driftfleet | [ action, video ] three of diamonds

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[ action, video ] three of diamonds

[August 9th. Rogue’s birthday. This year, like practically every other year since her powers had awoken, Rogue had the same plan: Tell no one. She will celebrate - or she would try to - without any reason given. It was so much easier that way.

She applies the dark red lipstick that traveled with her, and does her best to dress up as well as she could with what she has bartered for, and spends an inordinate amount of time on her hair.]

Okay, Drift Fleet. Talk to me. Who’s got some spare coffee they’re willin’ to barter for?

[After - hopefully, oh please, yes - attaining her birthday wish, Rogue sets about to basically make the rest of the day as enjoyable for herself as she can. She borrows a shuttle and goes flying for the joy of it. Sure, it can’t go very fast or very far, but she is in space. There’s some joy to be found just in being there. And hey, she heard shuttles can even go under water. That’s got to be amazing, Today’s as good a day as any to check that out.

She’s not necessarily looking for company here, but she might not say no? Later on in the day, though, she will be looking for company. Usually she spends at least part of the day working, but not today. Today is all about browsing, eating, and oh man, if she finds a place that plays music she might not move from there until dark. Feel free to accost!]

Later that night
[Late that night, Rogue can’t sleep. The echos aren’t in her mind right now, they aren’t psyches, they’re memories. They’re the people that she misses so much her bones ache. She decides to follow up on her own advice and goes for a run by the beach. It's not enough, so she starts a more rigorous exercise routine, dropping down to begin with push-ups and carrying through to shadowboxing. Will she manage to complete her routine all alone?

Whether or not she gets through that uninterrupted, when she’s finished she goes to the journals… no. journals were in Luceti. In Drift Fleet, she goes to the comms. This transition was harder than she thought, but she hoped one thing would hold true: that she wouldn't be the only one up and zero dark thirty.]

So. Augments. Upgrades. What are the ones ya feel are most worthwhile? Where do ya pour your resources into on your ship? Are ya happy bein' a pilot, an engineer, or whatever? [A security officer. Just say what you're thinking, Rogue, gosh.] If you could pick any one of them, what would you pick?

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[ There's only so many reasons someone's up this late. If she won't volunteer it herself, he won't push. She doesn't need that. ]

Pipes, mostly. We didn't have many automobiles when I was a kid, just Tin Lizzy. After [ he waves his hand ] I fiddled with a lotta stuff. Went through a few microwaves. I think I want to try restoring vintage cars.

[ They appeal to him. Old, worn, and loved. ]

A security augment woulda made more sense.

...Tin Lizzy. [She's sorry, she can't help it, what even IS that?] What is that?

[Please don't get her started on cars, cars or motorcycles, they are her babies and she has been separated from them for far too long - Luceti did not allow such modern conveniences. Gawd, she misses motorcycles.

And... 'a security augment woulda made more sense.' For her too. But she didn't want one.]

As for the augments... maybe they just wanted you ta explore a different side of yourself?

[Create, not destroy. That felt too heavy, and she didn't say it aloud.]

[ Smiling, ]

The black Ford Model-Ts. Tin Lizzy.

[ He huffs at her second statement. She's right. He did like fixing things. Objects are easier than people. ]

I dunno. Maybe. It's been nice fiddling 'round with the ship, knowin' what goes where.

Ah. [Riiiight. Those things.]

Kinda think an engineering one would be nice. [She liked fiddling with things too. Her voice was a little wistful, and she planted her elbow on the table and rested her chin in a gloved hand.] The Vanquish's already got a cook.

[...but it already has an engineer too. And with how dangerous everything had the potential to be...

...but she didn't want to be security.]

If you can swap for it, why not?

[ Rhetorical, naturally, but he's genuinely curious, too. ]

We've already got an engineer too. An' a pilot. [Her voice is a little wry.]

[Ooooh, but she wants to be a pilot. She wants to be able to have the freedom to chart her own course, and to fly...

But they don't have a security officer.]

[ Soft, gentle, ] You could change ships, if you want it that bad.

