video;

[werethatgood]

[ It takes Cassie a few hours to realize that her dad isn't the only one who's gone. And then a little more to gather up... something. Courage, strength, to reach out to anyone other than Tony, anyway. But she knows her dad has more friends here, and... stuff. ]

Hi, um. Cassie here. I'm sorry that I'm with the bad news today, but...

For those that know them, my dad - Scott Lang - and Teddy Altman are gone from Keeliai. They'll be fine back home, I think, so that's at least something good, right?

Yeah, that's all.

Comments

text;

[parallels]

[Clara stares blankly at the screen for what seems like forever as she reads the words "Scott Lang" and "gone". It's like her head's gone funny and can't comprehend the two words put together. Or didn't want to put them together. Scott had been one of the first people she met on the turtle. Someone who had always been there and that she could go to for nearly anything.

FInally, mechanically, her fingers move on the console.]

Thank you for letting us know. About Scott.

text;

[werethatgood]

Yeah. It's... not a problem.

[ Yeah, letting people know is not a problem. The fact that he's missing is. ]

to audio

[parallels]

[Clara feels guilty. This is Scott's daughter and she's brave enough to announce on the network. She should be braver and not hide behind text especially since she understands the pain of losing a parent. Slowly she reaches over and flips the setting to audio.]

I suppose that's not the problem is it. [Clara exhales bitterly.] He's been a friend of mine since I arrived.

Re: to audio

[werethatgood]

No, telling people what's happening isn't a problem, let alone the problem. [ Quietly. It's actually easier, in audio, but she was pretty sure that people who know her would have asked for video, too, anyway, or showed up, so... ]

He's really good with people. He's a good person. So I'm... not surprised. Hi. I'm Cassie.

[ Words that she thinks have to make sense. But they're only sort of registering in her own mind, even as she's speaking them. ]

[parallels]

Yeah. I know what you mean. It's only the surface, really. [She inhales slowly to try and steady herself. The breath feels sharp and pointed in her chest.]

He really could. He knew how to look after someone who needed it. [a sigh.]

I'm Clara. He's mentioned you, of course.

[werethatgood]

Yeah, he's mentioned you, too. I... did you have stuff planned or something? I'm sorry.

[ She's not sure she gets what Clara means, by 'only the surface,' but not up for asking about something abstract. ]

[parallels]

[The announcement the surface of how miserable it is to lose someone.]

Not so much planned. I just enjoyed spending time with him. Suppose he looked after me a bit.

I'm sorry too.

[werethatgood]

[ ... sort of. For those who don't know Cassie and Scott's history, maybe. ]

Thanks, and... Right. I see. I don't think I'll be very good at that, sorry.

[parallels]

[And she doesn't. They never really got into the nitty gritty of it all.]

Don't worry, I'm a bit surprised that he was good at it. It was sort of unexpected in the first place and he just suddenly started doing it. It's funny.

[She makes a hollow little laugh.]

Thank you though. For saying he'll be alright when he returns. It's always a worry here.

[werethatgood]

... not unexpected at all. He's been caring for me almost entirely on his own since I was nine. He really, really is good at it. No matter what the stupid judges thought.

[ Crossed arms, not that that part can be heard. But her petulance about the court rulings giving custody over her to her mom is pretty audible. She shakes her head, trying to move away from it, too. ]

Yeah, this place can bring people from really risky times, I thought it was worth mentioning that it wasn't the case with him.

[parallels]

Yeah. If I was sick or injured. He came to help right away, no second thoughts, and just started trying to fix it.

[She sighs softly.]

Thank you for that. And I... I suppose things aren't going to be alright but I hope you've got people here to help you.

[werethatgood]

[ Cassie's mouth quirks a little. ]

Yeah, he always did that, and I'm pretty sure he always will. Helping people means a lot to him, and especially people that he cares for.

And thanks, Clara. It - it means a lot to me. And it'd definitely mean a lot to him.