IC contact for lastvoyages

[littlebattles]

[If I don't have an active post up, feel free to use this post to have your character call, videochat, text, or knock on June's door.]

Comments

[littlebattles]

[June's smile here is dry.]

Not that I don't appreciate your compassionate spirit, but I don't think the people in the book will be bothered.

[fork_off]

[He shifts on his seat, awkwardly.]

Well, no, they wouldn't. They're not real, after all.

[littlebattles]

They actually are in this one.

[She admits, wiggling the book.]

But I still don't think they care.

[fork_off]

Not unless you found a way to communicate with them, no.

[He pauses for a moment.]

As interesting as this is, I didn't come to talk about books.

[littlebattles]

I figured.

[She sits up a little more in her hammock, her expression going blank.]

What did you come here to talk about?

[fork_off]

I've been reading over your file and... why is it, that you seem to think that there are only two ways to live?

[littlebattles]

Can't say I know what you mean, boss.

[fork_off]

Well, perhaps that isn't the best way to state it. But... you have made a fresh start several times, and each time you hide your true self from others. You don't seem to think you can just be yourself, you're either you and alone or someone else and not. Do you see?

[littlebattles]

[She sees, and she pauses for a moment, swallowing.]

To make a real fresh start, I can't have anything holding me back. If I'm myself, and I'm open about my past - you get how that would hold me back, right? It has held me back, every time anybody has ever found out more about me. It's better--

[Easier.]

-- to just be somebody less complicated, without any baggage.

[fork_off]

[Easier is not always better. He chooses his words carefully.]

But the deception adds another layer of difficulty, as well. When you're found out, bad things happen.

[littlebattles]

So I go somewhere where it'll be impossible to find me out. After I graduate, I'll go to another world.

[There's a pitch of excitement in her voice just at the thought of it - at the idea of completely severing herself from that baggage, yes, but also at the idea of striking out into the unknown. Like Blanky, she has something of an explorer's heart.]

[fork_off]

[He likes that about her, her desire to see new worlds. If only it wasn't wrapped up in her need to erase everything else.]

Ah, but you have to graduate, first. And I doubt that denying your true self will help with that.

[littlebattles]

So what do you suggest? A network post? "Hi, I'm June Harris. I used to steal identities for a living."

[fork_off]

Perhaps it could help? Or, at least, not hurt. Remember, we have dictators and mass-murderers here. You're not going to be dismissed out of hand for your darker deeds. Not by everyone.

[littlebattles]

But a lot of them would see me as more simliar to the dictators and mass murderers than they do right now. It's easy for even people who haven't been hurt by me to see me as a villain, Thomas. I know that from experience.

[fork_off]

[He sighs.]

But what if... speaking hypothetically, what if people knew even the worst and then you tried to be better, while also being truthful?

[littlebattles]

You're sounding a lot like the Robinsons.

[People she likes, generally speaking, but also people she finds painfully naive.]

I think I've had this exact conversation with John at least once or twice.

[fork_off]

Perhaps they've got a point. I'm not going to say that it'll be sunshine and roses, that'll never happen. But this cycle you've been caught in... the only one who can break you out of it is you.

[littlebattles]

What will you do if I decide not to tell them anything? Will you make that decision for me?

[fork_off]

It's not a decision I should make for you. I won't. But I do think that, if you don't do that, you won't be able to graduate.

[littlebattles]

I'll think about it.

[She says, more to try to appease him than because she actually intends to. And while the assurance that he won't out her does relax her a little, it's less because she actually believes him and more because now she can use that as leverage if he ever changes his mind.]

Maybe in a few months. After more time has passed.

[fork_off]

I urge you to give it some thought, certainly.

[He's not going to out her himself, but he's not going to just let her dodge it forever, either. He'll bring it up after a few weeks if she doesn't. And he suspects she won't.]

[littlebattles]

Sure. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?

[She tries to smile, and tries to make it look relaxed and easy, but it comes off as pained instead.]

[fork_off]

[He thinks it over, carefully. He has a few questions, but he doesn't want to push her too far. Perhaps just one that should be easy.]

How would you describe your relationship with your sister? Your file talks about her, but that's not the same thing.

[littlebattles]

Jessica?

[June asks, surprised; it's not a question she'd been expecting.]

She was a brat when we were kids, and she grew up to be just as snotty and uptight as you'd expect. She held every favor she ever did for me over my head.

[She lets out a dry chuckle.]

I'd describe our relationship as strained.