Meanwhile on the less violent fish ship....

[save_the_souls]

Who: The Blue Fish Crew & Any Visitors
Broadcast: MAYBE
Action: SS Blue Fish
When: Beginning of July

[So in the past month, Aang & Katara may or may not have become an item, Sokka finished off all of puberty in under a week, Allen remained stuck in the puberty still, Toph won strangest pilot award briefly before she had to give it up to a pony, Hawke sassed everything and finally itemized with Anders, Beverly acquired a Starfleet issued puppy, and it turned out the cook is a flipping disney princess. Quite a time for the Blue Fish crew!]

[Well, it's time to check in with them again: AKA IT'S A MINGLE EVERYONE]

Comments

[catamite]

Oh yeah? ...What's in it?

[dancingmd]

Milk and some honey and nutmeg and a little bit of brandy. Admittedly it probably won't taste exactly right with the ingredients we have here, but if it helps you get to sleep... well, we can try it, even if it won't be a permanent solution.

[catamite]

Oh...

[he gets quiet for a second, as he thinks about it.

and when he does finally smile a little bit, it's of the embarrassed, painfully wistful kind.]

...My mom used to make us something like that, I think.

[dancingmd]

[How many times can a space mom's heart break, I ask you?

This heartbreak is personally familiar to her, however, as she lost both her parents at a young age. Oftentimes it's the little reminders that hit you the hardest.]

My Nana did too. I've always found it comforting, when I'm stressed or far away from home.

[catamite]

[he nods a little--still looking exhausted and mentally wrung-out, but having some parting thing to look forward to helps.]

...That sounds nice. I'd like that.

[dancingmd]

[She reaches out again and rests her hand gently on his.]

Good. I have a few things I need to finish up first, but you can wait in here if you want, and then we'll go back to the kitchen. Sound like a plan?

[catamite]

Okay.

[he looks down at her hand, as it's one more thing that catches him a little off guard. it's not a bad thing, just... different.]

...Should I be doing anything? Do you want help?

[dancingmd]

Ah...

[She is about to refuse, but thinks better of it. Maybe it'll make him feel better to have something to do. She smiles.]

Thank you. You could wash those beakers over there, if you don't mind.

[catamite]

[as long as she is willing to practically hold his hand through anything she asks him to do. at least as far as speed goes, it would probably be quicker to do it all herself.

but he'll still try.]

Oh... sure.

What should I wash them with?

[dancingmd]

Just soap and water is fine! They didn't have anything toxic in them.

[Otherwise she would be doing it herself.]

[catamite]

Okay...

[and picking himself up, he'll scoot off the chair and head over there to do as instructed... but it is mostly going to consist of him delicately picking them up one by one to inspect them, and looking a little lost.]

--Just in the sink, or...?

[dancingmd]

[Nel... this is frustrating but also a little pitiful. She crosses over and picks up one of the beakers herself.]

Here, let me show you...