Fun in the sun

[thespaceopera]

[It's that time again, kids. A familiar little jingle rings out through every speaker, and your host's voice is right behind it, sounding as chipper as ever. Her cheer could almost outshine the sun!]

Good morning, dear passengers! I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine on your shoulders and the sand between your toes. Don't forget your sunscreen, though... there's no telling what sorts of silly things a foreign sun might do to your skin!

Also, we apologize for any little hiccups in the functionality of some of your augments--there are a few harmless technical difficulties that are being resolved as we speak. So, if anyone is feeling a little funny, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Just relax, and it should be resolved in no time.

As for the Shuffle, I hope you're all not too busy with your summertime fun to take time and welcome this week's batch of new faces, as well as congratulate Captain Matthews on his promotion!

[Oh, remember that scattered, distant laughter and applause? It's back! All must be right with the worlds.]

And since last week was such a big hit-- here is another letter from some lucky audience member!

[She clears her throat.]

"Hello! Long-time watcher, first-time writer, here... and I'm always just so impressed by the crazy skills and hilarious backstories of the passengers. I was wondering, if each passenger could share one piece of advice with us, what would it be?"

--Well! You heard them, folks. Your audience awaits your answers! Make them good.

[And then, just before she signs off, she leaves one last hurried warning.]

Finally, be sure to jettison your temporary, Atroma-licensed, land-and-sea recreational outfits before the fleet leaves this system's range!

And remember, the worlds are watching!

[As before, the signal goes quiet, but the line is left open. Someone is listening.]


ooc: → here
(also, anyone who responded to Diamond's broadcast last week is free to have noticed by now that they've received a suspicious little bonus to their ratings payout. audience participation pays off??)

Comments

[zessica]

[Same, bro. Same.

She grins herself, not even able to contain her laughter for too long.]

The Three Twins. I'm Personnel, so I've got my own office type room. It's pretty nice.

[touchofrogue]

Oooh, jealous.

[And she was. Rogue can already tell, even though she's spent the majority of her time off the Marvisa on the Blue Planet, that the close quarters are going to drive her nuts.

But she was good humored about it. She'd figure something out.]

Who's on that ship with you? [And did they seem nice, First-in-person-Friendly-Face???]

[zessica]

Mhm! It definitely beats the provided bunking at the moment. [Another chuckle.]

I've only met a couple of them in person so far, but they're pretty decent. The captains's a girl named Ino, who's also personnel. She turned her office into a bedroom. I might do the same.

[touchofrogue]

...seriously jealous. [Just for the record.

Pause a beat.]

What is "personnel" supposed ta do?

[zessica]

Hey, you're welcome to come over for a slumber party any time you want.

[She stops, looking pensive before shrugging.] I guess it's sort of like... an as needed thing. A tutor or counselor type deal. Pretty catch all.

[touchofrogue]

[...slumber party.

Rogue glances at her gloves.]

Maybe. That'd be nice, yeah. [A small smile.] Thanks for the invite.

[zessica]

Hey, no worries! [Zessica grins and offers a wink.] I figure you could use a break from people yelling that they're fine around your ship.

[touchofrogue]

[Congratulations, Zessica. You did it. Rogue starts laughing again, covering her mouth with one gloved hand.

Ohgawd, he really was adorable. How did he even function?]

[zessica]

I mean, it's cool if you don't want to. For all I know, you're fine with it. [Why yes she did.]

[touchofrogue]

[Oh no, she can't. Zessica, ow. Laughing this much when you're not used to it hurts.]

Right. It's [pfff, chortle, laughter] fine. It's completely fi--[more laughter. How is this a thing, Zessica? Honestly, how is this even a possible thing?]

[zessica]

[Man, now she's going along with that too. Keeping herself serious enough was hard, but laughter's pretty contagious. Zessica huffs loudly to try and clear her system so she can talk briefly.]

Be sure to give me a yell if [snerk] it's not [snort] fine. [She dissolves into more giggles.]

[touchofrogue]

[Oh no, not again-- more laughter.]

I am never [Pause for a deep breath, try to talk steady.] goin' to hear that word the same way again.

[zessica]

It'll be pretty hard for anyone to after this. [A deep breath of her own, followed by a shaky exhale that sounds more like a chuckle.]

Ha, you can't say no to sleeping over after that.

[touchofrogue]

[She pauses.

She debates with herself.

...for like half a second.

Then she grins.] If you're sure you're fine with that.

[zessica]

I'm Zessica Wong, and I'm fine with that!

[And here comes the giggle fit once more.]

[touchofrogue]

[Oh no, I am pretty sure that Rogue just actually giggled. Someone write this day down.

Oh dear, she can't stop. She's still laughing.]

I'm -- fine with that -- too!

[And more laughing.

Sorry, Clay, but not really sorry at all. Not really at all.]

[geonomy]

[omg how completely rude.

but you know what?

HE'S FINE.]

No, girls, come on! You need to put more oomph into it!

I'M ZESSICA WONG AND I'M FINE WITH THAT!!

I'M ROGUE AND I'M FINE WITH THAT TOO!!

[touchofrogue]

[The fact that she can hear this both from down the hall in the ship and over the communicator is really too much. She is laughing too hard now to participate, even if she wanted to--]

Can't -- [so much laughing] -- breathe!

[geonomy]

You okay down there?

[He yells it down the hall this time, though it can still be heard over the communicator too.]

[touchofrogue]

I'm - I'm [she can't bring herself to say the word, it's the first time she's felt empathy for Porky Pig.] -- okay!

[Still laughing. What this probably is? All the stress and grief of the past few months breaking out into slight hysterics, because it's really not THAT funny. But Rogue can't seem to stop.

Her poor reputation. It's a good thing Teddy and Billy are not here, or they would never let her forget it.]

[zessica]

Quick, Rogue! Come over soon, you sound like you can't breathe!

[Of course this is said between more laughs of her own.]

[touchofrogue]

[She can't, Zessica, she really just can't.]

It's - it's fi - I'm fi - I can't, oh Gawd.

[She's dying, someone send a medic.]

[zessica]

[Okay, okay, she's got this. She's under control enough to manage what she wants to say.]

Clay, if you wanted to be invited to the sleepover, too, all you had to do was ask. [Why yes, her tone is implying ~things~]

[geonomy]

[WELL, CLAY

is absolutely terrible at picking up things like that, so he just waves it off.]

Nah, I'm fine! You girls do your own thing. [He's pretty sure girls like to keep sleepovers a girls thing anyway.]

[zessica]

Hm? What thing are you talking about? [Do tell.]