Davenport!

Davenport from TAZ: Balance. Spoilers!! Isola Radiale, Dwarf. Hiatus/Inactive. Written by Joth!

[capnport]

There’s a silver box at Barry’s house, addressed to ‘Mr. Davenport’. Inside is a red and silver ribbon with two charms—a star and a sailboat. The note reads: “Dear Mr. Captain Davenport—it’s been really nice getting to know you, and I hope you like your present! In my Faerun, it's tradition to make ribbons like this for our friends at Midwinter. I couldn’t find a space boat, but I added the star so you’d know it was in space. I hope you have a great holiday!! Love, Kay

He’s surprised to receive a gift from the kid, and assumes it’s mostly just because he’s considered family by association... and yet he’s extremely touched. He’ll thank her personally the next time he catches her around the house.

[capnport]

spiderstaff​:

Kay’s heard a lot about Captain Davenport– from what she’s gathered, he’s a cool boat captain, and he’s really important to Barry and Miss Lucretia! But now, sitting here next to him, she feels like she isn’t sure what to say– it’s really important to her to make a good first impression.

“It’s really nice to finally meet you, Captain.” Should she call him Captain? Is that too formal? “I’ve heard a lot about you from Mom and Dad and Uncle Taako!”

“Is it true that you guys lived on a real spaceship??”

“Er. Davenport’s fine,” he says. As tricky as his relationship to his name is, at the moment, he doesn’t want to shed it. And there’s no reason for this child to be calling him Captain when he doesn’t have that authority over her, especially here. Though he appreciates the gesture.

Heard a lot about him... from them? He’s concerned. He doesn’t think they’d speak ill of him, exactly, but they certainly might embarrass him.

“...Oh. Yes, m-more or less. It’s called the Starblaster.” He wonders how advanced her world is in terms of those sciences. “Have you ever seen a spaceship?”

[capnport]

anglerfishnabe​:

Eye darts towards the sound. Ogata’s stare is piercing as ever and he drills it onto the old man that enters the roof. He notes the ears and the tail but doesn’t breathe a word for a while. 

Not until the guy is leaving. He hangs his head to the side, resting it on his rifle.

“ What, did I scare you away gramps? “

A slight exasperation crosses Davenport’s face. He notes the weapon, and refuses to be intimidated by it; not unless this person intends to make a real threat. “It just s-seems like a place one would come to be alone,” he says. But, if not...

“What are you up to, then? I just happen to like high places.” He should’ve gone for a tree, instead, really.

[capnport]

beyond-use​:

There– Davenport seems to loosen up, if only for a moment. It’s not particularly surprising that this has been the first topic to garner such a reaction; service is a significant commonality to share with someone, despite the vast differences between their respective missions.

“Ship’s psychiatrist, mostly.” Rung’s pretty sure the Starblaster didn’t have an equivalent crewmember, which is– a real pity.

“Certainly. I imagine you must have grown rather attached to your ship?” That, or grown completely sick of it. In Rung’s experience, however, captains tend toward the former on long or dangerous journeys.

Less than a day. Gracious.

The mech keeps his surprise to himself. He had guessed that Davenport was a new arrival, but he hadn’t expected the poor man to be quite that new.

“No, not at all! You just seem a little tense, if I may say so. The initial adjustment period can be terribly disorienting. If there’s anything I can do to support you during this time, you need only ask; it would be my pleasure to assist a member of Barry’s family.”

“Still, at least you’re here with people you know. Will you be moving in here, do you think? If you haven’t decided yet, that’s perfectly understandable– one benefit of being in this place is that there’s hardly ever any rush to make decisions like that.”

“An important job,” Davenport acknowledges, impressed. It must have been quite a large ship to have a dedicated psychiatrist on board. He’s sure one would benefit the Starblaster, but they’ve mostly made do with Merle’s limited training.

“Of course. She’s gotten us through s-s-so much,” Davenport says. It doesn’t reset like its passengers, meaning he’s done a lot of meticulous maintenance over the century on a ship only designed to last a few months.

