REPORT 003 :: HOMECOMING // VOICE // ENCRYPTED 20% // BACKDATED TO SUNDAY EVENING

[daisy023]

This is SPARTAN-023...[Click, click, click, click.] logging an event in the journal on Jannuary 30, 2531. MJOLNIR helmet inoperative. Temporary measure-- [Click-click!] until UNSC logging equipment is repaired.

I've been hit by an experiment of the Malnosso. Current effects are reduced height, speed, reflexes... [A groan accompanies the fall of something heavy into a table.] strength. Even physical conditioning is gone. Conservation of race, memories, training, gender, and some mental prowess. [Metallic munitions of many kinds are scrambled in a box.] At least I won't have to crouch to not hit the doors.

[She continues to walk through the room with rushed steps, and quickly creaks a door open.]

Lucky I hadn't set myself up in the MJOLNIR, otherwise--

[Her words and steps end abruptly. The hinges continue to screech until they lose momentum.

There is a silence in the apartment that lasts a minute.]




Mom.


[The woman remains in silence until the journal ceases recording.]

Comments

[daisy023]

[The woman sets herself in position, carefully flattening her dress so the folds in the fabric would not ruin the shot, and caresses her newly long hair to avoid blocking the shot. As a Spartan, she would not have thought too much about pictures taken from her (for propaganda or otherwise), but her mom...

She was different. For all she cared about, she deserved the best. She deserved memory. At first, the woman hesitates, not knowing which other details would she have forgot, but then looks at the camera, and at Valvalis.

For the time she had spent in this strange place, she greeted her with open arms, and treated her not like a demi-god, a freak, or an enemy. But like family.

Daisy remembers the way her mom used to look at her. And she smiles.]

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

[[Val lets Daisy get prepared, watching her flattening the hair and the dress. Before taking the picture, she peers away from the camera, smiling at "Daisy" then looking through and...

*flash*

The camera spits out a blackened picture, the elemental smiling as she tugs it away and sets the camera down. While the newest fades in, Val grabs the other two and stacks them, handing them over; a picture of Daisy's family, the woman's feet, and Val in Nel's body... Now, if only it had been Val herself.]]

Here we go. Is this one alright?

[daisy023]

[She waits by the side of Valvalis for the photographs to reveal themselves. The first two reveal their clumsy attempts at using the artifact... and the third one enlightens, with the portrait of her mother.]

Perfect.

[Daisy holds the photos for a long time, looking at them with the hint of a smile, and remains still, deep in thought. Until she decides to speak the truth.]

...She was my mother.

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

[[Val's eyes widen a bit. Really, she was thinking...]]

Oh, she's not your sister? Well, that just makes the photos all that more important, hmm? [[She did say plural.. on purpose.]]

Mmmm, even if this one isn't exactly me.

Well, let's put this away and get back, alright? Can't spend all day here.

[daisy023]

[The woman looks at the elemental for a long moment, and nods. When she opens her journal, she puts the three pictures on the end, between the last page and the leather hardcover.

When she closes it, her eyes shut, as well. It may not be an authentic photo of her mother. But it was her memory.]

Yes, Valvalis.

[And so, Daisy stands up, and follows her newfound friend.]

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

[[It's a nice, uneventful trip back to Daisy's apartment. Later, she'll have to get a frame or something like it.

And Val is very much aware she's got all three pictures, her own included.]]

So... can I ask about her? Or... would you prefer not to talk about it? I really have nothing to do today so... I have plenty of time~

[daisy023]

[Daisy is somewhat more calm on the walk back to her living quarters, holding the journal with both hands as she thinks to herself.

How much could she tell her? She knew well she could not reveal about why was she the way she was. Most troubling to her, though, there were many things she forgot from the time she used to have a home.]

I don't remember much of her. [She admits, somewhat sad.] I remember the way she used to talk to me, and the things we would do together. But not much.

[This is why she looks somewhat young. Because she was like this when she last saw her.]

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

I see. Well, I can't fault you for not remembering. But, what little you do remember is pleasant... so I'm glad.

You look a lot like her. I thought she was your sister, not your mother.

[[And here comes the intrusive... painful assumption.]] Did she... pass on?

