2023-11-07: Family Matters
- Cast: Banagher Links, Marida Cruz, Suberoa Zinnerman
- Where: Magallanica
- Date: U.C. 0097 11 07
- Summary: A rare moment of downtime is seized suddenly, as Captain Zinnerman makes moves to solidify things that were already true, but need to be made official, with the two young people who changed his life.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Things have changed pretty dramatically for the Garencieres Junior's crew since the fight over Laplace's Box. Now officially working as transport crew for Mineva's allies and agents, their espionage and intelligence-gathering work is all the more important - particularly with the political disruptions changing the Earth Sphere.
There are plenty of things to talk about, and it's important to spend time with those you are close to, and discuss where the future is going to take them - so Captain Zinnerman has invited Banagher to drop by from the work suddenly thrust upon the young man, to spend time with him and Marida.
They're meeting at Magallanica's spacedock, as the Junior pulls in from delivery - resupply and spare parts for the Three Ships Alliance and Magallanica's complement of mobile suits. Zinnerman is first off the ship, looking around for Banagher as he moves with practiced ease through the dock's microgravity to the area where the effects of the fortress-colony's spin set in properly.
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
Marida couldn't help but notice that the air around the Garencieres Junior was...restless. Certainly, things had calmed down after the Box had been opened, and the crew was doing good work as transport, but Marida couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was just waiting for...some big shoe to drop. Whether it was the political machinations of the Sphere, the change in atmosphere with the remnants of the Sleeves, or whatever, everything was beginning to feel...liminal.
She shook those thoughts from her head, following behind her father, her movements even more effortless than his as her crew jacket--which she had rarely taken off since she had been given it--gently waved in the lower gravity with the intertia from her own body.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
It is a rare meeting-free day for Banagher. He was looking forward to putting in some time working on the work-in-progress Haro System for Magallanica, but as soon as the Captain's invitation arrived, the thought left his mind. It's been too long since he spent time with his closest comrades.
Clad in his custom-made Garencieres jacket, Banagher waits for the Captain and Marida. Haro peeks over the young man's shoulder from his place in Banagher's backpack.
"Captain! Captain!" Haro announces, as Zinnerman comes into view. Banagher smiles to his little companion and walks to meet them.
"Miss Marida, Captain!" Banagher can't help but wave as he gets close. Seeing them like this -- he missed them more than he realized. It seems the feeling is mutual with Haro, as the companion robot flaps out of Banagher's backpack and up to Marida's face.
"Marida! Marida!" Haro chirps. "Hello!"
There's a sort of pause, after Banagher greets the pair. He's changed since the opening of the Box. Everyone has, really, but few wear the changes as clearly as Banagher. His once-honey gold eyes now are flecked with near iridescent green flecks. The exhaustion that once weighed down his shoulders is eased, but still present.
...love quickly wins out over worry, and Banagher throws his arms around Zinnerman in a hug. Marida will be next.
"What would you guys like to do? We can go back to my place, or get some food -- a hot dog vendor just set up shop last week." Banagher grins. "Magallanica is starting to feel like a real city."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Banagher initiates the hug, and Suberoa, with a smile, reciprocates - the familiar bear-hug is probably something the young man has not realised how much he missed.
"Hot dogs sound good," the big man continues. "It's good to see the place rebuilding, after... everything." The battles at Industrial Seven haven't just been weighing on Banagher, after all. "However, I was thinking - " and here he glances towards Marida - "That we could get some ice cream, as well, and then go back to yours. I have a couple of things I want to talk about with you both, and I think you probably could use somebody to talk to yourself, right, Banagher?"
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
Marida flinches at the Haro getting right into her face, but it eventually melts into a chuckle, a smile, and a pat on top of the orb. "Hello, Haro. Violette is charging right now, but she says hi."
She turns towards Banagher, arms already outstretched in anticipation of her hug, something that she remarked to herself would have left the old her aghast. "Banagher, it's good to see you well. How are Leina and Mineva?"
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Banagher grins as Zinnerman hugs him, feeling a bit of lingering anxiety ease with the Captain's embrace. He holds on for a few moments longer than necessary.
"Oh, ice cream..." Banagher thinks. Has an ice cream place moved in yet? "I don't think we've got a specific building for it, but there might be a stand or a food truck with some. We'll pass by a bunch on the way to my place anyway."
The Captain mentions wanting to talk about something, and Banagher looks just a bit worried. "Yeah. So much has changed, I -- could really use someone to talk to. Is everything alright though, Captain?"