He appreciates the gesture, though the mentions of adjusting--the implication of this lasting any more than a short time--disconcert him quite a bit. Rung’s from another world, too, isn’t he? Doesn’t he care to get back?

It isn’t really Davenport’s business.

“There is something of a rush, unfortunately,” he says, tone matter-of-fact but hopefully not impolite. He’s out of practice with balancing these things. “But I have been assigned a home in the Cotes Ward.”

Tactically, he probably should stay over here more often than not, but he doesn’t know about ‘living’ here in any official capacity. He’s not sure he wants to share a roof with Lucretia, at least not immediately, not when he’s still unsure of how he feels.

[capnport]

journalskeeper​:

“Nothing that we’ve seen,” she nods. It’s said as a comfort, but she knows it isn’t one. None of them have been able to rest easy, Hunger or no Hunger. After a century of pursuit, that feeling doesn’t just go away.

“Barry and Lup have been here the longest– months before me, even. I can update you on our findings, but they’ve been inconclusive. We don’t even know the whereabouts of the light.”

Her pace is practiced and level as they walk, used to keeping stride with him for so long. Her tone is much the same– she understands why the apology was unwelcome, expected as much even.

Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, though.

“We’d hoped Magnus and Merle were with you. If this was a traditional cycle, we thought the rest of you might be with the ship somewhere. People tend to show up during these eclipses, though. I wouldn’t consider their arrival to be outside the realm of possibility.”

“No Light, n-no ship...” Davenport continues, taking stock like it might help this make better sense. “Months without results... do y-y-you know who did this, at least? Or how?”

He doesn’t think Lucretia would lie to him with his full memories intact, but after the last decade, he can’t help but wonder. But, at the least, he’ll be able to confirm this story from the others once he reaches them.

He’s conscious of the way she keeps pace, and some part of him is glad that that synchronicity isn’t lost, and another part of him doesn’t know how to feel about it at all.

“Well, let’s hope they don’t, if this isn’t where the ship is,” Davenport says, brows furrowed. “As long as M-Magnus can find the ship, wherever you’ve hidden it, we should be fine.”

[ladygrit]

they do this to punish lup and taako

[capnport]

@suboceansong | SC

Davenport is having something of a time looking for decent shoes in the children’s section of the store. It’s a surprise to see someone else there--someone who seems like a human, not someone who’d need to be here.

“...Shopping for an actual child, I take it?”

[capnport]

@spiderstaff​ | SC

“S-So, you’re... their daughter, then,” Davenport says. A drow who’s barely bigger than he is--she really must be young. “...Well. It’s nice to meet y-you, then, Kay.”

[capnport]

@stormswake​ | SC

After a fair bit of wandering in this club, Davenport’s finally forced to approach one of the staff members. “Excuse m-me, I’m looking for Barry Bluejeans,” he says. “Although the longer I sp-sp-spend here, the more I think I’ve misremembered his shift times.”

[capnport]

@anglerfishnabe​ | SC

“Ah, I wasn’t.. expecting anyone else to be up here,” Davenport says, awkwardly, as he steps out onto the building’s roof. He opens his mouth again, and closes it, unsure of how to start a conversation, or if he really should. “I’ll just l-leave...?”

[capnport]

.

[capnport]

beyond-use​:

Davenport doesn’t seem to be relaxing any even as he moves to allow entry, and Rung watches him carefully, smile gentle and unobtrusive, as the mech makes his way inside.

Rung’s size makes it somewhat difficult to give Davenport space, but he does his best to settle as far from the man’s chosen spot as he can without appearing rude. He’s glad Davenport is up to responding, at least– any silence that might settle over the livingroom now is sure to be a terribly awkward one.

