Oopsie!

[thespaceopera]

[it has been a while since a certain musical tune pealed out through the ships, but here it is again. and the woman's voice sounds just as chipper as ever!]

Good morning, passengers! Our deepest apologies for the missed broadcast last week. We've been having some technical difficulties with the radiation in this area, but we've finally fixed the problem. So, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

[...and somewhere in the background, there may the faintest trace of canned audience laughter at that]

This week, the shuffle is nice and simple. There are three new faces to meet, and only two that have disappeared from our ranks. And aside from that, no crews are rearranging, and no captains have abandoned their posts. That's wonderful! I'm very pleased that you're all settling in so well.

Also, just a pair of reminders-- this month's upgrade requests will be processed at the end of the day, so don't miss out! Today is also the last day that the fleet will be in range of the local planet. So, if you have anymore partying to do, do it quickly! Be sure to leave orbit and rejoin Marsiva's side before she's out of range, because it would be a terrible shame to lose one of our ships so soon.

[and out of everything, that last point sounds as though it makes her smile the most.]

...And finally, I'd like to notify everyone to the fact that changes have been made to the cannibalism clause in your contract terms, so please log onto the network and make yourself familiar with those.

Until next time, passengers! The worlds are watching...


ooc: and of course, try as you might, no one will be able to find anything resembling contract terms or a cannibalism clause in the network's information files. they must have gotten misplaced somewhere. how clumsy...

ooc post → here

Comments

[proteusmoon]

Ah... yes, I know.

[ And she's right, really. Cecil knows that. She's a little grateful for the reminder and inwardly does her best to bury her sadness. ]

I apologize. It must not be all that reassuring to see the captain of the ship unwell. I do know better.

How are you doing?

[osananajimi]

Mm. [ it's a little striking to see cecil acting so human, truthfully. ]
Don't apologize. It's alright.

I'm... adjusting adequately.
I could be doing better, myself.

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil nods understandingly, even as that answer punches a few holes in her plans. She was going to explain to Makoto that she isn't Saber, but... with Barakiel gone, she feels less sure of herself and more desperate to hang on to the friends she does have here while she can. It doesn't matter that this Makoto is not the one she met in Court; at heart, she must still be the same girl who cried on her shoulder when her father left. She just can't muster up the strength to do risk upsetting Makoto now. ]

Has Kaneis been kind to you?

[osananajimi]

[ makoto's posture stiffens. she's wanted to talk to cecil about this in particular, but has been a bit too focused on herself and her new environment to bring it up just yet.

also, he's just a stupid boy. she can handle it. ]

Haah. Not in the least.
Boys are the worst, Saber.

[proteusmoon]

[ Yep. It's definitely the same Makoto. ]

I know that's what you think and I don't blame you at all for it.

[ Hell, these days, she agrees on some minor level at least. ]

But I would like you both to get along well enough with each other. I have asked the same of him, but I expect you to be the mature one. You are smart and I trust you to handle yourself in a hostile and dangerous situation.

[ You know, because you're a girl and not a stupid boy. This will work, right? Well, just in case, time to put on the captain badge. ]

I don't know him as well as I know you. I'm not asking you to put up with any abuse he dishes out at you. I would never ask that of you. In the same vein, however, nor will I tolerate petty infighting that distracts from our purpose as a crew. We are meant to band together against threats. Excessive demoralizing passive aggressiveness I also discourage.

[ Also, Cecil gently reaches out to stroke Makoto's hair, as if to soothe any intense protesting. ]

If you cannot settle disagreements peacefully between yourselves, please speak with me.

[osananajimi]

[ there are several times that makoto looks as if she wants to spring up and interject, but cecil's smooth and calming voice are just captivating enough to grab her attention. and though she visibly bites back words and chews on her bottom lip, she also begrudgingly nods in agreement. cecil trusted her to be the mature one and... well, she owes her, doesn't she? ]

Mm... [ she only whines a little. ]
I don't know if I can trust a person like that.


I can only trust you, Saber.

