2022-11-08: Tension - A Ghost of Zeon
- Cutscene: Tension - A Ghost of Zeon
- Cast: Eight York, Lavnadim Orlodhari, Kathras Fari
- Where: Londenion, Side 1, and Ra Mari, Captain's Quarters
- Date: November 8th, 2022
- Summary: Rumors spread about Eight York in Londenion. Later, Captain York is restless late at night, and her her partner has a guess as to why.
1300
AT AN EATERY IN LONDENION:
"Did you hear about the Ra Mari's Captain?"
"York? No. Oh, wait, yeah--she's seeing that Zentradi engineer, right? Kinda bold to go for another officer like that..."
"Oh, no, not /that/. Though I mean, that's a thing too. No, no--the new thing going around is that she's Zeon."
"Huh? What, like Chovan? That's weird I guess."
"No, no--not just the Republic. She's from /Zeon/ Zeon. She was working for them during Gryps."
"...Isn't she like 20?"
"Yeah, she was a 'project'. One of those 'Cyber-Newtypes'. Was killing us when she was a kid. And now here she is, a Fed Captain."
"Huh. That's..."
"It's pretty big. But you didn't hear it from me, OK?"
From a distance, watching the two speak, Kathras Fari--bridge officer on the Ra Mari--is very quiet. He turns, and walks the other way soon enough.
ABOARD THE RA MARI
0100
"So,these secrets... they are out, then." While he is a large, deep-voiced man, Lavhi speaks gently about this subject. He has seen Eight get up, put on her robe, and start pacing about the room, after all. It doesn't take an empath to understand that she's still tense. So from his position under the blankets he looks over to her. "But more than you intended?"
"Yeah," Eight says, as she takes a seat on the edge of the bed. Reaching to one of the drawers at the edge, she pulls a brush, and starts to slide it through her hair. "I heard the whispers on-base. I'd meant to tell the crew, but... It's spread faster than I expected, I guess."
"More than rumors usually do?" Lavhi asks, shifting to his side to better watch Eight, his vision already adapted to the dim light of the Captain's cabin. "It does seem... very quick."
"Yeah," Eight says again, another stroke of the brush through blonde locks. Despite her tension she shouldn't be too rough on her hair; it forces her to slow down, move more smoothly, breathe. "It makes me wonder if someone /wanted/ it to spread faster. Like someone's..." She trails off.
"Another of your 'feelings'?" the broad Zentradi wonders. "Or just a thought?"
"A 'feeling'," Eight confirms. "I just can't place it. But I better get used to hostility, I guess. Not everybody's gonna be happy about me being who and what I am." She lets a slow breath out, looking up to nothing in particular at the ceiling. "It might be a problem."
"There are some who will take issue," Lavhi agrees. "...Just as there are some who will take issue with us." He pauses. "Do I add to your troubles, Eight?"
"No, no." The Captain is firm on this. "You help me with my problems. Like now. Anybody who's got an issue with our being together is someone I don't care to know too well." She turns her head over her shoulder, and puts on a faint smile.
"All right," Lavhi answers. "But you do not extend such distaste to those who would take issue with your origins? It would seem to be the same to me."
"Mmm," Eight vocalizes, wobbling side to side as if that could be her answer. "I can get people being skittish about that. I was with Zeon, at war. They'd have questions."
"I do not think you are fair to yourself in this," says the big man on the other side of the bed. "It bothers me greatly that people would hold this thing that is not your fault against you."
Eight turns back away, but her smile is more sincere before she lets it fade. "I appreciate it," she says. "Maybe you're right. But I know I can count on you. Even if someone out there means badly for us." Slowly her brush comes to a stop, her blonde hair glinting briefly in the blinking light of one of the consoles. "I do count on you, you know."
"I had gathered you were somewhat attached," Lavhi replies, a note of humor in his voice as he regards her. "Is fine. I have big shoulders for carrying problems. Just remember to let me help, if you would."
"...I will." Eight puts down the brush, opens the drawer and slides it back in and closed again. "With all the secrets that are mine to tell, all right?"
"That is well." Lavhi continues to watch Eight as she sits in the dark, and Eight continues to look into nothing in particular. She'll be tired in the morning.