driftfleet | three ○ video / action

Entry tags:

three ○ video / action

Who: Caesar & u
Broadcast: Fleetwide!
Action: Iskaulit & waystations!
When: 8/17 - 8/22

I was just hailed by a shuttle on the way from the Tourist to the Iskaulit . . . I understand this has been happening regularly? Do we have any idea who these shuttles belong to? Or are people just racing strangers with no information whatsoever?

[He sounds moderately pressed about this. But an important thing to note about Caesar is that, while he acts mostly responsible most of the time, if you dare him into something hard enough, he will pretty much always do it.]

[When he isn't passive-aggressively complaining on the network, he starts hesitantly exploring the Iskaulit, poking his head into its empty rooms with the (fairly irrational) fear that he'll see one of the bugs around any corner. Eventually he'll get to moving a little bit more slowly, studying the way the ship is built, how it's different from the Tourist and the Marsiva and the other ships he's been on.]

[Later, he makes his way to the nearest waystation, which is, naturally, a huge disappointment. He can be found loudly sighing in pretty much any location on the station, but especially over the clothes, which are all a few sizes too small. And there are no backwards suspenders anywhere.]

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[Joseph expected something like Caesar's initial comment, but he still makes a face that's a little offended while still being willing to look the other way about it. (If only because he doesn't want to invite more insults.) His face does soften a little though at the thought he got attached to each one because he's not wrong. He made all sorts of promises to each and every stray he managed to lead back home, rambling the whole way to each of them with proposed names, potential daily schedules, and promised games and toys they'd play with together. Once he even went so far as to buy one of them a collar and a leash. Part of him knew he shouldn't because he knew Granny Erina would never go for it, but that didn't stop him from trying or being hopeful that maybe this would be the one eventually. Or maybe he'd finally be ready for that kind of responsibility in her eyes.]

[He snaps back into the present when Caesar bumps his shoulder though and looks at him with a wide grin. At least Caesar seems to think he could do it.]

Well, if I couldn't, I'd have you for back-up, right?

[He shifts his hand a little so a few of his fingers hook onto Caesar's.]

[His smile stays in place, but it's a close thing. He thinks instinctively that he should pull away, stop this right now before he does something even more stupid; but that would just draw more attention to what's happening.]

[Besides, he doesn't want to. He doesn't even remember who started this now, but it wasn't just him moving towards Joseph, he knows that much. Joseph's supposed to be steering the damn shuttle, and he's not, he's touching Caesar's hand. So he doesn't pull away and doesn't move closer, just readjusts their hands so his is under Joseph's, their fingers twined together. It's not subtle, but it's what he wants, and right now he's feeling selfish.]

[He's very careful not to let anything else change, not his smile or his posture or his tone, like it's normal, like it's nothing. Tipping his chin up, he gives Joseph a skeptical look.]

I don't know anything about dogs, Jojo. We never had one. Nicoletta would've had a fit.

[Also they couldn't afford one. But that's not really the main point. The main point is distracting Joseph.]

How would you take care of a dog here, anyway?

[The distraction is relatively successful. It's not so much that Joseph doesn't notice Caesar's hand moving under his, but no particular attention is given to it. At least no outward displays are made by either of them.]

Well, it'd be all set with food and water. I mean, that shit they try to feed us already looks like canned dog food anyway, and dogs aren't picky eaters. [Certainly not as picky as Joseph who probably would have zero problems "accidentally" dropping the nastier portions of his meals on the ground for the dog, whoops.] And it could sleep with me. I know the cots aren't all that big, but I survived a night sharing with you, I could handle a dog.

And uh... [He looks thoughtful a moment as he tries to consider the other important things about having a dog, modifying old arguments he used to present to Granny Erina.] Oh, it could still get regular baths in the shower. We only get so much hot water, but I don't think a dog's gonna care if it's a little cold or not.

[Assuming, of course, that Joseph wouldn't either sacrifice or share hot water with the dog in the first place.]

It'd stay out of everyone's way on the bridge with me so it doesn't bug anyone like Nightingale. [Who he could see having the biggest conniption over a dog on board out of the rest of his crew.] But I'd get it plenty of toys when I could find it so it wouldn't chew things up and we could play fetch in the hallway or down in the cargo bay.

[He grins crookedly at Caesar.]

It wouldn't be that hard. I think it'd be pretty happy on-board, actually. [He crinkles his nose.] But like that'd even happen. Where the hell would you find a dog out here anyway?

[Listening to all of this, he raises one eyebrow slowly, and his lips quirk into a smirk. This seems like a kind of flawed plan to him, especially the part where he thinks the dog won't bother anybody else, but . . . at least there is a plan.]

There's all kinds of things out here. You found a fish.

Edited 2015-09-22 02:37 (UTC)

[Joseph laughs and gives a small shrug. It's not that much of a feat when you consider how much of the planet was covered in water.]

That'll teach you not to believe me next time I say there's a fish around.

[He gives Caesar a rough but playful nudge.]

[Rolling his eyes, he falls sideways with exaggerated force, bumping against the door before pulling himself back by their joined hands. Which is a convenient enough excuse to squeeze Joseph's hand and get away with it.]

Obviously you've never told a lie in your life and I should never doubt you.

Of course not. [Joseph grins and tips his head to one side.] I'm a terrible liar after all. Couldn't lie to save my life.

That's true. You're notably honest.

[Which is actually true, really. Joseph isn't subtle at all; his lies might work on someone who doesn't know him well, but they don't work on Caesar. And he's overcome with such fondness for him that he leans his head on Joseph's shoulder and looks out the front again.]

If I find a dog, I'll let you know, Jojo.

[Joseph's a little surprised by Caesar putting his head on his shoulder, but it's not that big of a deal. Joseph's certainly not about to do anything that might discourage him from it.]

You sure you're not gonna regret that?

Why would I regret it?

[He sounds genuinely puzzled.]

It would make you happy, wouldn't it?

Well yeah, [he says with the tone of no duh,] but that means you'd have to put up with a dog around all the time.

[And if there's one thing Caesar doesn't strike Joseph as, it's the animal type. At the very least, not much of a dog person.]

I put up with you all the time anyway. I don't think there's much difference.

[Joseph is a big stinky dog who tracks mud all over the house, you heard it here first.]