[daisy023]

[She smiles. While she hated not having her abilities... she was happy that she got to see her mother again. Though the mention of her looking like Daisy's sister makes her raise an eyebrow.

But with the question... Daisy turns her sight back to the road, and remains silent. She does not know how to answer that. She knew well what had happened. But not only was it classified... the memory of losing her family remained on her mind.

Daisy liked Valvalis. But there were things that were meant to be faced alone.]

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

[[And Val looks a little remorseful for having asked.]]

I'm sorry Daisy. I forget that people often have boundaries. I didn't mean to upset you.

[daisy023]

It's okay, Val. [She mutters honestly. After having revealed who was she right now, it was natural that she would've asked.

Reaching the fifth community housing, the woman comes to think. If she retreated to her apartment, she would be left to think and wonder about all of this; On the other hand, she was the only Spartan in this place -the only person from the UNSC in this universe-.

The thought bothered her. Considering it the strangest thing she would ever say, Daisy asks.]

Will you want something?

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

Want something? [[Val wasn't sure what Daisy was offering. Was it meant to be in exchange for helping with the photo? Or, some sort of invitation to spend more time together. Val's mind deviated for a second, but she knew Daisy wasn't that kind of girl. Perhaps she just didn't want to be alone at the moment; which Val didn't mind being the cure for. Still... the question alone seemed out of place.]] I'm not certain what you mean.

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

Want something? [[Val wasn't sure what Daisy was offering. Was it meant to be in exchange for helping with the photo? Or, some sort of invitation to spend more time together.

Val's mind deviated for a second, but she knew Daisy wasn't that kind of girl. Perhaps she just didn't want to be alone at the moment; which Val didn't mind being the cure for.

Still... the question alone seemed out of place.]] I'm not certain what you mean.

[daisy023]

Something to eat, or drink.

[The Chief Petty Officer would have insisted it was a safety measure while she was in this form, and unable to wear the MJOLNIR. But truth was, Val's suspicion was correct: She didn't want to be alone while she felt vulnerable. Companionless.]

I don't have much. But if you want.

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

Sure dear. I'll stay for a drink. [[Val quickens her step a bit, not really realizing it, but, she is a bit pleased to spend some more tiem with her new friend.

There was something between Val and Daisy... but it wasn't that same sort of something that she felt for Nel, or anyone else she'd fallen for before... but it was a familiar feeling for sure.]] I'd love a drink.

[daisy023]

[SPARTAN-023 takes notice of her quickened step as they advance to her quarters. They had become closer as of late. Very few outsiders ever dared to get close to a Spartan, let alone bond with one.

The place is frugally decorated, with at most a rug carpet amidst the boxes of munitions hidden around the place, though the appliances that had been in her apartment prior to claiming it remained as the most visible features. And well-maintained, too.

She wordlessly prepares chocolate, not knowing what else to say. If there were words to be said at all.]

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

[[Val didn't have many words either. Not at the moment. Val's house wasn't grandly furnished either, but there was more to it, what with Nel and Kirimi's tastes involved. She wandered around a little, avoiding the bedroom of course, taking note of the cases of rounds about.]]

Did you find all of these while you were here? These... bullets? [[That's what they were, right? ]] I didn't think there would be so many in the retrieval shops.

[daisy023]

Many aren't even calibers I use. [She admits.] I keep them... just in case.

[Perhaps she could get the chance to have a Sniper Rifle, or an MG, though what she'd favor the most is a shotgun. Who knows?

Once the chocolate has boiled, she serves two cups, giving one of them towards Valvalis. Even the motion of granting somebody something was odd to Daisy since she had just lost over thirty centimeters in height.]

[aero-dienamic.livejournal.com]

I see. [[She has an idea in mind, but, she'll have to think on it later on. For now, she takes the mug from Daisy, wanting, but not actually commenting on why I soldier would know how to cook... or specifically, know how to make a treat like hot chocolate.

Val simply smiles back at Daisy.]]

[daisy023]

[SPARTAN-023 did not consider herself an excellent cook. She just knew how to prepare these things out of lessons given by her instructors, on how to make their own food and drink should personnel lack.

Secretly, Daisy had always loved sweets.

Daisy sat with Valvalis, and drank her cup in silence. And for what remained of the afternoon, she was happy.]