Banagher hugs Marida, gently scooting Haro out of the way. The little orb doesn't take this too hard, instead flapping his way back into Banagher's open backpack.
"It's really good to see you, too, Miss Marida. How are you feeling?" Banagher steps back, smiling up at the redhead. "Leina and Audrey... They're busy. A lot busier than I am. And everything with Cathedra --"
Gold-green eyes squeeze closed. "I don't know. I still don't feel right about it."
With a sigh, he turns and begins to lead the way. Magallanica is bustling with development. People pass by in every direction, working on building lives here. The three Garencieres Junior crew members soon arrive at an open clearing. Perhaps it has the beginnings of a park -- but for now, it's an open circle of concrete with several food stands, and trucks.
Banagher looks over the offerings. His face lights up! There is an ice cream stand, one with an old, classic design. "Miss Marida, look!"
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"It's not bad news," Zinnerman says, trying to reassure Banagher. "I just would prefer not to discuss it in public." There's enough on the boy's plate, good news seems important to give him.
The sight of an ice-cream stand already set up in what looks to become a park brightens Zinnerman's face, too. "Ah, excellent." He orders some mint-chocolate chip for himself.
"Mostly I just think it's important we should spend some time together, while we have the time for it," he explains. "The Sants are still debating whether to move into Magallanica or go back to Palau, you know."
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
Marida's eyes light up at the sight of the ice cream stand. Ice cream was the one thing that would elicit any emotion out of the Garencieres' secret weapon, but it was just one of many that brought Marida Cruz joy. Ordering a scoop each of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, she listens to Banagher.
"It's new. It might not feel right at first. The important thing is you give it time."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"Thank goodness." Banagher murmurs at the Captain's reassurance.
Zinnerman orders some mint-chocolate chip ice cream, and Banagher looks up, having just ordered the same. He smiles. "We have the same favorite. What about you, Miss Marida -- oh." A little laugh as she gets a triple-scoop. "That's a good strategy."
Walking and eating is a classic Banagher move, and now is no exception. He licks his ice cream cone as they make the trip back to his new home -- at the very heart of Magallanica. It's a fairly large set of rooms, kept tidy, but clearly lived-in. A half-made Haro is sprawled out across the front room table.
"Please make yourselves at home." Banagher smiles. There are couches and chairs -- clearly, this room is meant to entertain guests. "Oh man, it'd be great to have the Sants here! But I know Palau is their home..."
Banagher shakes his head softly. "I can't tell them what to do. Magallanica has a lot to offer, but there's not a lot set up for children yet, either. Palau is a mess, but it's where they've always lived..."
Give it time, Marida offers, and Banagher looks thoughtful as he keeps eating his ice cream. "I'm doing my best. It's just so much all at once, I guess."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Zinnerman smiles at the sight of Banagher's living quarters - not that dissimilar to his place on the Garencieres, including the scattered half-finished projects.
"It's a very different situation to... everything we went through with the Unicorn," Zinnerman agrees. "You need time to get your bearings in this new situation, as well as work out what exactly you want from it - but, whatever it is, I'll be there to help guide you through it."
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
"As am I," Marida adds between bites. She's tearing into that ice cream so much, it's a wonder she's not getting a headache. Perhaps one of her hidden talents.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Banagher looks down. "Yeah. At least I knew what was right back then. Now everything is -- complicated. I'm definitely going to be counting on you to help me figure this out. I'm so glad you both stayed around after -- everything."
A smile toward Marida. Banagher sits next to her, happily devouring his own ice cream. "Captain, you said you had something you wanted to talk about?"
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Corporations and politics are complex," Zinnerman agrees, "But you have our espionage skills at your disposal, if you need them to figure out what needs doing."
Banagher points them towards discussing his news, and he smiles faintly, fishing a manila envelope out of his coat pocket and handing it to Marida. "I've been discussing some legal matters with Gael Chan, I was hoping to get his advice on drawing up some paperwork."
The envelope contains, of course, forms.
Adoption paperwork.
"I thought it was about time we actually took steps to making the matters of family official," he explains, pulling out a second envelope and handing it to Banagher. "... if you want, of course."
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
Marida silently opens the envelope, having set her ice cream aside, and stares at the papers. These are what would give her a family. Her grip tightens until her knuckles are as white as the paper, the forms getting slightly creased. If she dares to let go, if she loosens her grasp for even a second, it might feel that this reality, that the last few months, would just blow away.
Her eyes well up with tears, and as she feels them fall down her cheeks, she pulls her arms away. Can't get these wet, Marida. "Thank you, father."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Banagher blinks at Zinnerman, then smiles softly. "I hadn't considered that. I do have someone I'm worried about. He all-but confessed to assault when I was talking to him. I'm worried he might have -- you know, a wife or something."
