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]

[Zhas is one of the first she talks to, since he comes looking for her. he'll even meet her on her way out of the bridge. getting rid of the bug didn't take that long; most of the remaining twenty minutes was him trying to pull his head together, calm himself down.

something about Nunnally always cuts right to his core, though, so he doesn't have to pretend much around her. his frustration quells in the presence of someone so human to him. he turns more regretful than anything.

he nods to her. she wanted to talk to him?]

[blindoptimism]

[She looks up for a moment as she remembers the signs. While she likes signing, it frustrates her at the same time. She places great values in words, and sign tends to be more vague than she would like. But she wants to start this way, it's important]

I'm sorry that happened. [She truly is. She wants them to feel safe, she wants them to feel accepted by this ship. Even if she disagrees with the actions that they were going to perform--] You two wanted to help.

[she signs it as a sentence first, but then after a moment of consideration signs a question mark. She doesn't want to put 'words' in his mouth]

[theboogieman]

[he appreciates her trying to sign first, all the same. the silence is a comfort, even if spoken words might be easier for both of them at this point. his painted lips press into a thin line as he thinks about her question, and what to say in response.]

It was bad. I'm sorry too. [that's a start. regardless of his reasons, it went... about as far from good as it could have possibly gone. things could have been done to avoid it. he wasn't thinking of the others.]

[blindoptimism]

[He can probably see the slight sight that is released, a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. She is quite sure that Zhas would say something unless he meant it, so she takes his apology to heart. She believes firmly that people with different beliefs can work together in harmony with effort on all sides, and such an apology is a hint that Zhas is willing to make that effort. And truly, it means the world to her.]

Thank you. [She holds her hand to her chest as she decides what to say next] I wish you told me. [she makes sure to refer to Zhas, not Zhas and Coil. She never wants Zhas to feel as if he... has to tattle on Coil, or to think that Nunnally holds him responsible for Coil's actions or thoughts] Maybe a peaceful way.

[She doesn't know if there was a peaceful way for all of this to end. A way to humanely tested a live specimen. And who knows, perhaps Cassandra and Syeira would have been just as enraged at the idea that there was a humane way to perform tests. But it could have been different, maybe...]

[theboogieman]

[for all of Zhas' maladjustment, he can at least be counted on to speak honestly, or not speak at all. the most deceit he could ever manage is a bluff or exclusion of certain facts--and there's no room for either of those here, with his thoughts already tangled.

he feels like he never quite left the hallway. he glances back at the space, distractedly raising a hand... perhaps to sign, at first, but his fingers wind up pressed lightly against the paint on his face, the tips of them over his cheek.

this seems wrong.] Wait... five minutes. Can you. [he meant it as a question, but.] Sorry.

[blindoptimism]

[She starts a little, at the sudden dialogue breaking the conversation. She begins to nod slowly... then more firmly as she gets over her surprise.]

Of course. [she glances around, almost wondering if something had transpired suddenly in the room that she had missed, but her eyes return to him as she decides to simply wait and see] You don't have to apologize... I'll wait here. [it's half a question, half a statement]

[theboogieman]

[he grumbles in acknowledgement, nodding. whatever had happened in his head, he now thinks it's necessary to walk back down the hallway and disappear into the washrooms all the way on the other side. he doesn't close the door or anything. doesn't make much noise. just a little bit of clattering, some running water. they aren't unfamiliar sounds, on this ship.

a few minutes later, he walks back up the hallway with a renewed sort of calm... and no face paint. he must have scrubbed it off. it still looks a little dark around his eyes, but it's hard to say if that's leftover makeup or just years of exhaustion.

he shucks off his coat, too, taking a second to drop it down the hatch to his room on the way. now he's put the worst of it behind him. he is weak and vulnerable, but he can talk.

he nods to her again, like they're starting all over. he goes back to signing.]

'You talked to others?'