Co-authored by: Ray of Meep (GM), Acewing13, ArsenicJohn, Ikate Keda Studios, PaladinGreco, Piston1937, TheCountryWarrior
2320, 1st day after landfall on Earth
London
The Big Ben bell chimed eight times, signalling a new dawn over the new old city. The clocktower watched over the city like a sentinel, several hundred meters above ground. Indeed, standing next to it were the historical buildings of Westminster: the ancient Parliament building that Britain still uses for its domestic affairs, St. Margaret's Church, etc, all on the roof platform of a massive arcology building that straddled the River Thames.
The entire arcology covered an area the size of the historical city, and then some of where its suburbs used to be three centuries ago. The arcology of London was built as a layered hill with hundreds of floors. With each handful of floors there was a large outdoor area on the roof that lined the perimeter, before the arcology moved upward with a smaller area. All the walls were plastered with solar panels. Inside were the millions of souls who resided in the city, with their dwellings and businesses and utilities and academic centers.
A railway shuttle carrying Juan and Joan's two children zoomed into the northern, Enfield passageway into the arcology. Artificial lighting contributed to whatever sunlight that could seep in. The headspace above the railway station was several stories, with crisscrossing bridges above the passageways that connected floors and rooms.
Juan had been instructed to make sure the kids made it to their Grandmother's house safely, an order he intended to complete with 100% efficiency. The only obstable he faced was Joan's Mother, and she was only an obstacle because he had no idea how she'd act. His only interaction with her was at the trial, where he had thought quite poorly of her, even if her final betrayal of Tyler had been in Joan's favor. He would be civil of course, and grateful that she would help them at all. Not to mention grateful for the extra day away from training he managed to squeeze out of the interaction.
He breathed the Earth air again, smiling bittersweetly at the scent of air. It was home, as cursed as his memories of it were. He couldn't wait to go back to Joan, away from this place. But for now, his job was front and center.
JAcob sat next to Juan, going over some math problems on his tablet. Not because he wanted too, but because Joan had given him several months worth in homework and told him to do it all or he would get in a bunch of trouble. Miranda, however, had been pouting for hours now.
Juan looked over to her, noting Jacob was doing his homework, which he greatly approved of. He spoke gently to Miranda, smiling. "How are you feeling Mira?" This was a classic parent question, which meant they knew you weren't looking happy and wanted to know why. He had rehearsed these at some point, for this very occasion.
"Fine..." Miranda mumbled, curling up a little more.
"If you're sure. You seem upset is all. You can tell me if you want, I understand things."
"You in Jacob was really mean ta dat dog lady," Miranda said, narrowing her eyes. "She just wan'ed ta 'elp, in she looked sad when she weren't allowed. She lives on da ship, ah wouldn' fink she were a stranger!"
This was news to Juan, given that he hadn't actually spoken to the Aos Si at length yet. Perhaps it could be said he didn't care to, but that was also true of most other people on the ship. He did understand how she could misunderstand the situation. "Oh no honey, that wasn't mean. Granted Jacob could use a little work on his social skills, he was trying to politely decline. Trust me, it's one of those things that adults just accept about kids and never worry about again. I bet the dog lady is eating a cookie right now and has forgotten all about it." He pat her head, ruffling her hair a bit. "There's no need to think too hard on it. We'll work on talking to people and politely saying 'no thank you' some time."
"Jacob also lied..." Miranda muttered, shooting Jocob a glare.
"Course ah did," Jacob suddenly defended, looking up from his tablet. "Ya saw wha' dey did ta mum! Twice now, ah didn't wanna be next!"
Juan sighed, looking over to Jacob. "I know it's hard to believe, but that dog lady is an Aos Si, from a far off world. Not... entirely sure how the dog part happened. Science is weird, trust me." With a breath, he stretched in his seat, and ruffled Jacob's hair. "I know what you were going for, you were trying to protect yourself and your sister, but try to more polite next time. There are many ways to say no in a kindly manner. No need to make enemies where there are none."
"Ah dun like it," Jacob muttered. "Why dey even let it on da ship? E'ryone knows mum's afraid o' da bloody fings. She can even walk no more, now dey jus' torture 'er some more? 'ow would ya feel if ya 'ad ta deal wif somefing ya were fraid of e'ry day?" He asked, getting even more irritated. "It kin keep it's muzzle outta our business."
Juan looked down at Jacob, a pang running through his heart. So young and already feeling the burgeoning stages of hatred. Worse yet, Juan couldn't just dismiss it as stupid. Had he been in the kid's position, he'd be worse. "There's a lot more to it than just what they look like. Those people aren't in charge of themselves. They are used as pawns against their will. The one that got your mother didn't know what it was doing. So, what I do, is focus my anger at the ones who made them do it, and hope that the ones that are free aren't a threat. The dog lady isn't a threat to you, I believe. Actually for a myriad of reasons I'm not sure she would care to do much at all to harm anyone, but you can't hate an entire people based off of a few of them. If you hate every individual of a kind because one has wronged you, the universe will never be safe. You'd hate humans too."