“The captain? It’s an honor to meet you, Captain Davenport. I’m not sure if Barry mentioned this, but I’ve served on a few ships myself– I have an idea of how demanding your position can be.” Particularly considering what the Starblaster and its members have been through. “It’s admirable how well you seem to have fostered close bonds among your crew.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind. Lucretia’s notes were very comprehensive and helpful in getting a sense of the design– I couldn’t have done it without her and Barry. Models can be nice reminders of home when the real thing is, er– unavailable, I’ve found.” A pause, and then: “…do you mind if I ask you how long you’ve been here?”

The man probably came through with the rest of his crew, but while Rung’s heard of the ship’s captain before, he’s never seen any sign of him either here at Barry’s place or in the rest of the city; being a new arrival would offer one explanation for Davenport’s continued stiffness and possible unease.

“Really!” That awakens a bit of a more lively interest, and he looks over Rung again. Barry hadn’t given Davenport a full rundown of his partner by any means; the model Starblaster had mostly only come up because it was physically present. “What was y-your role aboard?”

“I’ve only been on the one, m-m-myself. But we’ve had a very long journey.” And not a complete one, if he can help it at all.

At the mention of Lucretia, his ears twitch. He keeps his composure, although he’s a little more tense again. “...Y-Yes. This one cer...tainly helps.”

Emotionally irresponsible though it is for Barry to be dating outside of the crew, Davenport is quietly grateful for Rung’s calm demeanor. He’s still, by and large, a stranger, but his company is proving better than Davenport sitting alone with his thoughts.

“Less than a day.” He doesn’t truly sound bothered when he adds, “Was it that obvious?”

[capnport]

journalskeeper​:

“The Hunger isn’t here.” It’s the first thing she can think of to say– it was her first concern all those months ago, and his glances at the sky don’t go unnoticed. “At least, as far as we can tell. And this isn’t Faerun. It’s… sort of a pocket dimension. I’ve been here for a while, and I really wish I had more answers, I do.”

The two of them never got a chance to talk after everything that happened– in all the surrounding chaos, there just wasn’t time. And now… she has no idea what she could possibly say that could be enough.

“Barry’s here, too, and the twins. We have a house in another sector of the city, maybe it would be best to have everyone in one place so we can explain.”

And perhaps it would be easier for him to trust someone else’s word, she thinks. If he just came from the office, if he just got those memories back, she can’t imagine how confusing this all must be.

“I can do my best to fill you in as we go, if you’d like. I know it’s a lot.” A pause, and then…

“I’m sorry.”

Not Faerun, but also not a new cycle. Where he was hoping for clarity, things only become increasingly bizarre. “No Hunger, no... scouts? N-Nothing?”

It’s too good to be true--literally. He doesn’t believe for one moment that it means anything’s fine. If they’re trapped in a pocket dimension where the Hunger isn’t, then the Hunger is outside or elsewhere and definitively ravaging places inaccessible to them. And this crew, the only people who can do anything about it, can’t stop it from here.

“Have you m-m-made any progress in getting... out of this pocket, then?” He asks. He’s not sure how long ‘a while’ is, but surely it’s enough for the crew to have made some kind of plan. They’re competent people, and having the entire science team present is definitely good for this.

The apology hits like a brick, and his reaction is as stark. He very much doesn’t want to hear it. His ears peel back, his hands open and close. He doesn’t look at her.

“...And M-Merle, and Magnus, is there any n-n-n--Is there any n-news on them?”

[capnport]

beyond-use​:

“Oh! Hello,” Rung says with a polite sort of confusion, his expression and surprise open and inviting of explanation or introduction. None comes, however; instead, he has to dampen the shock of being addressed by name by yet another complete stranger.

At least he’s learned from his initial interaction with Lucretia– Barry must have told this man about him, which means he must be either a friend or a member of the family. It seems like more and more of Barry’s family members are popping up by the day, which would be nothing but wonderful if this particular friend didn’t seem distinctly uncomfortable to see Rung here.

“Are you quite certain it’s alright? I can always come back later– I’d hate to impose if you’re in the middle of something.” Or if something about him is setting this stranger so ill at ease. Maybe this man simply hasn’t met a mechanical in the city before?

