs, shaking his head.] I must wait to see it, alas, but I already think it suits you well. [He plants a kiss on her cheek.]

[ladyspitfire]

Zevran--

[No, he's right. Regret is not hers alone. So she simply shakes her head and briefly leans into his lips when he kisses her, and then she lets go.]

Come, before I do something I regret further. I don't want anything to happen to you because I've forced us to tarry here too long.