034 - Huckleberry

[deadly_ned]

So...Alpha's gone. Left and graduated and I. I'm proud of him.

But I didn't actually know if I should continue to help run the pub because really I was only doing it because he took an interest and honestly I don't mind either way but it seems sort of lonely and sad now without him and maybe I should just go back to my kitchen but I don't...know. So if anyone else wanted it...?

Sorry. This isn't something I should be bothering the Barge about.

I guess I just need to. Wait and see.

I never realized this before but unpairing can be lonely.

Comments

[deadly_ned]

The one thing you can say about the Barge is that it was never a democracy.

Sort of a..meritocracy instead.

[mightthinkthat]

Most systems require a 'sort of' ahead of it, for good or ill.

[deadly_ned]

I'm sorry. It's my natural indecisiveness.

[mightthinkthat]

I think it's accurate, in this case, and most others.

[deadly_ned]

We tend to lean half towards aristocracy and half towards anarchy. But the good news is there's a lot of room for upward mobility within the Barge class system.

[mightthinkthat]

I have noticed. But thankfully there are two simple levels and a mentor to get to the upper.

[deadly_ned]

I can't help but imagine what it would be like living in a world where the aristocrats get assigned to the labor forces and help them up to their level.

Somehow I don't think people are that selfless yet.

[mightthinkthat]

Certainly an interesting vision. [He doesn't know what to make of 'yet'. Change doesn't seem very likely.]

[deadly_ned]

This is why I need to stay out of the political spectrum.

[mightthinkthat]

I'm sure.

[Because he's seeing that convo down below.] You should visit her. [He's quite serious.]

[deadly_ned]

...I know.


What if I leave and I can't make it back?

[mightthinkthat]

Admittedly, I only have a short time to understand this place, but there had been a spate of graduations when I arrived, and all that declared an interest in staying, managed to return.

And wouldn't she be worth the risk?

[deadly_ned]

She is. Chuck is worth everything. And I do miss her, but..

The Admiral might not let me come back. I don't have a deal. I just want to keep helping people back to life. I don't...


Saying goodbye is the hardest thing I can imagine doing.

[mightthinkthat]

Perhaps you should ask him. [Long shot, given his apparent record.]

Or ask Iris to bring you back.

[deadly_ned]

Iris can't do anything the Admiral doesn't want her to do. Here on the boat he's sort of. Central.

[mightthinkthat]

She can leave on her own steam and decide what she can do from there.

[deadly_ned]

This is true.

I'm just.

Torn, I suppose.

Sorry. I was never the best at making tough decisions.

[mightthinkthat]

Pare it down as much as you can. Focus on why you should do it, rather than why you shouldn't.

[deadly_ned]

I should do it because I love her. I love Chuck. And I miss her more than I've missed anything.

[mightthinkthat]

And you should do it because you'll feel better for having done so.

[deadly_ned]

What if something happens when I'm away?

[mightthinkthat]

Then you'll be in a perfect position to take care of the fallout. A fresh mind will be an asset.

[deadly_ned]

That's...not something I had considered.

[mightthinkthat]

It will be fine, Ned.

[deadly_ned]

Thank you for saying so. It helps.