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Who: Santanico Pandemonium and YOU
Broadcast: fleetwide text
Action: SS Golden
When: now

[Santanico sits by the window, looking outside at space. At least there isn't sunlight here, she doesn't have to worry about it burning or hurting her skin and yet she almost misses it. She had only spent a month with Richie before ending up here. She only had a month of freedom. It's almost funny.

Except where it isn't at all.

She refuses to be complacent. She spent over five hundred years as a prisoner in that "temple", that place of worship, she will not be another one here. Which is why she opens up her feed. (using the device has been an adjustment)]

Does anyone know who is responsible for us being here? Why has no one fought back? Do you enjoy being slaves?

[That's it. That's the post.]

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[Shawn's been preoccupied with repairing the ship (it'd taken a bit of a beating on the nebula), but even he can't ignore the shuffle music. No one can.

So once he's done with his repairs of the day, he ostensibly glances around the idea for panel repairs and... well, that sure is an unfamiliar crew member by the window, and she's really pretty too. (Of course, he has Angela. Please keep remembering Angela.) He manages a polite wave, before finally calling out to her.]

Hey. You just arrived, right?

[He's young, it's the first thing she notices. He's pratically still a child. It turns her stomach a little, that they would enslave children on top of whoever else they've brought in here. But she would be lying if she said it surprised her.

Those who enslave never care about things like age.

She turns to face him more directly.]

Correct.

[One word answers. Cool, Shawn can handle those.

Except he feels nervous just looking at her, and he gulps as he nods in return.] I uh, I wanted to see if you were settling in okay.

I know the food isn't that great, and we're still repairing everything. Sorry about the panels, that's all me. [At least he's aware enough to acknowledge it, as he gestures to the screwdriver in his hand.] But hey, we're planet-side, so you can always head over to the moon and grab a drink or play cards or... something.

[She smirks, as if amused by his discomfort. Which she is, at least a little bit. There's always some fun in making people squirm.]

The food is terrible. [Little pills they try to pass off as blood -- like that could ever properly satisfy the hunger that is a constant presence ]

But I had debated checking the moon out, as strange as the words are to say out loud.

I've heard if we upgrade, it could actually get better.

[Headtilt. Shawn's not sure he buys into it, but it's not like he has much else to spend his money on. Also, spending money? Totally new concept to him. It's like he's hit the jackpot.]

You should! Hey, since you're new and stuff, I could lend you some credits so you can grab a drink. The bars're fun to hang out in, if people aren't fighting in them.

That wouldn't be hard -- the getting better thing.

[Anything has to be better than blood pills.

The mention of bars makes her think of the Titty Twister for a moment and she frowns. They aren't her favorite of places but a drink could be good. Which is why she finally concedes.]

Sure. Why not?

[As long as he doesn't die, he'd probably be fine with letting her nibble every once in a while...]

Awesome. There's always a ton of barfights, but the drinks're usually okay. [He pulls out some chips, handing them over to her.]

I'm not in any rush to get paid back, but if you want more, and you're good at stuff like playing card games or fighting lowlifes, you can earn some pretty quick.

[She'd try not to kill him. Try.]

An okay drink is better than none, I suppose.

[Fighting lowlifes she could handle, although it would probably make her low profile less...well, low.]

Is that how you earned yours? Card games and fights?

Not quite. I got most of it from bartending and serving people at the restaurants. I'm okay at card games, but I'm no good at fighting.

[He'd flex his muscles to demonstrate, but frankly, he knows he doesn't look like he can hold his own.]

Also, if our mystery audience likes you, they'll throw money your way. Atroma calls it our "ratings," but heck if I know what the people like.

I haven't played many card games, I suppose I'll need to learn.

[She can more than hold her own in a fight, though.]

So we're to perform for them? For their entertainment? [Yeah, that hits a button for her alright.]

I can teach you a couple. I'm not great, but I know enough.

[She was gonna find out about the ratings eventually, but it doesn't make him wince any less.]

Not... really? I mean, we're on TV, but beyond that, it's kinda open season. If there're cameras, I haven't found them. [Hesitant pause] Besides my own, I mean. I'm a photographer back home.

I was a performer back home. [That's....the nice way of putting it. She danced in a stripclub. Without any choice in the matter.]

I can handle it but I admit, I had been hoping to retire from the role.

[It takes him a second or two to get the gist, because his mind does not really go there to begin with but once it does--

Oh. Oh now he's totally regretting the way this conversation is going.] Nnnot that kind of performance. I mean more like, if they like the way you fight? They'll toss money at you.

But it's not exactly consistent, so I like working the bar better.

Performance is performance. [Whether it's fighting or dancing it's for their entertainment, whoever the they here happens to be. And either way it makes her stomach turn a little.]

I suppose we all have to make our best in this situation.

[She's got a point, and one he honestly hadn't considered until now.]

Pretty much. I know I'm not the best guy to ask since I'm still figuring things out, but let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

And I do actually mean anything. [He might regret this later.]

You shouldn't offer that so lightly. Some might take advantage of.

[But it might be good to keep in mind if she gets tired of eating the damn blood pills. Which she probably will.]

Maybe. But you're also part of the crew, and the crew usually sticks together no matter what.

[Shawn hasn't fully bought into the spirit of team bonding, but considering how receptive Uzuki and Megaman have been... spitting on their energy seemed kinda rude. He shrugs.] If I can actually help with it, I might as well.

Yes. Apparently I'm supposed to take care of personnel. [Which she thinks is a bad fit, but what can you do?]

I didn't realize the crews were such a close knit group.

[He's never going to understand Atroma's logic. Because personnel wouldn't have been his first guess either (it would've been security, or tactical support, or something suitably terrifying).]

It depends on the ship, I think. Sokka's is really close, like a family, while others are just groups of friends hanging out - but it makes sense too.

We're all stuck together on this hunk of junk, so we might as well try to get along.

Right. I suppose that makes sense.

[Friends, being friendly, isn't something Santanico is good at. She's been imprisoned for centuries, she became hard because it was the only way to survive, with no one to truly rely on but herself.

It's going to take a while for that to change.]

Yeah.

[He glances back towards the panels, and offers a nervous shrug.] I should get back to my work, but - my name's Shawn. Sucky circumstances, but it's good to meet you.

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