subnautica | [January 23-etc Open Mingle]

JAN 25.

[ despite how exhausted he appears to be, complete with dark circles under his eyes and twitchiness that can only come from lack of sleep, the man is still stubbornly insisting that he doesn't need any rest. ]

Give me a few more minutes. I'll head to bed after I fix this. [ 'this' being an invention of his, of course. what else would he be doing in the lab besides being knee deep in mechanics and wires?

at the moment, he's doing some fine tuning on the egg incubator that he's been using to incubate the birdogs eggs that he brought back to the base earlier in the month. lately, he's felt dissatisfied with its performance so far. the videos URSULA gave him can only go so far in regards on how to build it after all. ]

JAN 28.

Holy shit! Holy shit! They're hatching!

[ the noise comes from roderic's rooms, usually quiet. but today is not that day as the eggs finally hatch after.

the noise coming from roderic's quarters is almost uncharacteristic: excited yelling, happy barking, a chorus of meowing as the door finally opens and roderic stumbles out to give himself some air before the big moment arrives. (he'll go back in, promise. just. let him prepare himself for the Big Moment so he doesn't pass out and make a bad impression on the hatchlings.)

he seems to be trying to desperately trying to light the cigarette that's dangling from his mouth, hands shaking just a bit too much for to properly use the lighter. seeing you nearby, his nerves are frayed just enough for him to blurt out: ] Holy shit.

I might actually be an animal dad now.

JAN 30. (FOR SANSON.)

[ it's a quick text, short and simple. it would be considered even normal, innocuous, if not for the fact it came from someone like roderic. ]

Hey buddy,

Can you spare me a minute of your time today? There's something I wanna tell you.

Please? [ he really hopes sanson says yes. he feels like he owes his friend this conversation that's been kinda long overdue. ]

DUMB BONUS. (BEFORE THE 28TH PROMPT.)

[ with roderic focusing his efforts on raising a single batch of eggs on the base, daisy seems to have decided to focus her attentions on protecting the rest back on the island. it apparently didn't set well with the dog that there were vulnerable babies out there. so whenever they have a chance, owner and pet leave the base - after daisy makes a count for the cats and roderic as a general idea of where they are before leaving. - and patrol the nests.

and if any predators try to come near the nests, guess who's there?

daisy, that's who. woof woof motherfuckers. ]

Bark! Bark!

[ immediately, she gives chase to some of the predators to try and scare them off from a nest they were getting too close for her liking. bark bark bark bark!!

get 'em girl! ]

You can always have my minutes, Roderic.

I will come. Where is good for you?

[ He knows his friend is bad with the medbay (which is his post) so he's ready to move. ]

[ oh thank god, they can speak now.

he feels like he can breathe easy again now that hurdle is behind him. it's definitely easier to send back a reply: ] The kitchens would be fine for this chat. No one's there at the moment and we can move out quickly if someone comes in.

Near it at the moment. I can make us coffee while waiting for you. [ sanson… don't accept this… even if you're both friends. ]

Coffee would be nice. I will be there shortly.

[ He doesn't even bother walking, immediately phasing through the walls in spirit form. He'll fall out into physical manifestation about three minutes later. ]

Roderic? [ Is he inside?? ]

[ ~~god bless your soul.~~

roderic is in the kitchens for sure, judging by the racket and the strange smell as he makes his coffee. he turns at the sound of sanson's voice, face lighting up just a bit at the sight of a familiar and, most importantly, friendly face. ] -Hey. Thanks for coming by.

I… I wanted to have this talk with you for a while. Feel free to have a seat at the table. [ a gesture to where he had claimed a table, if the sudden explosion of blueprints and notebook paper on the surface of it was an indication. ]

[ Sanson nods, coming closer - his footsteps sounding on the metal floor, something that's probably familiar to Roderic by now. ]

I will listen to anything you have to say.

[ It sounds important, which means he'll pay close attention. He doesn't quite know what it is yet, so he takes a seat while looking thoughtful. [

Thanks.

[ they're friends. roderic know this after what they've been through here on the base.

so he isn't sure why he's still so nervous as he takes a swing of the still cooling coffee to calm his nerves, realising too late it might not be the best idea but too late. thankfully it gives him not just a burned tongue - fuck! - but enough energy to just launch into a breathless, almost frantic spiel for sanson. ] Okay. So yeah… Um-

Where I'm from, let's start with that. We got these folks known as metahumans. People with powers that can come from anything. Magic. Accidents. Maybe they're born with it. Cover mutants. Yeah.

And. And. Andandand I'm- I'm one of them. Yeah. I have powers. Born with it. Made with them, really, but ain't the point right now. Not for now. So powers. I got them, yeah, and it's categorised as audial precognition. [ alright. deep breaths. for himself and for sanson's sake. ] Basically- I hear the future of everyone around me. Barring exemptions to the rules.

… Yeah.

