This is the reason why no one on the Red Fish should have hobbies outside of punching people...

[blindoptimism]

Who: The motley crew of the SS Redfish
Broadcast: None
Action: Boarding area of the Red Fish
When: Backdated to Part 1 of the June Bug plot

[On tonight's episode, Coil and Zhas return to the Red Fish with a squirmy live bug in tow. Coil intends to perform untold experiments on the living specimen. But it seems like trouble is brewing on the once peaceful ship... Will the other crew members be okay with these morally questionable experiments taking place on board? Tune in tonight to find out!]

Comments

[theboogieman]

[he knows it's deliberate. they went through this already. this is going to be a much bigger mess than any of them bargained for.

he drops the bug and draws his gun before it's even hit the floor. he shoots it twice without blinking, and doesn't take his eyes or his gun off of the twitching corpse until it finally goes completely still.

he holsters his gun again in the silence, turning to Coil again with that same intensity--just quieter, now.]

Off the ship.

[mortalcoil]

[another pointed, tight-jawed delay--just a little thing to someone who doesn't know him, but the fact that he is fighting with anger is not usual for him at all.

when did this become a thing that happened? this didn't ever used to be a problem, and now he feels maddened by it.

he still has the presence of mind to obey, however. his jaw tightens, but he doesn't argue, and he doesn't sigh. it all manages to stay frozen under a very thin sheet of ice. and eventually, he only turns to march off in the direction of his bunk.

it isn't the most direct route to obeying his orders, but he wouldn't look so angry if he wasn't intending on leaving as instructed. he'll move past whoever is in his way without a glance, without even the barest acknowledgement.

he just needs to get a few things, and then he'll be gone.]

[blindoptimism]

[In the tense silence that follows, everyone can probably hear the whirring of Nunnally's chair as it rolls their way. Her breathing sounds a little heavy, the motor wasn't running fast enough and she was trying to push her chair to go faster. But it didn't work, and by the time she got there the fight was over. She was only able to hear bits and pieces of the argument, the loud ones that rang against the metal halls. But as Coil storms off to gather his things, Nunnally's eyes flick between the remaining crew members. The look on everyone's faces... she wasn't fast enough.

She takes a deep breath to slow her own breathing, and tries to push out a feeling of calm over the group. But she's never attempted to use her Lull augment powers in a tense situation like this one, there's no way to know if her efforts will have any effect. But after her attempt, she sits up straight and looks at Cassandra.]

Cassandra, could you please help Syeira to her room? Or, if she wakes up the kitchen might be best. Some water and light food will help. [she rolls her chair forward, and even though Syeira is out for the count at the moment, she squeezes the woman's limp hand gently, and then moves her chair aside so that they can depart. And, before they have the chance to leave, she looks back at Zhas. She signs something to the effect of--]

I'd like to speak with you. [and Coil, but she wants to initiate that contact herself, not treat Zhas like some middle man. And, because she wants to be precise in this part, she speaks the next sentence] But if you need a moment to collect yourself, or dispose of this creature, I understand.

[openhands]

[Due to both her changing opinions about her crew and the simple fact she is unaware of the fracture that has occurred between Zhas and Coil, Cassandra feels little sympathy when Coil runs off. She thinks he is acting as little more than a petulant child right now, and even that feels too generous a description.]

[When Nunnally arrives, Cassandra straightens some from where she is on the floor next to Syeira. She opens her mouth to say something, but Nunnally speaks first and so she closes her mouth. At the order, she nods.]

Yes, Captain.

[Cassandra shifts her hold on Syeira, hooking an arm beneath Syeira's knees. The woman is by no means heavy and so Cassandra is able to simultaneously lift her and get to her feet in a fluid motion. She has no idea what Nunnally is signing and looks for a moment as she silently communicates to Zhas. Frankly, she doesn't like it and finds it frustrating, but there is little she can do about it. So, she leaves without so much as another word to place Syeira in her own bed. She will fetch some water from the kitchen and leave it at her bedside, but otherwise will leave Syeira to recover on her own. Either way, she is done talking to anyone about this for now.]

[theboogieman]

[he finally feels a twinge of proper human regret when Nunnally appears in the hallway--because this is exactly the kind of thing he's always been worried about her having to deal with. he is well aware that he does terrible things that "normal" people don't like. he doesn't like acting like a monster around people who don't deserve to see it.

which at least brings him to the "maybe I didn't think this one out very well" conclusion. about time.

he glances over at Syeira and Cassandra both as they start moving--though Nunnally's orders are what finally keep his attention. it takes him a moment to answer. if he's still infuriated, something about Nunnally's being there makes him keep it pretty far under the surface--but he still has to think.

his eventual answer is to nod.] A minute.

[yeeeeah, he's just going to haul up the bug-corpse by the anatomic equivalent of a shoulder and take it outside, first. it's heavy, but a lot easier to carry when it's not twitching and struggling.

he's got to go sort some shit out in his head, first. he'll be back.]