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Swansea swayed the half empty mouthwash in his hands, drinking the remaining substance before chucking it somewhere around him, joining the pile on the floor. He leaned onto the simulation screen, his hangover giving him a migraine. He never would've expected himself to be in this situation again, after a whole 15 years of sobriety. Not like it matters anymore, who cares about that when you're gonna die in space anyways?
...
The lights and electronic humming was seriously hurting him. He forced himself up, swaying a little but not too much. Even after staying away from alcohol all those years, his body still holds its immunity. He slumped across the lounge, dragging his axe with him. He hasn't let it go ever since the crash. Don't trust no one with it.
...
He decided to take a nap in front of Utility. Not only does it give him a personal, quieter space, it also lets him keep an eye out for anyone who wants to get in. Not like anyone has. He already drilled into everyone's head how 'dangerous' it was inside. Even Jimmy-he is not calling the man captain-never bothered to check on it anymore.
Upon arrival, he was met with an unlikely sight. While he did pester the young man into joining his destructive habits, he didn't exactly expect to see Daisuke all sprawled out on the floor around his own drool and tears. He was holding the bottle of Mouthwash in his hand, face on the ground. It wasn't even half empty, but he could notice the other two bottles laying nearby. If it wasn't for the young man stirring awake when he heard Swansea's footsteps, Swansea would've thought he was asleep.
".. Who?.. Oh-Swansea..." Was all the man said, pulling his hand to cover his eyes. Swansea huffed. Great. Can't even find a place for himself anymore. He sat down in front of the Utility door, a few metres away from where Daisuke laid down. He sets his axe to the side, making sure it won't fall down and chop his leg when he doesn't notice.
"Didn't expect ya to last more than a bottle kid." Swansea started. He doesn't know how to feel about the sight in front of him. Part of him feels guilt for leading the boy to behave the way he did all those years ago.
"Heh..im not w-weak.." Daisuke muttered, a sigh escaping his mouth. "I dunno, it's just-" He rolled to his side, clutching the bottle of Mouthwash close to him. "My mom found this internship for me..." He slurred, seemingly not noticing what he was saying.
Swansea's ears perked at this. He doesn't know if he should be listening, but he doesn't feel like moving anywhere else either. He's tired and his hangover is killing his head. So he stayed.
"Such a slacker, she said.. I don't know, really." Now Daisuke was fully lying on his back, covering his eyes from the harsh red lights with his arm. "I just...never knew what-what I wanted to be." He mumbled. "Never was good at anything. Tootal screw up."
This was...new, to say the least. Swansea had never seen the bright young man this... Solemn. Other than when he first saw the Captain's burnt body. He finds that he doesn't like it. So he, also in his drunken state, blurted out a "moping doesn't fit you, Daisuke."
".. . I just hope she doesn't blame herself." Now that was something else. Swansea never really knew much about the kid's life back on earth, other than his achievements in baseball or how charming he was with girls. Never really bothered to ask, already tired out by how chipper the younger was. Whatever his relationship was with his mother, Swansea was sure any parent would get worried about their child...well he doesn't really feel like dwelling on that right now.
Instead, he looks over to Daisuke, speaking softer than before "Y'know kid? I had a son once. Loud, annoying, always up to no good. Just like you."
Daisuke lifted his arm at that, staring at Swansea with an unimpressed look on his face. "Oh wow like I haven't heard that before." He whispered to himself.
"He fought with his sister a lot, defended her from bullies, nags me and his mother about how he wants to be a technician like his old man." Swansea continued, rambling on. "I got mad that day, telling him that in no world should be like his father. That he's gotta up his game. Be an inventor-or make his own company or whatever."
"Surprisingly, those words didn't fly over his head like always. Instead the boy worked himself to the bone. He stopped hangin’ out with those vape addicts round the block. Found himself a new hobby. He had goals. Great ones." Swansea stopped himself, taking a breather. Daisuke was now intently listening. This was new to him too. Swansea never talked about anything but work.
"He sounds like a good son." He said. "...better than me."
"Oh shut it. You two are both experts in finding ways to get me mad. He probably would've been your age by now. "
"Would?" Daisuke was starting to sit up, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Did something..happen?"
Swansea let out a big sigh. "He...got in a car crash days before his finals. Was reading up on biology before that drunken bastard drove his way. He wasn't even in the way, he was walking down the sidewalk." Swansea chuckled grimly. "Always getting into trouble he never caused till his very end."
Silence followed after that. Swansea was starting to regret his rambling about his deceased son. Darn it. He probably looks stupid and drunk outta his head right now. He didn't even notice Daisuke dragging himself to sit next to the old man.
"Seems like we would've been best buds. Sorry that happened, Boss." Daisuke offered. He has his legs folded, the knees touching his chin.
Swansea coughed. "It's fine, kid. Been a long time. I uh, sorry I went off like that."
"No-it's okay!" The young man cringed at his own croaked voice. Gosh, the kid must've been crying for a while. "It's nice to hear about your family. I'm sure they're nice people." He added. "Would love to meet them if we ever get outta here."
That earned a laugh out of the older man. "Ya sure that ain't just’ a reason to hit on my daughter?"
"What-no??? Im handsome and all but i don't-"
"Hah! Just messin with ya kid. She's married. Last time I saw her she was expecting." A sudden realisation dawned on Swansea. "Im... I probably have a grandchild back home."
"That's something to look forward to."
After another long bout of silence, Swansea is the one to speak up. " Hey kiddo. All that you said earlier, don't worry too much. You're young. You still have time to figure those out. Go out, have fun, find something you're happy with. Don't be like Ol' Swansea here- livin on minimum wage n' getting bad company insurance. Once yer outta here, go work somewhere better, kay?"
Daisuke chuckled, eyes downcast still. "I dunno, it just seems hopeless sometimes. Though I wouldn't mind being like you, Boss. You're a good man. "
Oh. Swansea's chest tightened at that. Seems all the drinking was really getting to him. He hasn't felt so emotional in a while.
"You're not so bad either kid. Don't stomp yourself, that's my job." He jests. "... Your mother is lucky to have a son as good natured as you. She oughta be proud."
He expected Daisuke to reply to him with another joke of his, or anything really. But he was yet again met with silence.
"... You think so? " He questioned weakly. He looked fragile. Swansea reached out a hand to harshly pat the younger on his back, making the latter cough.
"Damn right i do. Now don't think I'm gonna go soft on ya kid. You still gotta lotta learn." Daisuke nodded in between coughs, his manner seemingly more cheerful than before. "Y-yeah yeah i know. Still, thanks Swansea. For, well, everything up till now." Daisuke smiled. A genuine, calm smile. It was as if Swansea could feel the warmth of the sun on his face. Kid's a ray of sunshine himself.
... When was the last time he actually felt the sun again?
"Get outta here with all this fluffy crap" He messes with the intern's hair. They laugh again, and then-
"Take it please, I don't want to see this thing anymore." The bottle of mouthwash was pushed into Swansea's hands. Huh. Even in this state, he had enough self control to stop drinking before it was too late. If only Swansea was that disciplined.
"Good riddance. Now let's get somewhere cleaner. You look like you're gonna vomit anytime soon and I do not look forward to cleaning your waste off the floor."
Swansea pulled himself up with extreme difficulty. It was comfortable sitting, but a quick glance at Daisuke's face tells him they need to hurry to the bathroom. Daisuke mumbled something under his breath before letting Swansea pull him off the ground. The two make their way to the bathroom, side by side, drunk man holding another drunken man. The humming of the electricity hurts less now.