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

[blindoptimism]

[Nunnally is stone faced, serious as Cassandra describes her homeland. It... sounds terrible, beyond what she could dream up. And it is a sobering reminder of how little she knows about the wide worlds out there. She wants to comment, offer sympathy and know more of her life. But time is short, and there will be other times to speak of such things. So for now, she sees that anger begin to trickle away, and she feels a slight wave of relief in her chest. As Cassandra lists her terms, Nunnally's face softens somewhat and she nods]

Thank you. I wouldn't ask anything more of you. [she almost wants to say something along the line of "I know that must take a lot of work and I appreciate that" but she doesn't want to seem like she's coddling Cassandra. So instead,] Please take all the time you need, I will keep peace here.

[and with that she rolls her chair aside, so that whenever she wants Cassandra can pass by and go about her business. Their conversation was short... but significant. But before it ends, Nunnally wants to say one more thing, something dear to her heart]

When you spoke of your world, it made me think... My world has always been ruled by emperors that spoke of strength-- they taught their people that only the powerful may survive, and and the weak who could not protect themselves deserved their inevitable death. It was once my dream to see my home turned into a kind and gentle world. I don't know if I'll be able to return there, so this ship... I intend to pursue my dream here too, until the very end.

[openhands]

[She does begin to pass once Nunnally has moved out of the way. They have reached an understanding and an agreement. Cassandra will not let go of her anger just yet. She doesn't want to and isn't ready to. Nunnally is willing to accept that for now, and it seems as though that's all there needs to be said. But she does stop and look to her young captain when Nunnally beings to speak again.]

[Cassandra looks away for a moment once she's done speaking, her head bowed a little in contemplation. Nunnally's thoughts and desires are not childish ambitions, but true ideals that Cassandra would support. But the ideal is a tall place to reach. It is a difficult climb and many fall before they even come close to reaching it in reality. It's something she must remember always whenever her thoughts turn to the Seekers as Cassandra is not without her own hopes and aspirations for her people. And yet she would not relinquish her hopes for the ideal either. It's a difficult balance to strike and it's fallen on the shoulders of this young girl to manage it within this crew at the very least.]

[There are two options, Cassandra can either obstruct or she can aid. The former truly is not an option. Cassandra could not allow it to be. She looks slightly over her shoulder at Nunnally again, meeting her eyes.]

You have my support, Nunnally. Always.

[blindoptimism]

[Ah... she opens her mouth slightly, but then closes it again. A little bit of the tension that she was carrying in her shoulders feels lighter for some reason, and she can't help the slight smile that tugs at her mouth. But now isn't a time for gushing or burying Cassandra in words. So instead she bows her head slightly.]

Thank you. [she thinks that she said something similar the last time they spoke, but it bears repeating... and is something she thinks anyone who tries to lead should always keep in their heart] I will not take the responsibility lightly.

[the responsibility of her support. it is a valuable, weighty thing, and from a woman as honorable and true as Cassandra, she is honored to have it.]

[openhands]

[That is all that Cassandra needs to hear right now and so she does not simply nod, but bows her head a little further as a sign of respect. She does not linger any longer than that with the conversation behind her. While she is not really any less angry deep down over what happened, she does have trust in Nunnally that things can and will be managed. That will go quite a long way in helping Cassandra put this behind her.]