OS Prompt 1.5 - Appearances Can Be Deceiving...

[thecricketer]

"Do not judge a book by its cover."

"Things are not always as they seem."

"Appearances are often deceiving."

These mantras persevere in some form for generations on many a planet, and yet so few listen to them.

Look at me, for instance. What do you see?

You see youth, and innocence.

You see passivity, and fragility.

You see always the man who holds his friend's hand, and never the man who has burned another to death.

That is why you always lose.

I have seen more death than you can possibly imagine, lived more lives than you can dream.

I am a tired renegade, a bitter exile, a disillusioned meddler. I will not stand for your cruelty, your corruption, your oppression.

You would do well to know this, but I will never tell you.

Comments

[capturedworlds.livejournal.com]

This would be why I like you. *nods*

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*faint smile* Thank you. I am...glad it is not off-putting.

[capturedworlds.livejournal.com]

Not at all!

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*the smile widens, and for a moment he looks young again* Splendid. It's who I am, after all.

[capturedworlds.livejournal.com]

*smiles* It's a good thing, to stand up for things so strongly.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

I've always thought so. *the smile falters, slightly* Though there are always some...regrets. What you could have done better - what you wish you hadn't done at all.

[capturedworlds.livejournal.com]

*softly*

I think that's part of the whole process of being a thinking, imperfect being. You can't beat yourself up over those things, but you can take the regret and look at it in a way to shape yourself into your next stage of growth to figure out what you could have done differently and tell yourself that's what you'll do in the future.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*chuckles quietly* You sound like Nyssa - which is a compliment, mind, you're both quite wise.

I try, really, to look forward, but sometimes the past catches up with me. Usually when I stop moving.

[capturedworlds.livejournal.com]

Is that why you always keep going?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

...That's one reason, I suppose.

[capturedworlds.livejournal.com]

I can understand that.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Turned out well for us, didn't it?

Hullo, Doctor.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

...Hollis?

Ah, well, yes, I suppose so, in the end. How are things on Cray?

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

S'my name.

Busy. Getting our lives back together. Bit of violence.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

Yes, well. I hadn't expected to see you.

I'm glad you're making progress. ...How much is a 'bit'?

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

No one ever does.

Less than usual. Certainly not four hundred fatalities a day.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*teasingly, not mockingly* You've no longer a fanfare, then?

I should hope there can only be improvement on that.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

One gets used to it. Unused to it.

It will be fine. Cray will be fine. How are you?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll soon have better things to be known for - already you've helped to save your world, and to end the mass slaughter.

I'm very glad to hear it. I'm quite all right. What about you, personally?

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Ambassador Hollis Az doesn't have the same ring to it. *good natured grin*

Dunno. Getting on. Trying to figure out what I'm going to do without my magazine covers. *smirks*

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*grins back* I quite like the sound of it, myself.

Hmm, that's what we all do, isn't it? *shakes his head, lips quirking* Perhaps they'll simply be different magazines.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Public speaking never was much my forte.

What have you been up to?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

I thought you were rather brilliant at it during our match.

Oh, you know, the same general...travelling.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

I was feeling passionate.

Ah. *pause* How's my girl then?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you can channel that passion once again. Just...remember.

*soft smile* ...She's well. She's done many good, brilliant things since you saw her last. In fact I've only recently seen her again.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

I'll see what I can do.

She's a good, brilliant woman. Everything she touches follows suit. ...I thought she said her place was with you?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

I have faith that your best will be quite enough.

Yes... *quietly* All things come to an end. She found a place that she felt needed her more, and she transformed it utterly.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Do you think so? I sometimes don't think I'm strong enough for this. Putting everything together after war. After slaughter.

And she's done now?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

We all doubt our strength at times - we simply have to go on, and continue trying. Put the failures behind us and make up for them.

Of course...it's nice to have help.

*his smile is small, rather sad, but so very proud* She is, yes. I...never thought I'd see her again.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

I've a bit, of course. We all want change. We're just not sure how to go about getting it.

*he catches that* What's wrong, Doctor?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

That's always the most difficult part - far easier said than done. ...Would you...well, I've some experience in change.

Hmm? *faint, guileless smile* Nothing.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Is that an offer to help?

You looked sad. Is...She's all right yeah? Did you not part well or something?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

It is.

*eyes widen slightly* I...did I? ...She's all right. We...had a bit of an argument, is all.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Offer accepted.

*browraise* Yeah. ...What sort of an argument? You two didn't seem much the arguin' sort.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

I'm glad. How long has it been since we left?

We weren't, really - we aren't. I...things have changed, for me, and I was being...difficult.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Three years next week. Sharz gets really frustrated at about this time of the year, so it's easy to remember.

...Right. So. Don't suppose she'll wanna come along with you then.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*quietly* Not the most cheerful anniversary, I should think.

...Hollis, no matter the...tension that might be between us at the moment I'm she she'd want to help - and she'd be delighted to see you again.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Not at all. Less so for him. Poor Sharz.

*rolls his eyes* Dunno about all that. What've you two got to have tension over? Lovers' spat?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

*quietly* Indeed. How...is he doing, really? Can you tell?

I do. Know, that is.

...What? Lov... *that's not a blush, it's a trick of the light* No. We...it's rather complicated really.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I mean, at the end of the day he's seen so many people die, so maybe it's easier to accept. But then, it's different, isn't it? You send someone off to fight a war and when they die you know that it happens. When you come home and your wife and son are dead...S'not the same. He's...he's off and on, yeah?

Do you now?

*amused* You mean you aren't? Try me.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

It...will take time. You never truly accept losing those so close to you but you learn to move on. You learn to hold their memory in fondness, rather than grief. He'll need friends, and purpose, and it seems he has both.

Yes. She cares both for your world and for you.

Aren't - you mean - no, we never... You find this very amusing, don't you.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Kinda ironic, isn't it? Him and I gettin' on when he's got the blood of my dad and my brother on his hands. I think...I think I've gotten over it. He's a good man, really. Little ruthless.

For Cray? I can understand that. Would have made a damn good ambassador. For me? No more than anyone else.

I do, yeah. Thought that was why she left?

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

It is, rather. That's...it's very good of you, Hollis. Most wouldn't.

...She liked you.

Thanks very much. ...Left Cray, you mean, or me?

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

He needed somewhere there. Anyways, I think I put everything aside when he rescued Nyss from that scum, Morian.

...Not like I liked her.

Least I'm bein' honest? Both.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

That was certainly a mark in his favour.

...She may have come to.

...Nyssa chose what she did because she wanted to be where she was needed most.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

Dunno 'bout you, but save the gal I fancy and you get into my good books. ...Well, you know, savin' Cray may have completely sealed the deal.

"May" has no place in a world where what has happened has happened. She didn't. Doesn't. Gone.

...You seem pretty capable to me, ya know.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

Saving anyone tends to influence my opinion for the better, but particularly if they're a dear friend. I'm glad he proved himself to you, I doubt Cray could survive the two of you squabbling instead of working together.

There's nothing stopping you from talking to her now.

Thank you.

[naxygoldenboy.livejournal.com]

*amused* What, don't trust me to look after Cray by my lonesome? Anyways, with luck our gettin' on is an example to the rest of our peers. Lineen and Gora alike. And we're attempting to put Naxy back together. Like it was before.

How do you suggest getting in touch?

...Look. Come by Cray, all right? You and Nyssa. We'll all get together (Sharz too) and catch up. How does that sound?