yellowthirteen | The Ninth Sortie (Action, Voice)

[Thirteen awoke early in the morning, as usual. He's still got that streak in him, and he got ready as though it was any other day. On his way to the living room, he passed by Goroh's bedroom, his door ajar. Unusual, considering they usually kept it closed to discourage Tao from getting inside. He knew Goroh wasn't around because of his kidnapping, but he figured maybe the racer had returned, so he quietly knocked and opened the door.

The room was empty. All of Goroh's belongings by now long gone, the room bare, as though no one had ever been there at all. ...Except, for that one thing painted on the wall. An arrow?

Thirteen walked over to it, and looked it over. Pointing down. He kneeled to the floor, and quickly noticed the loose floorboard at his feet. Prying it up a little bit, he discovered an envelope, presumably full of letters. Leave it to Goroh to figure out how to cheat the system. He of all people would be the one. The pilot quickly retrieved the envelope and opened it, finding several folded letters inside, each taped shut. One of them was addressed to him, so he opened it and read it over.

A mix of melancholy and amusement found its way into his voice as he chuckled lightly at the samurai's message. Still Goroh, even when he was gone. He was going to miss his friend, and knowing he'd probably never see him again hurt quite a bit, but... at least Goroh had a life, and a happy one at that, to go back to. He knew Goroh didn't really care for it here, so he got exactly what he wanted. Of all the ways for David to lose a friend, this was probably the best one he could hope for.

...Of course, this meant breaking the news to everyone else. That would be the hard part.

So... he'd start with Litchi. That was going to be the hardest one. And then he'd go around delivering Goroh's letters by hand to the people who they were addressed to. Dr. McCoy was hopefully at the medical center, and Buffy would hopefully be at the bar.

...And after that, he'd announce it over the journal system. For whoever else might care.

[Voice]

To anyone who was acquainted with Samurai Goroh, he's been sent back to his own world. ...That is all.

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[...And Dave makes his way into the kitchen. He hesitates for a moment when he sees Litchi looking so pensive. But he knows this has to be done, and waiting will only make it worse for both of them. He keeps his tone level, or, well, as level as he can.]

Litchi... we need to talk about something.

[She glances up from her teacup, worry flickering across her face. Please don't be Tsubaki...]

David...? Is something wrong?

[He's just going to do this fast. Beating around the bush won't help.]

...Goroh's room is empty. Completely.

[Litchi stares in blank shock for a moment or two. Completely empty... that can only mean one thing. And with as much as Goroh pulled pranks on them, she's sure he wouldn't go to the trouble of moving everything out silently just for a few laughs.

Her gaze falls to the tea again, her shoulders tensing. It hurts, of course, but... this is what he's wanted for so long. He'll be home with his wife and everything he's missed so badly.

...But it still hurts. A lot.]

I.... I see. That's... [Come on, Litchi, don't make this harder than it has to be.] ...I'm sure he's glad to be home.

[He can see her tense up and look down. He draws nearer to her and puts a hand on her shoulder.]

I'm sure.

[She glances up at him again, managing a weak smile.]

I-I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't be upset about this. He's wanted to go home for so long and now... [And now she's being selfish and wishing he could have stayed. She shakes her head.]

...Thank you for letting me know.

...It's only natural to be upset about it. Even if it's what he wanted, we're still going to miss him. He was our friend, after all.

...And he left something for you, actually. [He pulls the note out of his jacket pocket and holds it for her to take.] There were a few of these left in a marked floorboard in his room.

I suppose you're right. It really can't be helped.

[She takes the note, eying it curiously before opening it.] Did he...? I wonder what he...

[Reading. Please wait.

... ]

[The incredulous look she's giving the letter is second only to the fantastic shade of red she's beginning to turn.

H-how did he... But they didn't really... Did they? She couldn't remember for the life of her, but she could have sworn...]

[...What.]

Litchi? What the hell did he say?

[This is the blush of the ages here. She may not be able to remember if what Goroh said is true or not, but it's certainly possible.]

H-he... it's just... I don't... [How does she even explain this? The letter goes slack in her hands.

...Please do not read this letter, Thirteen. :C]

...Remember the source, Litchi. Look what he wrote at the bottom of mine.

[He hands over his letter. Said in such a way that he knows it's bullshit.]

[And she reads the bottom line as instructed. Despite turning a shade or two redder, the confused look fades into an irritated frown. "Space Herpes", huh, Goroh?]

...I should have known.

[Thirteen has to force away a small smile at Litchi's realization.]

It's his way of saying he cared, I guess.

I suppose so. Although I do wish he could say it a little less... strangely.

[But then again, he did say he cared once in a non-Goroh fashion and that had been every bit as much of a shock as this was, so it probably balanced out the same in the end. She shakes her head, a wry smile twitching onto her lips.]

...It really is rather like him to leave on a note like this, though, isn't it?

Yes. Honestly, I'd be more shocked if he got sentimental on us.

That's certainly true, isn't it...?

[With a soft sigh, she lowers her eyes again, although she's not really looking at anything in particular. Much as Goroh tried her patience sometimes, he really was one of her best friends. The irritation is quickly ebbing and just leaving the sting of loss behind.

Weak, forced laugh.] It wouldn't have seemed quite right otherwise.

[He knows that laugh. He ought to by now. She's hurting. They both are.]

No. This is the way he'd probably want to be remembered. But... well. A sharp joke can only do so much.

[...And it's with this he pulls Litchi into a gentle hug. ...Feels like something they both kind of need right now.]

[Hugs are good. She could definitely use one at this point, and she's sure Thirteen could as well. It hasn't been an easy month for either of them, that's for sure.

With a soft mumble of his name, she wraps her arms around him as well. Considering how she's hanging on almost as if her life depends on it, her unspoken sentiment of "please don't leave too" is fairly clear.]

[He pulls her a little tighter when she's hanging on hard, trying to be reassuring that he's not going anywhere if he can help it. He couldn't do that to her.

...And she might be able to tell that he doesn't want anything to happen to her either.]

[Litchi stays still for a few moments, half as a reassurance that she isn't going anywhere either, half to help ease her nerves. After a stretch of silence, her hold loosens, but she doesn't let go just yet.]

David... thank you.

[Thirteen makes a soft, affirming noise before he loosens as well.]

...I should be thanking you too.

[Going ahead with the assumption that he means it for the same reason she said it, she chuckles softly and shakes her head.]

Please, don't worry about it. I want to be here for you as long as I possibly can. [The Malnosso have one hell of a fight ahead of them if they try to send her home now. >:| ]

...Good to know the feeling's mutual, then.

[On both counts.]

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not_meatbuns - 2010-11-08 07:03 (UTC) - Expand

The Ninth Sortie (Action, Voice)

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