[ Sanson's expression doesn't change much as Roderic speaks. He nods once or twice to show that he's listening, and his countenance gradually phases into concern.

If his friend can hear the future, then... ]

Does it hurt you? When you use it.

[ Servants have great powers but some of them come at great cost. He would not be surprised if it happened to Roderic. ]

[ there's a feeling of relief when sanson's expression doesn't changes, never reacts. makes the tight feeling his chest ease just enough for him to breathe again.

thank god. the question is something gentle, one he can answer without fidgeting too much. ] Yeah. Um… It's hard to explain.

It doesn't hurt me but it does overwhelm me now and then, yeah. I hear that along with things from real life so it can get- [ how does he explain it? ] -too much for me.

I see. [ It's logical, so he has nothing else to add. ] I am afraid I lack familiarity with these sorts of things, so I doubt I have a solution. However... I will help you in whatever way I can. You need only ask.

[ Though... ]

I, too, have a story. If you will hear it, of course.

[ the weight on his chest is all but gone when he hears sanson's words. he'll help him. he doesn't understand the logistics of these - to be fair, they're on the same boat then - but he'll help him all the same.

excuse him as he ducks his head and tries to subtle as he rubs his eyes. when he finally looks up at him again, the smile on his face is less strained, definitely relieved. ] A story?

'Course I would. We're friends. I wanna know 'bout you more, to be frank.

[ It's only fair now that Roderic has told him something, so he will give a piece of himself in return. It's what friends do, after all.

So he closes his eyes, a soft sigh before he begins. His voice is the same monotone as ever, though by the look of his eyes Roderic can probably tell it means a lot to him. ]

A long long time ago, France was ruled by a King and Queen. The King and Queen ran the country and had nobles under them, who would carry out their decrees. Some were born into nobility, others gained their titles due to their service to the court. They employed musicians, artisans, soldiers and the like, as well as servants to the public.

[ A pause. ]

Amongst those hired for their services was a family of executioners. They carried out their duty in line with the laws and decrees, and the craft was passed down from father to son. There were six of them in total, all who have walked the path that their duty dictated. By accepting this creed, they too accepted that their hands would be stained with the blood of many.

[ A longer pause this time. He sounds emotional, almost - a colour in his voice rarely heard, and yet still unreadable, and he closes his ice-blue eyes. ]

The sixth and the last helped push for the use of the guillotine. He played his role as his family name dictated, and he was shunned for his hands which had killed thousands in the name of justice. Yet each day he pushed his ingenuity to reduce the fear and suffering of those sentenced to die. France then went up in revolution, and he was forced to kill the Queen that gave him his role.

[ At this point he opens his eyes - sadness, determination and hopefulness all at once. ]

That man... was me. I am Charles-Henri Sanson, Royal Executioner of France.

[Zelda approves of this! GOOD GUARDIANSHIP! Birds are good and sShe is proud.]

Amazing! You're great, Daisy!

[ tail wagging and happily barking, daisy quickly dashes over to zelda's side after she's made sure the predator has long since high-tailed it out of there.

bark bark bark! she goes before she gives herself a full body shake. she's been running around these parts for a while, in her attempts to protect the innocence, and it shows by just how much there's coming off her. sand. bits of debris. leaves. you name, it's probably coming off daisy right about now.

sorry, zelda. ]

[Before she realizes that something good is happening, Horō is alarmed by the outburst. On edge, still, from everything that has transpired over the past two weeks, she fears their brief reprieve has already come to and end. She's ready to act until she correctly deduces that they are not about to be invaded again.

Her expression doesn't deviate from its usual neutral (but amicable) set. Horō reaches out to grasp Roderic's lighter hand in her own, her grip earnest.] This is a miraculous occasion! You are experiencing an event the likes of which there is no equal. Having not experienced it myself, I cannot vouch for its veracity, but you must be there for them! How is it going? Have the shells begun to crack?

[For all her flat expression and polite, even tone, it seems Horō is very excited for the hatching.]

[ the fact she's willing to speak with him about this, after he had charged out of his room and was just about hollering his lungs out, was something he's grateful for.

one can tell by the wide grin on his face, the shakiness of his hands as he finally lit a cigarette with his lighter. a drag and his nerves should steady themselves in a bit. ] T-Thanks. Um- Ah- Yeah. They cracked. The shells cracked but only a little bit. Think I got a few minutes before I gotta go back in.

Um... Hope Daisy's been helping y'all over at the islands.

[Her earnest, but methodical, determination is a contrast to his shaky hands and nervous smoking. For once, her less expressive exterior is a benefit.] They are working hard to come into this world, so you are working hard to help them.

[Her smile is small, but genuine.] You are doing a good job. So is Daisy. She will make a wonderful mother, if that's what she wants to do.

[January 23-etc Open Mingle]

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DUMB BONUS

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the 28th

I AM SORRY

i will never forgive you...ever