136 - LOOK WHO LIVES

[major_west]

I suppose turning off communications for a fortnight is as close as one can come to a holiday around here. I trust you'll forgive me for falling off the face of the, ah, Barge. After spending two years in this place, I felt a break was long overdue.

Anyway, it appears I've missed some departures, as well as new arrivals. Since introductions are in order, I'll begin: I'm Major Henry West. Welcome to the Barge. You've been promised salvation, no doubt, or perhaps a favour from the Admiral. I could tell you myself what to expect, but I'm sure you'll find out well enough on your own. We're about overdue for another crisis, after all.

[OOC: LOL I KNOW THIS IS BAD FORM, but I'm going to bed. Tags will be returned uh. When I can get to them.]

Comments

Re: [Spam]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He nods slowly.] For a good, long time, I was tormented with much the same.

[Only his were along the lines of "If I'd just killed Jim, myself."]

[Spam]

[gimmethemap]

Needless to say, I think a little differently about how you reacted to that port. [A breath] It wasn't the same place, but they weren't altogether very different, either.

[Spam]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He's quiet for a while.] And I've been thinking about that, myself.

[Pause.]

Perhaps I acted rashly, with the Marquis.

[Spam]

[gimmethemap]

You did. [After a beat, just to show she's not just going to jump all over him.] But I don't think you could have thought to do anything else. You have been through a lot, and you hadn't really been tested since you came here. Not like that.

Re: [Spam]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He rubs his chin, thinking, and looks away.] But there have been tests, and every time, I've failed them. [Mostly, he's thinking about the Daleks. The Borg. Every other menace whose purpose was to either consume or spread their own infection.]

[Spam]

[gimmethemap]

Then perhaps we should look into finding ways to strengthen you in those times. [She wrings her hands in her lap] But when it comes to the people here, you're going to have to find a way to separate yourself from that. What happens in ports, you leave in ports. If that means you have to rebuild bridges once all is said and done, then do it. This place has its twists and turns but we have to do everything we can to make it home. To keep the bad out. Right?

Re: [Spam]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He nods, then runs his hand up over his hair.] Yes. I suppose what happens after the crisis is every bit as important. [It's somewhat difficult for him to wrap his mind around that, since so many crises end in death, both here and back home.]

I don't even know where to begin with the Marquis.

[Spam]

[gimmethemap]

[It's only just now occurring to her how weird it is to have a serious conversation anymore that doesn't eventually devolve into an argument.] What were the last words said on the matter?

Re: [Spam]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[This is weird for West, too. PROGRESS.] Nothing pleasant, I assure you.

[Spam]

[gimmethemap]

Then all you really can do is be honest, and if you really want things to change, then be humble. If only for peace.