💔︎ · audio

[dragony]

And that's a year, for me. A year back, I mean.

[ oh hey it's everybody's favorite depressed mess of an oldbie. for once, she doesn't sound like death warmed over!?! it's a goddamned miracle ]

It's not the worst year I've had, since leaving my original world — I mean, the planet's still here, right? That's already a great start. Better than I was expecting for most of it. But... I don't know. I'm not sure how I feel, back here, at February ninth. It's the anniversary of this return, but it's... the same day as when I was first imPorted, too. It's always been my anniversary, and it's...

[ she trails off, and hums some note of resignation. she picks up on a different track ]

Well, I suppose there's no real answer for why today. Maybe she thought I'm more suited to Aquarius? [ ha, ha. it joke. ] Oh well. We all make mistakes.

Anyway... I suppose I don't really have a direction with this. I'm not sure how I feel about the year, so, maybe you can indulge me for a little while? Tell me something good that's happened to you, since this time last year. It doesn't matter if it's only a small thing. ... Sometimes we only get small bits of brightness, to keep us going.

Anything you're willing to share.

Comments

voice

[fauxmarth]

A year...

[whoa.gif]

It...It's already been more than a year for myself, too. I didn't realize, with so much happening so fast, but...So much, so fast. So often.

I honestly thought I'd remember the date more intently, but it seems not so important right now.

[dragony]

Yeah. They tend to move very quickly, no matter how many you'd had. Things tended to happen around me on the date, so I paid more attention to it.

I don't expect most people to pay that much mind to it.

[fauxmarth]

[she considers that for a beat.

thoughtfully:] I've learned so much in such a short time, too. Seen more things than I could ever hope to. Had a lot of strange and interesting food, too. I wouldn't have thought I'd have had the chance to do...much of anything beyond war, were it not for here.

There's a lot of good, despite the bad. What sort of good do you want to hear?

voice

[godkaru]

[So people can really stay that long...]

Would you still like to hear something that's happened if we haven't been here that long?

[dragony]

[ u have NO IDEA. ]

I would. Dark times come for everyone, after all; the sooner you have good things to hold onto, the better you're able to endure them. At least, that's how it seems to me.

[godkaru]

[LISTEN....]

Then... I think one of the best things is one of my best friends from home was already here when I arrived.

voice;

[fridgeflower]

Coming out the other side of things... I guess it strengthens my resolve to survive. Maybe that's a decent takeaway.

I've spoken to someone I thought I'd never seen again, and... I get to feel wanted suddenly, a little bit. Unrelated events.

[dragony]

I think it is. A decent takeaway, I mean. The will to keep going isn't... always easy, to hold on to.

[ and, after a moment of pause, there is definitely a smile on her face when she adds: ]

I'm glad. It seemed like a good thing for you.

[fridgeflower]

Yeah, maybe. Check in again next year.

[ She's trying to keep careful about her chances, but she sounds cheerful enough through the words. ]

I don't have much apart from that. Some career and school success, but... I don't know. That doesn't feel like much, stacked against everything else. My mundane life feels really fake sometimes.

audio

[solarcharged]

My daughter turned eight this year.

[ And then suddenly fourteen but let's not think about that!! ]

Back home, I mean, before I arrived here. [ He sounds wistful: ] Eight is a good age. I wish I could have enjoyed it more... but here I am.

[dragony]

Congratulations. Though, I'm sorry that you've been separated from your daughter. I can't imagine what that's like.

Have you experienced any good since you've arrived? Or, have you only arrived very recently?

voice

[isthatyou]

Coming back from the dead seems to be norm biz for me at this point, but I really thought last time was like...it. Then I showed up here.

And there's junk I get to sort out that I thought I was never gonna, so...being alive is pretty okay. I mean, there's some stuff I can't really get all dealt with without certain peeps here, but...

[Shrugging.]

[dragony]

Is death so frail where you're from, then? That you could come back so many times.

video

[knaval]

[riptide, in his human form, just puffs up his cheeks and blows a solid 20 second long raspberry.]

No navel gazing! You wanna blow up some more confectionary?

[dragony]

Rude. Can't a girl siphon off other people's good times, once in a while?

[voice]

[topmeup]

It's your Portiversary this month, too? Crazy to see so much has happened in one year. As for something good, I got a boyfriend. Really hit the top shelf of good things.

[dragony]

Yeah, it's the same every time. I've been exPorted twice, altogether, but both times I came back were the same day that I first arrived. I don't know why, though.

But, that is a really good thing. Congratulations! How long have you been together?

[liverletdie]

Why on earth did you have to remind me that it's coming up?

[dragony]

Were you going to remember on your own, in your old age?

So, what's your secret? Did you get married to Miss Fate Herself when no one was looking?

Voice

[viced]

Well, since last year, you're back, so...

It's better? Familiar faces are always nice.

[dragony]

Gross.

I can't be the only good thing that's happened this year, Senator. I mean, I know this year sucked, but that's a low bar to clear, even for you.

voice; you knew this was coming

[khajidont]

Well... I got to know you. And I know you're gonna say that's too cheesy, but it's true! Who else would tolerate Khaji long enough to actually play games with him for longer than an hour at a time?

i did and im still compromised

[dragony]

Wow, gross.

[ It's a similar tone she took with Mitch — it's a deflection, but there's no venom to it. Jaime's used to this inflection, considering it's the same one she uses whenever he compliments her outright.

She refuses to be anything but evasive, as usual: ]

I can't believe you would bully him like that on a public channel. For shame.

private video;

[cassassin]

Had mine a few weeks ago. [ she's much less put together than she was on new year's. sitting in the dark, lit by the glow of a monitor array, in smart glasses and oversized green lantern t-shirt. she's a little distracted, like she's reviewing something as she talks. ]

It's been a... complicated. Year.

[dragony]

[ with the feed already locked, she might as well match format: video swaps on to ruka's bedroom in her jeopardy housing. the blinds are shuttered against daylight, but there's light enough anyway. hair up, buns neat enough, eye patch and gloves all in place. red on red on red for attire. she looks tired, with no makeup to hide it. she seems to be at a desk, multitasking with a tablet pen; the communicator seems to be anchored at the same level as a computer monitor, for how her attention drifts between moments. ]

What's made it complicated, for you?

[ she wouldn't bring it up if she didn't want to talk about it. ]