“It’s flattering that you seem to have heard of me,” Rung says, ducking as gracefully as he can so the doorframe isn’t quite so in the way. “I apologize that I don’t recognize you in turn. Are you here for Barry, or someone else?”

“I’m n-not,” Davenport says, and he shifts to invite Rung inside. His movements are stiff, carefully avoidant of any mannerisms he picked up as a butler, but unsure how else to position himself without being impolite. “And it’s Barry’s house.”

He’s not about to deny Barry’s partner entry to the human’s own home. Davenport goes back towards where he’s been sitting, vaguely shocked, for the last hour or so. The model of the Starblaster is set on the coffee table, where he’s been staring at it for lack of other familiar things to latch onto.

“For... Barry, yes. I’m Davenport.” His tail twitches slightly. He doesn’t like the familiarity of his own name on his lips, so much more easy and automatic than any other word he’s managed to say, and he hates that it bothers him, too. “Captain of the S-Starblaster.”

He has no reason to beat around the bush about it. As long as this guest is going to be here, he ought to make some kind of conversation until Barry returns and rescues them both. And there is at least one thing Davenport is interested in.

“You m-m-made this, right?” He gestures to the ship model. “It’s extremely well m-m--well-crafted.”

[capnport]

journalskeeper​:

“Davenport…? I–” Lucretia knows people tend to arrive during the eclipses– it’s become a habit to look out for newcomers, especially since Taako showed up. While she’s relieved to see her captain, of course she is… maybe for his sake it would have been better for Barry to be the one to greet him.

“I don’t know. We’re still trying to figure a lot out, this isn’t a traditional cycle.” This conversation had been hard with Barry and Lup, sure, and harder yet with Taako, but Davenport… she doesn’t even know when he’s from.

There’s a chance he doesn’t even know.

Still, she owes him what information she has; it seems the least she can do, all things considered.

“I’d hoped you were with the ship. This might seem a strange question, but what’s the last thing you remember?”

“Really.” His voice is dry, but it would seem that she is not at all joking. The anxiety on her face is so much more easily readable than it had been to his chronically fuzzy mind.

Not a traditional cycle. Yes, that’s certainly a way to put the series of events on Faerun. But why wouldn’t she have the ship? Hell, why aren’t they on the moon?

“The Hunger was... on our doorstep. Or I thought it w-was.” He looks up at the sky again, as though maybe this time he’ll catch a glimpse of dark and eyes hiding among the cheery, pale blue. “And y-you...”

He doesn’t want it to be real. It doesn’t feel real. Spending that long so out of it, the memories feel like vague dreams of being someone else. But he trusts his instincts like he trusts nothing else, and his gut knows that something terrible happened.

“We were with Fisher’s... child. In y-y-your office.” He looks at Lucretia, trying to gauge her reaction. Did he get knocked out, somehow? How long has it been? Is this the next world? “What. Happened. How did we get here?”

[capnport]

Starter call for Davenport, cap at 3! The Adventure Zone and D&D-based muses are exempt. Varying length!

[capnport]

@beyond-use

Davenport was immensely grateful when he found that Barry was here. Although the situation is still highly alarming, getting his take was far less uncomfortable than talking to Lucretia any more than necessary. And now he’s in Barry’s... house, and Barry ran off with an apology to go help his... child, and Lucretia's been gone since the moment she could hand Davenport off to Barry because she was just as uncomfortable as the gnome was.

So he’s alone in the house, with more to process than he ever wants to deal with, and of course it’s now that there’s a knock on the door.

“Ah,” he says when he opens it to someone who’s taller than the door itself. He stands stunned for a moment, before he starts putting together a few pieces of what he’s learned in the last few hours. “You must be... Rung.”

As little as he wants to deal with this, he has even less of a desire to be rude to someone so important to one of his crew, so he swallows the discomfort and simply appears rigid. “Y-Y-You can come in. Barry will be back.”