001 ; video and action!!

[lightedsoul]

Who: Kate Fuller and YOU!!
Broadcast: video
Action: SS Golden ; that one moon
When: after the shuffle

[Fleetwide video]

Um, hi. I'm Kate, and I'm... new. That sounds dumb.

[And awkward as hell. This feels like her first day of high school all over again, only instead of introducing herself to a tiny class of teenagers she's got to say hello to an entire fleet of people from different worlds. Not a lot makes sense about it, but she's trying her best to roll with the punches. Kate's had a little bit of time to get used to things, to get a good idea what's in store for her here, but it's still left her with some questions.]

I guess you could probably tell. I was just wondering, though, because it seems like these ships have been around for awhile and everyone's so used to all this, and-

[She's rambling. She stops, shakes her head, tries again.]

I just wanted to know how long people have been here, that's all.

[The Golden]

[Okay, so all that pudding? That's definitely something Kate is interested in eating. She's even got a spoon she'd found after sorting through drawers, and it's been months since she had pudding, okay.

But is it for her? Can she just take it? If Seth were here he'd have pulled up a chair and put his feet up and told her to get to eating the entire stash, but Kate likes to think she's at least a little nicer than Seth is.

So she's just kind of standing there. Looking at the pudding. Hopefully.]

[Dusty Moon Place]

[Her first stop once she tries heading to the moon is what's very obviously a chapel. She's drawn to it like a moth to a flame and anyone who might head inside after her will find her sitting in the very front row, head tilted down and eyes closed as she prays. She has a lot to say to God, but more to ask, and it's mostly protection. For her family, Seth, even Richie. Her hands are clasped tightly in her lap, but if she hears someone approach she'll look up and give them a smile.]

Oh, hi. I didn't think anyone else was going to come in here.

Comments

[enshields]

[Her answering smile is absolution, and his falls away even as he takes her hand. His palms are rough, calloused but unblemished by scars or abrasions. He's gentle with her, but it's the gentleness of someone who knows too well their own strength.]

I suppose it can't.

[A beat. Then,]

His name's James.

[lightedsoul]

[He can be as gentle as he'd like, but she squeezes his hand tightly once he slips it into hers. He needs to be prayed for just as much as his friend, she thinks, and if all she can give him immediately is that it's going to be good enough for now.

Eyes closing, she bows her head. She starts with asking God to watch over James, to see him through his hardships and to give him the strength and wisdom to carry himself through what those hardships may be. She asks that, if it's possible, James might feel his friend's warmth even though they may not be able to see each other for a long time.

And, hand tightening around Steve's for just another second, she asks that God look in on them from time to time, so that she and Steve will know that they aren't alone.]

[enshields]

[He feels nothing. None of that encroaching warmth that used to follow his prayers in his youth, no soft sense of oneness with the universe. The bench is hard, the walls cold stone. It feels empty rather than anything wrapped up in the sanctity of ages old.

But if she believes, that's good enough for him. He waits until her grip slackens on his hand and then,]

Thank you, Miss Fuller.

[lightedsoul]

[She nods as she takes her hand away, folding it back into her lap and hoping the prayer helped. She feels oddly nervous, like maybe she messed it up, but it's praying. It's hard to mess that up.]

You can just call me Kate.

[enshields]

All right, Kate it is.

[This time, the smile he conjures up is warmer, less touched by the frost.]

So. Pilot, huh? How're you finding it so far?

[lightedsoul]

[Alright good, that's much better. It prompts her to smile back at him, and then he asks his question and she can't help it, she has to laugh.]

At first I thought they were playing a trick on me, putting me in charge of something so important. At home I drove our RV though, so I guess whoever is in charge here figures if I can do that I can drive anything.

[enshields]

[Lightly,]

Hey, I wouldn't argue that. RVs handle like boats on bad water, means you've got a gift.