[ Ephemera hesitates. His memory isn’t the best, and sometimes he thinks he forgets to explain things. Or explains them twice, forgetting he’s already laid things out. And this part is -
Complicated. ]
It’s a long story. Really long. But, the UNSC was the main power for a long time. I signed with them because - because they were there, and they had the best chance of fighting the Covenant. But they’d been fighting the Insurrection for even longer. They were - human. Just people who didn’t want to fight for power they’d never touch themselves. UNSC tried to wipe ‘em out every couple years but they never managed it.
[ He’s quiet for a moment. Flipping pancakes. ]
I helped hunt them down. And then my team joined them, after we mutinied.
[ He tugs his collar down, baring the blunt lines of his tattoo. Redemption like a brand. ]
[ He listens to that and he does remember. He just has a hardtime keeping the names of these groups separate - not enough context, for any of it except the Covenant. He nods slightly to show his understanding, and stays leaned back. ]
I wish I knew more of our history - or that anyone did - but it's so old and goes back so far that most of it's tangled in myth. I can make some assumptions that are safe, based on what is known and what's... forbidden.
I think the safest is that we were always... designed to be militia, but that the initial purpose did have to do with Peace of a meaningful sort. Then our ...designers, more than creators, disappeared and left to our own devices we became something that amounted to a... powerful weapon wielded by the highest bidder.
I do think that functionally generations of natural selection amongst a people under continous attack would result in much the same result.
[ Ephemera sits with that for a long moment, just thinking. Keeping watch on the pancakes, until it’s time to start flipping them.
He stacks them on a plate, then pours more batter. ]
Hunter told me once that some trauma just - carries through the generations. It gets written into the DNA. And then people carry that, even if they never lived through it themselves.
[ And that was just people surviving. Not designed to be soldiers. ]
Is it easier here? I couldn’t stand it at first, waiting for an attack. I was so sure it was coming. Just a matter of when.
[ He hefts the plate. ]
You want in on these now, or you want to wait until I’ve made all of them?
[ Crais makes a low noise, of agreement and possibly sympathy. He doesn't say anything though. He doesn't often struggle for words but this is....
There's no... cultural context for anything he wants to say. That context only exists in a place he's already dead. It's not the first time he's run into that wall, it's just usually humorous, and centered around language usage. ]
It doesn't matter. Being here's been good for us both, and I never want to wait to eat, but this time I'll hold off so I can eat with you, I think.
[ Ephemera smiles faintly. Despite the conversation, he feels - better? Maybe. For having it. Or maybe because he and Crais can have it in the first place. ]
Okay. Won’t take me long. We’ve got jam and syrup in the fridge, too. Butter, too. Whatever you want.
[ He flips a couple more pancakes. He’s gotten better about sizing things for two people. He and Drake cool together a lot. Sure, Drake’s better at it, but Ephemera’s starting to like the satisfaction that comes from laying a plate out and knowing he did that. That he made it happen instead of ordering takeout or whipping out an MRE.
And when they’re done, he puts half the pancakes on one plate and half on another, and brings them over. They don’t take long to cook. ]
[ He takes the time Ephemera is cooking to fill two glasses with water, find forks - and knives for the jam and butter - and get them onto the table, too. He gets his own set up with a little butter and a lot of jam, and takes a bite before he says a word.
Then what he does say is unusually... sober, if direct as is typical.]
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notleavingquietly) wrote2037-07-18 11:23 pm
no subject
Complicated. ]
It’s a long story. Really long. But, the UNSC was the main power for a long time. I signed with them because - because they were there, and they had the best chance of fighting the Covenant. But they’d been fighting the Insurrection for even longer. They were - human. Just people who didn’t want to fight for power they’d never touch themselves. UNSC tried to wipe ‘em out every couple years but they never managed it.
[ He’s quiet for a moment. Flipping pancakes. ]
I helped hunt them down. And then my team joined them, after we mutinied.
[ He tugs his collar down, baring the blunt lines of his tattoo. Redemption like a brand. ]
no subject
I wish I knew more of our history - or that anyone did - but it's so old and goes back so far that most of it's tangled in myth. I can make some assumptions that are safe, based on what is known and what's... forbidden.
I think the safest is that we were always... designed to be militia, but that the initial purpose did have to do with Peace of a meaningful sort. Then our ...designers, more than creators, disappeared and left to our own devices we became something that amounted to a... powerful weapon wielded by the highest bidder.
I do think that functionally generations of natural selection amongst a people under continous attack would result in much the same result.
no subject
He stacks them on a plate, then pours more batter. ]
Hunter told me once that some trauma just - carries through the generations. It gets written into the DNA. And then people carry that, even if they never lived through it themselves.
[ And that was just people surviving. Not designed to be soldiers. ]
Is it easier here? I couldn’t stand it at first, waiting for an attack. I was so sure it was coming. Just a matter of when.
[ He hefts the plate. ]
You want in on these now, or you want to wait until I’ve made all of them?
no subject
There's no... cultural context for anything he wants to say. That context only exists in a place he's already dead. It's not the first time he's run into that wall, it's just usually humorous, and centered around language usage. ]
It doesn't matter. Being here's been good for us both, and I never want to wait to eat, but this time I'll hold off so I can eat with you, I think.
no subject
Okay. Won’t take me long. We’ve got jam and syrup in the fridge, too. Butter, too. Whatever you want.
no subject
Do you want to drink something besides water?
no subject
[ He flips a couple more pancakes. He’s gotten better about sizing things for two people. He and Drake cool together a lot. Sure, Drake’s better at it, but Ephemera’s starting to like the satisfaction that comes from laying a plate out and knowing he did that. That he made it happen instead of ordering takeout or whipping out an MRE.
And when they’re done, he puts half the pancakes on one plate and half on another, and brings them over. They don’t take long to cook. ]
Here.
no subject
Then what he does say is unusually... sober, if direct as is typical.]
I'm proud of you - and Drake.
no subject
It’s calm. He missed this, he thinks. Being able to have a calm meal with someone, and not worry the whole time about being attacked.
He blinks, peering at Crais. ]
I never thought I’d have this. Never thought I’d want it. But I do, with him.
no subject
And I'm equally, selfishly, glad I found it with Cyram. Here's to both of us continuing to not entirely burn it to the ground.
[ Crais is less at peace than kind of subdued but it's not a terrible thing. ]
no subject
Still. ]
You gonna be okay, Crais?
[ Ephemera watches him carefully. Worrying, still. ]
no subject
...I think I might actually be a little lonely. It'll pass. Especially in good company.
no subject
[ He says it simply, digging into his food. ]
Even if you just wanna sit with me while I paint.