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil can't help but feel a pang of guilt strike her chest at those words from Makoto, coupled up with the title belonging to a woman who is her but then not at all her. She clenches her jaw tightly and tries to push onwards. ]

Perhaps for the moment, Makoto. But I think if you give each other a chance, you'll see you have more in common with each other than you think. We all have to...

[ "We all have to live together" is what she intended to say, but... ah, that's not particularly true, is it? Either one of them could simply transfer if they wanted to. They could leave her.

Cecil frowns and suddenly feels much more painful squeezing around her heart. ]

That is... I would hope that... you would want to stay on this ship. You are both free to time for a transfer at any time, but I... I would prefer that not happen... suffice to say.

[osananajimi]

I won't leave you! [ she shouts a little suddenly, even surprising herself. it only takes a moment to become collected again, but the intensity remains in the air. ]

Hn. Transferring to another ship will not be necessary. [ she mumbles a little, almost sounding sheepish. ] Things will work out.

[ even if it means destroying kaneis. ]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil is surprised too and it shows, but she clears her throat a little awkwardly, face beginning to flush a little with embarrassment, even though she's secretly happy.

And then she remembers that Makoto still thinks she's someone else. ]

I-I am relieved.

[osananajimi]

H-hmph! [ she's turning a little red. level 5 tsundere and all that, you know. ]

Th-though he did start it!
And he shouldn't be treating me so poorly!

If I destroy him, it's his own fault!

[proteusmoon]

What happened? What did he do?

[ She's fully prepared for the answer to be, "He was born". ]

[osananajimi]

He tried to act as if he knew me already! Making all of these assumptions about me out of nowhere!

[ it was actually much more negative and upset her more than she can articulate right here. ]

If he really knew who I was then he would have thought twice before talking down to me!

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil notices that Makoto is genuinely worked up and it worries her, so she again, instinctively reaches out to rest her hand on the girl-- this time her shoulder. ]

How so? What sort of assumptions?

[osananajimi]

Th-that I had a complex! A-and that I would push others around! [ she laughs, nervously. upset. ] Those are harsh claims from someone you've just met, you know!

[proteusmoon]

[ Oh no. Was that her fault? Had she been too honest with Kaneis? ]

Was this recently? Or when you first arrived?

[osananajimi]

[ it wasn't. kaneis is actually just a decent judge of character. ]

When I first arrived. [ she chews on her bottom lip, frowning. ]

I haven't spoken to him since!

[proteusmoon]

[ Oh. That must have been why he asked her first what she thought of Makoto when she broached the subject of their new crewmate. ]

Ah... how did you respond?

[osananajimi]

[ she's starting to draw back a little against the amount of questions she's being asked. ]

I-I don't remember, exactly... ! I was upset!!

[ clue: YAP YAP YAP YAP ]

[proteusmoon]

[ Oh dear. Cecil frowns, but not because Makoto doesn't tell her what she said to Kaneis. She can infer well enough what happened next. Still, she frowns because already it looks like there will be kinks to work out. She has her work cut out for her. ]

I'm sorry it wasn't pleasant. Hopefully future encounters will be more amicable.

[osananajimi]

You shouldn't be the one apologizing! [ she groans, dragging her hands down her face. she'll just kill him. then everything will be fine. ]

They had better be.

[proteusmoon]

[ Except for that inconvenient bit where he doesn't stay dead. ]

All right, all right... Calm down. I'll keep an eye on him.

[ And Makoto here. ]

Please, though-- try to be civil to each other. I'm relying on you.

[osananajimi]

[ LAME. BOYS ARE LIKE COCKROACHES. ]

Hnn. Y-yes... fine. [ she's pouting, but it's fine. ]

[proteusmoon]

[ There's a good girl. Phew. Cecil chuckles a little, softly, charmed by her pouting in spite of herself. ]

Thank you. Now-- were you going to make tea or should I be the one to treat you, after all this?

[osananajimi]

I offered to make you some, so that is exactly what I will do.

[ she sets her shoulders back and proceeds to do just so! completely resting bitch face. hey, she's concentrating. ]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil recognizes that expression from that one time she and Kirigiri were "appraising" prospective servants in Court, so she very wisely simply nods and tries hard not to smile again at that memory. She's not that successful. ]

I never doubted you.