ximilia | text | un: m.cabrera

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text | un: m.cabrera

[ turns out? space doesn't give a single fuck about your circadian rhythm. or maybe insomnia is just that attached to her that even the absence of a sun dictating her internal clock doesn't faze it, like an old friend you wish would just forget you already.

one night (?) late into the early hours (???) marta finds herself drifting out of the room she's come to assume will be hers for the indefinite future, passing through stark white walls with all the sterility of a hospital, but none of its familiar chaos.

she's still getting used to the earpiece. still getting used to hearing other people's voices in her head. she doesn't mean to add another in the void, but one of her own thoughts blares out too vividly as she stares out into an actual void: ]

—but where are the stars?

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That's the closest for many of us. Are you from Earth? There's a bit of an overlap between people from Earth and those who've never been to space, at least with the people I've spoken to.

I am, yes. Boston. Massachusetts, if you know. [ cuba, before that, but she's learned to be less forthcoming with that— ] I guess it doesn't really matter now.

Where are you from?

I've been. It still matters if you'll go back one day.

Eastern Europe. [ it's become her chosen arbitrary homeland when needed. ]

I've never been outside the state. Only been to Cuba other than that.
I always knew my world was small but...
Didn't realize just how small, till now.

I've done a lot of traveling, Cuba included.

It's not like we knew there were other universes out there.

For work? Or for leisure?

No, I guess not. Too busy thinking about everything on the ground, I think.

Both.

Limited space travel keeps everyone pretty grounded that way. Welcome aboard.

I miss it most days. But I understand why my mom wanted to move.

But — thanks. Everyone's been really welcoming. I guess a situation like this would make everyone pretty close.

Traveling or Cuba?

It's a surprisingly collaborative bunch. [ she's not used to this much altruism with a large group?? ]

Cuba. I spent most of my life there.

[ is it really altruism, though? when they are all here for some kind of personal gain... ]

What makes it so surprising?

It's very warm, that's mostly what I remember, but it's been a while since I've gone myself.

People coming together, especially when we all have different ultimate aims.

Edited 2021-12-06 20:58 (UTC)

When you're done here... You should visit again.

That's true. I guess it speaks to how important this is for all of us.

I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up there again one day. Do you plan to go again?

That's one way to look at it.

I would like to, but...

[ it's too risky, she almost says, but thankfully manages to keep it to herself. she opts for another truth instead. ]

I don't really have the time.

We're all here for something we want badly... aren't we?

It's more restricted for Americans too, right? I don't know what year it is for you. Time and resources. [ not that legality or year really matters to andy, shrugs. ]

Doesn't mean we're all willing to do the same things to undo that something.

Something like that, yes.

[ for the daughter of an undocumented immigrant, it was just safer to keep as far away as possible. less threads connecting them to their home country, the better. ]

Have the... choices been hard, so far?
The things you've had to do?

Edited 2021-12-08 22:17 (UTC)

[ she's curious, but not enough to keep prying when she realizes this woman doesn't want to keep talking about it. ]

I've only been here for two missions, but I don't particularly think so. Though I might be a little less hesitant than others, so my limits probably aren't yours.

That's true... I want to say there's very little I wouldn't do for my regret, but there's not much I'm capable of doing. So it's so much easier said than done.

There's been a variety of tasks and both worlds I've been to have been markedly different.

What do you do?

Back home? I'm a nurse...
But I think a human nurse from 2019 would be a little out of depth here, don't you think?

People are still getting injured left and right, so maybe not as out of depth as you'd expect.

Stab wound is still a stab wound, regardless of where it happens.