Chapter Text
Uranium, Neptunium, and Plutonium were sat next to each other in Uranium’s oddly welcoming room. There hadn’t been much for them to do that they hadn’t done a million times before. They rarely visited, and were rarely visited by other elements outside of the Actinides because they were viewed negatively by many elements beyond them. The radioactive elements outside of the Actinides were the main visitors, especially Radium, but no one had visited in a while, so the Actinides only had each other. Uranium hated to be alone, but its lovers were with Curium, and it did not want to disturb them. So, it asked Neptunium and Plutonium if they would like to spend time with it, to which they agreed. The Planet elements sit in awkward silence, as they acknowledge the exasperating loneliness they collectively feel. It wasn’t very pleasant, but at least they had each other. That’s all you really needed, as an element; the companionship of a few peers.
But the three were tired of this routine. Sitting and speaking to each other slowly turned from more than enough, to merely an exhausting pastime. It wasn’t always just the three of them, as Uranium’s lovers were just as easy to speak to as Uranium, but the other Actinides besides them were particularly isolated, from Uranium’s family and from each other. They didn’t go out much, with some so caught up in their own interests, they wouldn’t go out of their way to interact with anyone at all. Relaxing in isolation and silence was something beyond any unstable element, as unstable elements always felt some mild pain, with the amount depending on their half lives. A shorter half life leads to worse pain. The Planet elements had half lives long enough for the pain to be somewhat bearable, but it was just about enough to get a bit antsy just sitting there. They desperately needed something to do, but right now, they had nothing.
Uranium stopped zoning out, and looked around to see Neptunium sighing and Plutonium with its head in its knees. It decided to be the first one to speak up after a while of silence.
“This is getting repetitive. We should try to do something that isn’t…this. I’m not sure what yet, but I can’t sit here any longer.”
It spoke, in an irritated tone, adjusting its position slightly.
“I agree that this is repetitive, Uranium, but I like this arrangement the way it is. I was beginning to enjoy the silence, actually.”
Neptunium replied, but Uranium simply shook its head. It knew Neptunium was, for the most part, lying. Uranium had known Neptunium for its entire existence, and it knew that while Neptunium enjoyed a set routine, that it was worn down by this as well. It did enjoy silence, but whenever it was too quiet, Neptunium would begin talking about itself. Neptunium was the ruder one of the bunch, and it was very interested in itself and its own reflection, being a bit overconfident and sometimes projecting onto others. But Neptunium also hated lying, took responsibility for itself, and could be trusted in most situations. It was also very determined, and while Neptunium did occasionally become very stubborn as a result of this, if it could be reasoned with, it would know when to quit. But right now, at least, Neptunium didn’t seem like it would budge.
Uranium, unwilling to force anyone to do anything, just looked down and off to the side, before Plutonium suddenly spoke up.
“We know you don’t entirely mean that, Neptunium. Uranium is right, we should get out of this cycle and do something else. I like silence too, but this is ridiculous. We need to do something so that we don’t go insane.”
Plutonium leaned back, sitting in a different position with its head up, looking at Neptunium. Plutonium was a cautious and nervous element, with those emotions sometimes leading it to blow up into a panic attack, and Plutonium’s poorer eyesight did not help with this one bit. Besides this, it was kind, very empathetic, and in tune with its emotions, and it would always lend a hand to anyone who was willing to accept it. Plutonium was also loyal to everyone it had a connection to. Neptunium simply scoffed in reply as Uranium shrugged.
“Well, I suppose it’s two against one, now. What will you do, Neptunium? Even Plutonium agrees with me.”
“Well, I’ll admit I’m outnumbered. Fine then. Should we come up with a game, or should we explore?”
Neptunium always refused at first, but it never took much convincing to get it to try new things. It always had ideas to offer, so that was always helpful. Plutonium was cautious about new things, but as long as the activity wasn’t too straining, it was happy to go along with Uranium. The three thought for a while before standing up and leaving Uranium’s room. They looked around, wondering where to go before all their eyes aligned in the same direction. Naturally, their curiosity brought them to the end of the hallway.
Uranium led the trio, with Neptunium close behind, and Plutonium not far behind them. They walked past the doors of their fellow elements.
Americium was the patriotic and prideful one, and was usually the one interacting with them if any other element wanted to bother. Curium was in its room with Thorium and Protactinium. They seemed to be having fun, which made Uranium happy. Berkelium was very invested in its studies. Despite its isolation just like other elements, Californium’s room was always lively, but the trio heard no noise coming from its room this time around, which worried them, Uranium especially. Neptunium seemed a little bit intrigued, however.
Einsteinium was the bright and intelligent one, but it was exceptionally isolated. Fermium enjoyed physics, built occasionally, and was overall a very sweet element. The trio stood by this door for a slightly longer time. Mendelevium loved to organize and sort things, and was very good at it, too. Nobelium had award-winning skills in many subjects, but was fairly explosive. But all of these elements rarely interacted with the Planet elements, and they rarely even interacted with each other. The three arrived at a certain door, the last in the hallway. The door of Lawrencium’s room.
Lawrencium struggled with the instability familiar to every Actinide the most out of all of them. It was serious and very secretive, and it yearned to be stable. Its left arm was almost detached from its shoulder, hanging on by almost a thread, but cutting it off wasn’t an option, and letting the arm hang down was uncomfortable and painful. Lawrencium would always be seen supporting its left arm with its right, irritated that it had to do this in the first place. Lawrencium’s immense love of science and machinery kept it in its room, and it was always trying to do something. Working past its weaker left arm was second nature to Lawrencium by this point.
Uranium knocked on the door. The noise that came from the room previously suddenly stopped. Uranium knocked again, reassuring the element inside the room.
“Lawrencium? It’s me, Uranium. I’m with my…”
Uranium looked back towards Neptunium and Plutonium. These elements, no matter how much they could collectively ignore it, were its children. The topic was a sensitive one, considering everything that happened every time a new element was made. Every Actinide after Uranium was a descendant of it, and Uranium was an element every Actinide and radioactive element looked up to in some way, as well. Uranium could be toxic, mean, and easily agitated, but at heart, it was a good soul. Wise and sweet and so loving and caring for everyone. A great friend and parent, and someone who could easily match anyone’s energy. Uranium was adored, and it almost couldn’t handle it, but it was appreciative nonetheless. Although it felt extremely guilty as it felt responsible for the suffering of its descendants. Uranium was the original ancestor of them, after all.
Uranium inhaled, pausing for a moment, almost letting the atmosphere turn awkward.
“...I’m with my children. Could we come in? …Lawrencium?”
Lawrencium finally answered, albeit slowly. The door opened, Lawrencium revealing itself, with an almost bothered expression. But then it sighed, its expression softening as it looked at the elements before it.
“...You t-three…have you…c-come to visit?”
Lawrencium’s instability was seen in the way it mildly shook and stuttered when it spoke. It breathed heavily and irregularly because of the pain it was constantly under. Uranium nodded.
“Yes. We’ve come because we just wanted to do something different, and that landed us here. It’s been a while since we last spoke, Lawrencium. Why not reach out?”
“Ahh…I see. I’ve- mmmissed you as well, Uranium…you three can come on in, then.”
Lawrencium opened the door, letting the trio in. Uranium opted to continue speaking to Lawrencium, the two catching up on things. Neptunium separated from Uranium, looking around the room in an almost childlike curiosity while Plutonium slowly walked around, deciding to keep close to Neptunium as it was uncomfortable with the thought of being alone. It also worried that Neptunium could be hurt, and Plutonium didn’t want to see that happening at all.