IC CONTACT - DRIFT FLEET

[onlyanapple]

Hi, this is Anthony Crowley. Uh, I’m probably not in right now, or asleep, and busy, or something, but leave a message after the tone and I’ll get right back to you. Ciao. BeeeEEeeeEEeee.



[Voice][Text][Action]

FROM: SUBJECT: FIE did you hear about the guy... FIE the past, the present, and the future walk into a bar... it was tense FIE did you know babies are cooked at womb temperature? JAYDEN Happy dawning WOLFE Ten months late for work FIE You're doing a grape job with your bar. FIE Your decor remains fruitiful. FIE You have a bluetiful establishment. FIE Thank blue for the service. ALLEN Okay Castiel's been in the fleet several days and you haven't turned up in my quarters drunk... ANDERS I just wanted you to know that you've ruined my happy home life. ALLEN Crowley ALLEN Crowley I have some really good news!! ALLEN I got a bottle of Varric's newest product NANAKO Crowley I hope you've been doing ok! FELIX This planet is miserable ALEX PRESENT COMBO BREAKER INO Meet me at Allen's room -- ALLEN Ino's birthday is the 23rd INO So not only did I get Allen TWO different dates that he ENJOYED... ALLEN I haven't seen any magazines appear in my room lately. INO Alright, I need you to help me with something. ALLEN Who's Adam? INO Alright, you win. We're dating. ALLEN You're okay, right? INO You are SO dead the next time I see you ALLEN CROWLEY I THINK INO'S FOUND ANOTHER GUY

TO: SUBJECT: SAM Got something I need you to do for me. NAMI Sam's in the garden and he's being weird ALLEN ACTION TEK ACTION INO Okay so Sudden pop quiz question ALLEN You've been on two whole dates now and haven't even reported back to me once. INO Someone stole your face

inboxcode by cawaii

Comments

[save_the_souls]

I don't know.

[He either doesn't notice or doesn't comment on the bar suddenly becoming dead silent. When he reaches the table, he pushes aside a chair so he move his wheelchair close. Then he moves to grab the bag from the back of his chair.]

Tadashi's gone too. Left the same time. And he was... [He stops, swallows. Tadashi was dead. He had died back in his world. If he had been sent home, then...

It hurt to think about. And even then, his mind kept drifting back to Ino. Ino who had always been there. The closest he's ever had to a childhood friend. Family.]

I feel like everything's falling apart. First Sorey and Mikleo, then Clay finds out he's dead back home, and now...now...

[She's gone.]

I couldn't even finish reading the letter she wrote me. The goodbye letter? I couldn't- I've read and written too fucking many of them.

[It felt wrong. Those familiar words, written in a penmanship he knew so well. It felt wrong.]

[onlyanapple]

[Tadashi was gone, too. Of course he was. Off to die. His whole chance at life was here, and Atroma snuffed it out like it was nothing. Not for the first time in the last few months, Crowley feels like he's back in Paradisa again. Being toyed with for the amusement of whatever was controlling their little habitat. A kid throwing rocks at a zoo animal.

But then Allen says that, and his stomach drops. Oh, Allen. His face falls more, genuine concern making camp there. ]

...I'm sorry about Clay.

[And he meant that. It wasn't fair. Allen was good people, hell, he was probably the best person Crowley knew. He didn't deserve this shit. And neither did Clay. Did Atroma think it was funny? Letting them find happiness, then deciding to let them know it was only temporary. That when Clay leaves, that's it. Game over.

He's read far too many letters of his own. Had to stand there and watch people snuff out of his life. He'd liked to think as an immortal, this kind of thing wouldn't bother him. But the opposite was true. He hated it.]

This whole thing is bollocks.

[save_the_souls]

Yeah, bollocks is right.

[ Part of his mind notes the open concern on Crowley's face. It's a rare expression to see, even if he does know that Crowley cares a lot more than he's ever willing to let on. Still, he doesn't comment on it. Commenting on it would only make Crowley self-conscious.

Instead he just pulls the stuff he was digging for out of his bag. An envelope with Crowley's name on it in Ino's handwriting, and a wrapped wine bottle. He sets them on the table in front of Crowley, leaving it up to him to decide what to do with it. ]

He was murdered. Someone sabotaged his ship and he was protecting something while trying to get the crew out. The saboteur wanted what he had, and didn't want witnesses, so...

[ He killed him. Clay wasn't part of any war. He wasn't a soldier. He was an astronaut. All he wanted to do was explore the stars and help people along the way. And yet the guy killed him.]

The bastard's rotting in jail now, at least. Not that it changes much.

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley's serpentine eyes fall on the items, giving them a small look-over. There's more important things to deal with, right now. They can wait. Allen is his priority, as he always will be. Those eyes flick back up to Allen, listening. ]

No. It doesn't.

