At least there's no elevator music...

[thespaceopera]

[At least two weeks have passed since the Drift Fleet passengers woke up on this strange wing of the Marsiva... Some new passengers have even joined the group instead of being Shuffled off to a fleet ship! The large monitor in the central room remains quiet for now, so how is everyone holding up?

Have you been relaxing? Enjoying the Earth media? If you can even remember them, how have Calibrations been treating you? Has anyone started getting a little stir-crazy?

Don't worry... This ship has no shortage of mysteries, and you'll be seeing a few more soon.]


ooc: here's another mingle for the current game event! players can start or continue threads here from any point during the event. the additional setting information is still being postponed due to sickly mods, but y'all are welcome to post additional topcomments for reactions and investigation once it's up!

Comments

[limitstorm]

[ ah, so she was going to bring that up. he hesitates, and then slowly pushes some of his hair behind his ear. ]

... I guess there is something you can do.

[experiencepoints]

Name it.

[if it involves stealing another sword from that fuck she's so game]

[limitstorm]

Can you... center me while I meditate?

[experiencepoints]

... You'll have to tell me what that means, but sure.

[limitstorm]

Uh, it's-- [ //// ] Just hold my hands so I remember there's people around. Without a center, you can forget yourself and fall too deep.

You don't have to--I know it's weird.

[experiencepoints]

[Before he's even gotten to the 'you don't have to', she's dragged one of the couch cushions over with her wind spell to sit on and get comfortable, and is holding out her hands.]

[limitstorm]

[ to that, he just kind of... stares. ]

I really don't get you, Nightingale.

[experiencepoints]

... Sorry, did I do something wrong?

[limitstorm]

No, no, [ he's very quick to shake his head firmly. ] you're fine. I guess... I'm surprised at...

[ his voice trails off, and he tugs at the bangs. ]

You're being really helpful and I'm not used to that, that's what I mean to say.

[experiencepoints]

... You know, there was this thing my team would do sometimes. It's practically our team's special secret technique.

[It's going to segue into something else, I promise.]

[limitstorm]

[ oh, subject change... ]

Uh--okay? What?

[experiencepoints]

[Reaches up.

Puts her hands on Riku's cheeks.

SMOOSHES HIS FUCKING FACE.]

[limitstorm]

Waugh--

this again?!

[experiencepoints]

[FACE SMOOSHING INTENSIFIES]

You're my friend, no shit I'm going to try to help you. If something this small is all you need, then why is that even in question?

[limitstorm]

[ somehow, her saying she's his friend is surprising. maybe he expected it to be a one-way friendship. his face gets a little redder and he just huffs. ]

O-okay, okay...

[experiencepoints]

Good. Keep that in mind.

[lets go





SMOOSHES AGAIN

then lets go for real this time.]

[limitstorm]

--Nightingale!

[ he looks even more red now, and kind of exasperated. ]

Geez, personal space much?

[experiencepoints]

Nah, that was more important.

[holding her hands out for the centering thing now.]

[limitstorm]

[ sigh...

he hesitantly takes hers, and then closes his eyes. ]

Thanks.

[ and he closes his eyes. the darkness reappears again like smoke, but it doesn't do much except dissipate--not at first, anyway. when his brow creases, there're sparks of darkness, almost threatening--but they arc around her, like she's protected. his grip tightens, but barely enough to note.

he tries to be quick--she probably doesn't wanna sit there, bored. it's harder than it sounds, though; he struggles to get back on top for a few good moments, brow creased and chin tipping down. the darkness is definitely starting to increase, become more opaque... ]

[experiencepoints]

[Nah. Hell nah.

She's not sure what to do, but she's got some half-formed ideas... For now, though, she's just going to lightly squeeze his hands, to remind him that she's here. Opaque darkness seems like a bad thing, so she's gonna try to keep him grounded.]

[limitstorm]

[ her tightened grip has him flinching just once, and the darkness starts to lighten, the crease in his brow lifting so he's just focused.

right. he's not alone. he can do this. he can--

he opens his eyes and exhales, the smoke drifting away. ]

I... think I've got it. [ he chances a little smile at her, then. ] For now, anyway. Thanks.

[experiencepoints]

You actually have it, or you're worried about being an inconvenience, so you're ending this before you're really ready?

[limitstorm]

[ ERK ]

What the... what'dyou have, telepathy?

[experiencepoints]

[you know what riku

it's time to let go of your hands to SMOOSH YOUR FACE AGAIN]

I've been doing that since I was in elementary school, do you think I won't notice someone doing my trick?

[... well, normally, no she wouldn't. But, in this case, she remembers him in her heart, and how sympathetic he was to her... How he understood her.]

1/2

[limitstorm]

Agh, no--

[ NOT THE SMOOSHING ]