Nah. [Her voice is soft too, this time with something like respect and affection. She hadn't thought about changing ships since the first day, since she'd told Clay her skin was dangerous and his response had been to ask if he and the crew needed to do something so she would feel safe. No one had ever, ever offered that to her before. No one. No one had ever instinctively seen that the gloves were to protect her almost as much as everyone around her. Her captain had won bone-deep loyalty with just a few words.] Got some good people on this ship. I want to stay.

[But she wanted to keep them safe, too...]

...just seems like a waste ta have double, you know?

[ He smiles at her. They must've done something real special to earn this, and by extension they earn his respect as well. ]

I hear ya. Well, y'don't have to do anything about it right now. Maybe folks will come to the ship to taste your cooking. I know I would.

[Rogue laughs a little, the notes of it tired, but pleased.]

Why, Jim Barnes, is that your way of sayin' you're tired protein paste an' want some home cookin'?

[...did his ship have a cook? Because... huh.]

[ It earns a laugh, a lengthy one. ]

Ah, can't fool ya, can I? So what've I gotta do? Pretty please?

[She smiles. It's good to hear him laugh, especially after their last conversation. She's not going to mess about long, though - this is about food, and food is important.]

Your crew doesn't have a cook?

No, we don't. Got everybody but one.

[A slight, thoughtful sound.]

Tell ya what - I've gotta talk to Eugene, he's the other cook, an' then clear it with Clay, but I don't think it'll be a problem - I am here an' now invitin' you and your crew over for dinner some night. Once we're off the planet an' don't have all the lovely algae options. Until then, you can come on over sometime an' see if you're leadin' your crew into danger.

...I even traded for some coffee today. [Yup. You rate. She might share a cup of coffee with you.]

Edited 2015-08-25 05:37 (UTC)

You finally got coffee?

[ Good for her!! ]

That's real swell. What're you making or is it a surprise?

Traded for it! [It was a good day's work, as far as she was concerned, and she sounded just as proud as she was.]

I dunno yet. You might as well know now that I'm terrible at plans. Much better at makin' things up as I go along.

That's all right. I'm a plan guy, but you can surprise me.

[ and together they're the superheroes the Fleet deserves.... ]

Now why doesn't that surprise me.

[Because it is just her luck to become friends with people who plan things and like math. How did this happen to her? She is not sure.]

Let's start with this - what kinda food don't ya like.

[ There's a long moment of consideration. ]

I'll eat anything that ain't green beans.

[ Even that's half a joke. Starvation is a brutal teacher, and after war rations anything that isn't just boiled together tastes heavenly. He's got his enhanced sense of taste to thank for it, too. ]

Sorry, that isn't helpful.

[Eyebrow raise.]

Lucky for you, I haven't seen any cans of green beans lyin' around here.

[But, okay, now you've made this a Challenge, Jim Barnes. Rogue was with someone who didn't much care for food at all for nearly two years, and searched endlessly to find something he'd actually enjoy. If you're going to be all 'all food is good food' then how is she to know if she is actually making you something you will like?]

Does make sortin' out your preferences a mite challengin'. Who knows how you crazy Yanks like your food? It's been ages since I was in New York.

[ He doesn't want to make this an Ordeal for her. Hastily, ]

We boiled everything.... Y'can't go wrong with pizza. Tomato and cheese?

[She tilts her head slightly, thinking.] Might be able ta do a passable lasagna, even if the noodles are, well. Gotta work with what they give ya.

[Honestly, it was almost embarrassing to have such shoddy materials. But she and Eugene did get a kitchen upgrade, so at least there were a few more options.]

Guess we'll see what I can whip up. [A goal! Something tangible to work toward! Yay!]

[ Grinning at her, ]

Lookin' forward to it, sweetheart. What time should I be over?

[...heh.]

If ya bring that iPod thing, I'll say - day after tomorrow? Or if ya wanna wait til we get off planet, just give me a day's notice. I'm cookin' anyway.

Edited 2015-08-27 01:52 (UTC)

Day after tomorrow sounds great. It's a deal.

Edited (oop) 2015-08-27 01:53 (UTC)

video;

touchofrogue - 2015-08-27 02:23 (UTC) - Expand

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