[Humans. They lived such short lives, in the great scheme of everything. A blink of light and they were gone. Crowley never understood why they went to such great lengths to eliminate one another before that short time was over. It was just so...senseless.]

How's Clay dealing with it?

[He wants to know more of how Allen is, but he can SEE that, and Someone knows, Allen is usually better off talking about someone else than himself. He's always been better at focusing on other people's pain over his own. It's an admirable trait, honestly - even if the demon doesn't openly admit it all that much.]

[save_the_souls]

[Crowley has that assessment right on the money. Allen was always better at focusing on other people, rather than reflecting on his own feelings. It was easy to grasp, easier to focus on- than the mess that usually was his own array of emotions and issues]

He's upset, understandably. He says he likes being here, with me, but the whole idea that he can't ever go home again is... well, it's always hard.

[He knew that feeling well, even if it was only a shade compared to what Clay must be feeling now.]

We're working through it. Actually talking about it and all... after two relationships failed from lack of communication, I've learned that lesson. [Even if it wasn't easy, it was better to talk things out, to have honesty between them. So far, it's made things easier]

I think we'll be alright. Just Ino and Tadashi leaving the same week... feels like kicking us when we're down.

[onlyanapple]

Of course it is. I'd say we could hope for getting out of here and you dragging him off somewhere else to live...but I think you and I have played this game long enough to know that's not how it goes.

[They've both lost too many people, watched them vanish away to whatever fate their home worlds had in wait for them. No amount of planning, scheming or fighting back would ever change it. ]

It's coming up to the end of the cycle soon, isn't it? Year two. They're probably trying to make some devastatingly emotional impacts on us all, to keep those viewers glued, ready for the season finale.

[He gives a soft, annoyed huff. At least the castle was fucking with them to eat. As terrible as it was, there was a logical reason behind it all. This place? This place was so much more pointless. ]

Got to keep those viewers invested in us, right?

[save_the_souls]

Yeah, my bank account has been lined with ratings money.

[He says it bitterly. Sure. Allen likes having money. In fact he loves having money. But this is not how he wants to earn it. Not through the suffering of his friends and loved ones. It's why he's never charged for his Exorcism work. Not once.

But he thinks about what Crowley said. That it's definitely not how it goes. How eventually they'll be ripped apart and left with nothing, just like what happened with Ino and Tadashi. Just like it happened to him once in Paradisa, according to them. He knows his chances are astronomically low. And yet...]

...Honestly? I know it's nearly impossible, but somehow I still haven't given up on that hope. Even after all these years. [He sighs, and rests his elbows on the table.] My captain wants to find our crewmates that left and find a way home. I promised to help him. And Clay and I promised to stay together until the end, whatever that may be, so...

[He gives a soft "ha" sound as he shrugs his shoulders]

It's probably stupid to even try, but we both know I've always been too stubborn for my own good.

[onlyanapple]

Oh good. So you've been subjected to abject misery, but you can buy yourself something nice.

[That's said equally bitterly. He hates that people he cares about are being toyed with like this. Fine, if it happens to him, it's been happening to him for the span of his very long existence. But not to these guys. They don't deserve it.

He can't help but smile a little at Allen's admission. It's small and fond, but it's there. ]

I wouldn't expect anything less of you, honestly. You always have been irritatingly plucky about things like this. What's the phrase? Like a dog with a bone? If you started giving up on me, I'd find that considerable reason to panic.

[save_the_souls]

Eh, I'm donating a lot of it to the interfaith center. At least the stuff I got from the fight. I said I would if Stefan could find me some dango, and damned if he didn't bend over backwards to deliver...

[Making religious folk run around and perform hard-to-accomplish tasks in order to get something from him. Definitely Crowley's nephew, alright

He makes a small snort at that]

Yeah, right. No reason to panic today. [honestly, just getting this all off his chest seems to be helping, finding his footing again. He nods at the wrapped package.] You should open that. It's probably liquor.

[onlyanapple]

Aww. I'm so proud.

[And he really is. Good job, Allen.

He glances over at the package, brow furrowing. He's got a good idea what it is, but it doesn't make the opening of it any easier.]

What was your first clue?

[He'll open it and, surprise, it's liquor. Crowley holds it up to the light, appraising it. ]

Huh. She must have been holding onto this one for a while. This was sold quite a few star systems back.

[save_the_souls]

[He looks at the bottle as well]

Oh yeah...wasn't that from those crazy moons? [Not that he drank it himself, but he remembers buying a crate of it]

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley places it back down on the table, for Allen to examine, if he feels the desire. He turns his attention to the note, opening it to read.

If it were anyone else, than Allen (or possibly Felix) he would have done it alone. In private. But Allen has known him for far too long. He knows the fact Crowley puts on for the world at large isn't what he really is. That the demon isn't as heartless as he'd like people to believe him to be.

He gives a soft, sad noise as he reads. Somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. He puts it down, when he's finished. ]

Just like her to make it all emotional.