Juan wasn't sure if he was saying the right things, or even if his words were being heeded. Oh god, he thought, is this parenting?
2320, 1st day after landfall on Earth
London
The Big Ben bell chimed eight times, signalling a new dawn over the new old city. The clocktower watched over the city like a sentinel, several hundred meters above ground. Indeed, standing next to it were the historical buildings of Westminster: the ancient Parliament building that Britain still uses for its domestic affairs, St. Margaret's Church, etc, all on the roof platform of a massive arcology building that straddled the River Thames.
The entire arcology covered an area the size of the historical city, and then some of where its suburbs used to be three centuries ago. The arcology of London was built as a layered hill with hundreds of floors. With each handful of floors there was a large outdoor area on the roof that lined the perimeter, before the arcology moved upward with a smaller area. All the walls were plastered with solar panels. Inside were the millions of souls who resided in the city, with their dwellings and businesses and utilities and academic centers.
A railway shuttle carrying Juan and Joan's two children zoomed into the northern, Enfield passageway into the arcology. Artificial lighting contributed to whatever sunlight that could seep in. The headspace above the railway station was several stories, with crisscrossing bridges above the passageways that connected floors and rooms.
Juan had been instructed to make sure the kids made it to their Grandmother's house safely, an order he intended to complete with 100% efficiency. The only obstable he faced was Joan's Mother, and she was only an obstacle because he had no idea how she'd act. His only interaction with her was at the trial, where he had thought quite poorly of her, even if her final betrayal of Tyler had been in Joan's favor. He would be civil of course, and grateful that she would help them at all. Not to mention grateful for the extra day away from training he managed to squeeze out of the interaction.
He breathed the Earth air again, smiling bittersweetly at the scent of air. It was home, as cursed as his memories of it were. He couldn't wait to go back to Joan, away from this place. But for now, his job was front and center.
JAcob sat next to Juan, going over some math problems on his tablet. Not because he wanted too, but because Joan had given him several months worth in homework and told him to do it all or he would get in a bunch of trouble. Miranda, however, had been pouting for hours now.
Juan looked over to her, noting Jacob was doing his homework, which he greatly approved of. He spoke gently to Miranda, smiling. "How are you feeling Mira?" This was a classic parent question, which meant they knew you weren't looking happy and wanted to know why. He had rehearsed these at some point, for this very occasion.
"Fine..." Miranda mumbled, curling up a little more.
"If you're sure. You seem upset is all. You can tell me if you want, I understand things."
"You in Jacob was really mean ta dat dog lady," Miranda said, narrowing her eyes. "She just wan'ed ta 'elp, in she looked sad when she weren't allowed. She lives on da ship, ah wouldn' fink she were a stranger!"
This was news to Juan, given that he hadn't actually spoken to the Aos Si at length yet. Perhaps it could be said he didn't care to, but that was also true of most other people on the ship. He did understand how she could misunderstand the situation. "Oh no honey, that wasn't mean. Granted Jacob could use a little work on his social skills, he was trying to politely decline. Trust me, it's one of those things that adults just accept about kids and never worry about again. I bet the dog lady is eating a cookie right now and has forgotten all about it." He pat her head, ruffling her hair a bit. "There's no need to think too hard on it. We'll work on talking to people and politely saying 'no thank you' some time."
"Jacob also lied..." Miranda muttered, shooting Jocob a glare.
"Course ah did," Jacob suddenly defended, looking up from his tablet. "Ya saw wha' dey did ta mum! Twice now, ah didn't wanna be next!"
Juan sighed, looking over to Jacob. "I know it's hard to believe, but that dog lady is an Aos Si, from a far off world. Not... entirely sure how the dog part happened. Science is weird, trust me." With a breath, he stretched in his seat, and ruffled Jacob's hair. "I know what you were going for, you were trying to protect yourself and your sister, but try to more polite next time. There are many ways to say no in a kindly manner. No need to make enemies where there are none."
"Ah dun like it," Jacob muttered. "Why dey even let it on da ship? E'ryone knows mum's afraid o' da bloody fings. She can even walk no more, now dey jus' torture 'er some more? 'ow would ya feel if ya 'ad ta deal wif somefing ya were fraid of e'ry day?" He asked, getting even more irritated. "It kin keep it's muzzle outta our business."
Juan looked down at Jacob, a pang running through his heart. So young and already feeling the burgeoning stages of hatred. Worse yet, Juan couldn't just dismiss it as stupid. Had he been in the kid's position, he'd be worse. "There's a lot more to it than just what they look like. Those people aren't in charge of themselves. They are used as pawns against their will. The one that got your mother didn't know what it was doing. So, what I do, is focus my anger at the ones who made them do it, and hope that the ones that are free aren't a threat. The dog lady isn't a threat to you, I believe. Actually for a myriad of reasons I'm not sure she would care to do much at all to harm anyone, but you can't hate an entire people based off of a few of them. If you hate every individual of a kind because one has wronged you, the universe will never be safe. You'd hate humans too."
Juan wasn't sure if he was saying the right things, or even if his words were being heeded. Oh god, he thought, is this parenting?