The thought of Wong Lee brings a frown to Banagher's face, but he quickly banishes it as Zinnerman hands him the manila envelope. Balancing his ice cream cone between his knees as he opens it, Banagher quickly begins to read through the papers.
It doesn't take long to realize what they are. His eyes widen, and he glances to Marida, looking to see if she has the same documents. She does. Banagher looks up to Zinnerman.
Marida answers first. As tears run down her cheeks, Banagher fumbles with his papers, leaning over to wrap an arm around her shoulders. His expression is one of shock -- he's on autopilot, trying to comfort Marida.
It feels like an enormous decision. As Banagher's emotions short out, logic takes over. What would this change, really? Zinnerman's always been the closest thing to a father Banagher has ever had. The Captain already feels like family, and Marida, and the rest of the old Garencieres crew. They've been his home since he lost Industrial-7.
"Another last name..." He murmurs, looking back at his paperwork. "I --"
Brown hair fluffs up as the young man shakes his head. A smile slowly grows, and he laughs. Another last name. Three, now?
"Yeah! Yes, I --" Banagher laughs again. Something in his chest feels lighter than air, as if he could float off the couch. "I'd -- really like that. This."
Emotions come crashing back in.
"...thank you, dad." He experiments, softly.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"You - both of you," Zinnerman clarifies, looking between the youngsters, "helped wake me up from the dark place I was in after I lost Fee and Marie. You - " he swallows, tears glistening in his old eyes, "you both became a chance I never thought I'd have again, no matter how strangely our lives crossed paths - and now we have a chance to..." He trails off, getting ahead of his own sentence.
"I love you both as though you were my own flesh and blood," he says, gathering himself again, "and I would be honoured to make that official."
Banagher tries out 'dad', and Zinnerman's face creases in deep fondness - he leans across to give the fluffy-haired boy another hug. "Thank you, son," he returns, voice choked.
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
Marida looks up at Zinnerman, cheeks streaked with tears. "You were the one who gave me a purpose...gave me a soul..."
"...made me a human being."
She takes his large hand in both of hers and squeezes it as tight as she can. "In what world would that not make you my father, flesh and blood be damned?"
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"Haro --" Banagher calls, and the little robot pulls itself from his backpack. "Hold this, please."
Extending one noodly arm, Haro takes Banagher's ice cream cone in one hand, and his papers in the other, freeing the young man to embrace Zinnerman in return. Burying his face in his father's shoulder, tears fall from Banagher's own eyes.
"When -- I left, for a little while, when Gryps II fired. Cardeas Vist came to me. I knew he'd always loved me, but -- that can't change everything that happened. My mother, and me, all those years..." Banagher confesses in a flurry of words.
A shuddering breath in. "After that, I thought I would just be using who I was related to to try and do some good. I didn't think I'd have 'family'."
"I can't believe it." Banagher pulls back, finally, smiling at Marida, then Zinnerman. "I -- are you sure? Both of you? Now that I have Vist and Anaheim in my life -- I don't want things to get -- complicated, like you said."
One hand stays on Zinnerman's arm, as if he could ensure the man's answer just from maintaining physical contact.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Life is complicated, Banagher," Zinnerman replies, "and we all know that you have a tendency to try to shoulder every burden yourself. As I said - whatever you decide to do with your life, as long as you think it's the right decision, I'm willing to support and advise you - bear some of these burdens that have been thrust upon you."
He might have reservations - suspicions, even - about Banagher being placed in charge of the corporate interests that were used to hurt him, but that just makes it all the more important to be there - just in case something goes wrong.
"Obviously we'll be continuing our work with Mineva, but since we're legally recognised as a civilian crew and she's helped negotiate amnesty, that shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"... You don't even have to use my name, if you think the Vist name gives you more leverage. We can talk about the particulars later."
<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.
"Like it or not, I think you're stuck with us, Banagher." Marida gives a wry smile and returns to her melting ice cream.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Wiping at his face, Banagher smiles. "A--alright. I guess I can't get rid of you anyway, right, um--" He looks to Marida, a nervous, hopeful little glance. "--sis?"
"I'm so thankful." Banagher sniffles. "Let's think about the official stuff later, yeah. I want to remember this moment."
Green-flecked gold eyes close as he sits back against the couch. Haro, apparently having held his peace for as long as possible, places the papers down and gives Banagher back his ice cream cone.
"Papa!" Haro calls, hopping toward Zinnerman. "Papa!"