[save_the_souls]

[ Allen stays silent as he reads. First he pretends to examine the wine bottle, then he reaches back into his bag and pulls out his own wrapped package- still unopen, and examines that. Anything to make Crowley not feel like he's being watched during this.

He hadn't read the letter Ino wrote for Crowley. As far as he was concerned, whatever was on those pages were just between Ino and Crowley. Even if he could take a guess what they might say- Ino wasn't exactly secretive about her opinions. ]

Yeah...that's how she is. She never held back on that.

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley appreciates it, he really does. Even if he's more willing to drop the act around Allen, it doesn't mean he doesn't relish the chance to avoid it sometimes. He sighs, folding the letter and putting it in an inner suit pocket. ]

No. It was fairly obnoxious, really.

[He sits back, frowning.]

Not many of us left, are there? Who remember Paradisa.

[save_the_souls]

Not many, yeah...

I think it's just...you, me and Felix at this point, I think.

[onlyanapple]

I'm honestly not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

It nearly died, you know. The castle.

[save_the_souls]

[He looks surprised at that]

It did? Like the other castles?

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley nods, playing a little with the bottle on the table. ]

It was after I left. Felix said more and more people just left, and it got weak. Something about a power-battle with the other castles? I don't know.

Regardless, it very almost died. They refilled it with people from some other castle - not sure on the details, I didn't ask him. He didn't seem all that thrilled by it.

[save_the_souls]

[...]

So you're saying...there's more people still trapped there? And that's how Felix got out?

[NOT SURE HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THAT]

[onlyanapple]

Hm. Seems there was a whole other castle in that world already populated the whole time we were there, and we never found it.

[Neither does Crowley, really. He can tell Felix feels awful about it, it's why he hasn't pressed the matter, honestly.]

Apparently the castle gave everyone a key to a door in their rooms. The door apparently opened home, and would take them there. Gratitude for the new blood, I expect.

[He gives a shrug. ]

Clearly, the whole thing was a massive fucking lie because he went though his door and ended up here. Seems it screwed with everyone right to the end.

[save_the_souls]

[So sacrifices to get out. It makes Allen a little sick to think about...but on the other hand, it's not like he knows the full situation. Maybe the other people were happy to live in the castle. He knows there were a lot of people who preferred the castle over their old homes. Or if they didn't save the castle from dying, they'd go the same way that the dead castle had...he'll never forget all those skeletons. Maybe it was the lesser of two evils.

Still, it wasn't something he liked to think about. May the current population be faring better than theirs did....God.

But there's not much he can say about it, so he tries to focus on the rest of the conversation. That Felix got a key that was supposed to be opened up to home but instead came here...

He gives a snort]

I don't know. He did find you again, didn't he?

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley knows Felix would have done all her could to make it work. To make it so as few people suffered as he could. As much as the man liked to pretend otherwise, he cared too damn much about those around him. Still. It hardly mattered. It was done.

His smile softens a little at Allen's comment, a soft huff of amusement escaping him. ]

...Yeah. I suppose he did. Lucky him.

[There was the fear, there always was. That'd Crowley would wake up one morning and Felix would just be...gone. That was always a possibility for all of them. As much as any of them could enjoy their lives here- that dark cloud would always be somewhere on the horizon.

But he'd be damned again if he wasn't grateful for the universe catching him a break on that one. ]

[save_the_souls]

Lucky him, indeed.

[The softening expression on Crowley's face makes Allen smile a little. He didn't know all the details of his and Felix's relationship, he never asked. But it wasn't hard to see that they cared a great deal for each other. Crowley, as much as he pretended at otherwise, was very prone to love. He's seen it happen with him a few times now, and here it was again.

Which...Allen was glad to see it. Crowley deserved happiness. He deserved a lot more than what the universe often handed him. And Felix clearly brought him a great deal of happiness, even if it couldn't be forever...

Allen looks down at the box he's holding, still unopened.]

...Did Ino ever tell you about how we got tattoos?

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley really felt he needed that love thing sorted out, honestly. It happened more to him than he'd like. He was sure some demonic-antibiotics would clear that right up. There were demon antibiotics, right? There had to be.

But then again. It's given him something real, every time. He's enjoyed it, as much as he feels it's probably unnatural. He's always been a law unto himself, after all. ]

What? No. How did I miss this story?

[save_the_souls]

[He snorts at that reaction]

Don't get too excited. It's not anything embarrassing.

[NO DRUNKEN TATS HERE SORRY UNCLE.]

We were at those casino waystations, about a year ago? I decided to get a tattoo on a whim and convinced her to get one too.

Anyway, she decided to get one of some sakura flowers. I thought she was getting it to remember her friend, but she said in that flower language of hers, it means transience. That there's a beauty of something only lasting so long, and to appreciate it while you have it...

...It's a good reminder to have.