driftfleet | i start it up, turn it over like a general MINGLE

[Mal is from a land of ice and snow. It's very dramatic, and also usually very dark and cold. She doesn't like it. She doesn't particularly like this planet, either. So for the most part, she's stayed inside and drunk hot beverages and complained about the temperature.]

[Until now.]

[No, now she has taken on the attitude of a mother whose children have been cooped up in the house for too long and are Driving Her Crazy, and as such has ushered everyone out onto the part of the snowy expanse of Arslae that has the best snow for - well, guess.]

[She stands regarding her crew, divided into two teams, with her hands on her hips.]

All right. Whichever team wins this snowball fight will be my new favorites. I expect to see bloodthirsty tactics and underhanded moves all the way, get it?

[ Genos has been... not entirely reclusive, since that's not really possible here; he's been hard at work, patrolling (??? why) and keeping his body in (shape) top condition.

Early in the week he can be found sitting in some corner, prodding at one of his arms and then in turn, scowling at it. He's not a doctor, he's not an engineer. He uses all of his ability to fight; putting himself back together isn't his job. It's just a small thing, and it's not necessary—he can fight without it—but it's bothering him. Just in case, he needs to fix it.

Later in the week finds Genos looking around the ship fairly thoroughly. He's not going into anyone's private things, but he's definitely looking for something with a determined face. ]

[There are things that Joseph is good at. Really good at. Sharing? Not one of them.]

[So, if anybody needs Joseph, he'll be occupying the pilot's seat with the most stubborn display of territorial behavior you've ever seen. Like short of peeing on the seat degrees of territorial. Joseph sits with his comic books, eats there, and even naps right in the seat with his feet propped up. He's not threatened, he's just making a point. The point is that he was the first pilot and he's the first mate, and therefore find your own shit to pilot, new guy. The Caprine is his baby, not yours and he will fight you about it.]

[ Well, she had come by to find him for Important Reasons, but as she enters the room and sees him eating in his chair ... well, that gets pushed to the side for the moment. ]

... Jojo, what are you doing?

[Oh, hey, it's Robot Buddy from the Marsiva! The sight of Genos early in the week takes Suzie by surprise; she's here to visit people, certainly, but up until now she hadn't realized that Genos might be one of them.

When she spots him, though, she makes a beeline for him, considerably happier and a lot more cheerful than she'd been on that first day, and now clad in a clean fleet-issue jumpsuit rather than her work dress from home.]

Oh, hi! I didn't know you were on the Caprine, too — mm, is something the matter with your arm? It looks like it's bothering you...

[Did someone say eating? There is a simple fact of life, and that fact is that if Suzie is coming to visit, there is an 85% chance that Suzie is also bringing something edible with her, and it appears that what she's come up with today is something that smells like chicken soup with potato dumplings, hot and in a thermos that she clearly found on the planet, if the cheerful salt shaker pattern is any indication.

She's also a little sniffly, and bundled up accordingly against it, but she's definitely looking like she's on the mend; the medicine she's been given is doing its job, so she's at least well enough to go visiting instead of remaining bedridden.]

Jooooooooooooojo!

[ He's puttering around the ship and making sure everything is running smoothly, as usual, but he does finally go up to Genos after noticing that he's looking for...something. ]

Something for you? [ He raps on a section of the wall, listening carefully, and straightens content with whatever check he was doing. ] You'll wear the floor out if you keep walking back and forth on it like that.

What do we get for being your new favourites, captain? [ He's grinning, though. Mal's sense of humor is exactly his sense of humor, and he likes being assigned to her, in a sense. They're both engineers, after all. ] Rewards beyond our wildest dreams? A nice glow of accomplishment?

[Joseph stops mid-bite when he hears Lisa Lisa's voice. Uuhhh...]

[He finishes the bite and swallows, turning around in his chair.]

Eating?

[Is that the right answer?]

[Joseph turns in his seat, resting an arm on the back of his chair when he hears that chipper voice. He's grinning wide just for her. Well. Mostly for her. Let's not pretend like the prospect of food doesn't also put that smile on his face some. But he's always got a smile for Suzie, that's just a given.]

Well, well! Look at who's vertical again! [He points a finger at her.] You are feeling better, right?

[Because so help him, he will carry you off to bed to rest, Suzie Quatro. Don't test him.]

A little! My ship medic had some medicine that's from the planet, it's supposed to help a lot. I think it helped that he got to it right away, so it could start working...

[Well, anyway. She offers him up the thermos, smiling back with faintly chapped lips beneath, indeed, a slightly red nose.]

But I've been having plenty of soup, and I made extra! So I brought some for you, since I was coming to visit.

There is a table to eat at in the kitchen.

[ You know, where normal people eat ]

[There is, in the end, one "child" who is definitely more than a little skeptical, here.

That "child" happens to be bundled up in so many sweaters he looks like he might just fall over if he tries to walk. So far, he's been doing fine with that much, though...]

... I don't think this is a fair idea for my team, Mal. I'm also not sure I have the capacity to be underhanded, save the fact that I probably couldn't overhand-throw a snowball right now if I tried.

[ Her expression is a relief—he takes it as she may have found someone, or something, here to be happy about. He's still waiting to see Saitama!! There's hope!!!

He gives her a nod of greeting before responding. ]

I was assigned here. Are you here for someone? [ Oh, but she asked him something. He flexes his arm, his fingers moving slowly... until he gets to the last two, both of which lag a little before moving. ] There's something blocking the circuitry, but I'm not skilled enough to fix it.

[ He idly takes in the information that this guy was doing his job, or something like that, and continues on to answer. ]

I'm looking for paper and pens. Or something similar—I don't want to dig into anyone's personal supplies, so I've been searching the common areas.

Yup! One of my best friends is the pilot, and I know the captain a little, too. But it's mostly Jojo I'm coming to see, haha!

[Jojo being the aforementioned pilot, which would be evident from the way her face lights up even if the pet name didn't do it on its own.

Still, though, the arm movement catches her attention, and crouches down for a closer look as he puts the fingers through their motion.]

...That's really strange. Was it always like that, or did it just happen recently? When was the last time you could move it properly, do you know how it got blocked?

Paper and pens...? You might be able to buy some on one of the planet stops. [ He's never really had a use for it, so he hasn't bought any, sadly. ] What do you need those for? If you want to write something down, there's always your communicator's notes.

Well, my undying affection, obviously. Until the next competition.

[She shoots him the winningest smile. Secretly, he is her favorite robot son.]

Glow of accomplishment, check. And, mmm . . . well, I'll do my very best to wrangle something you want from one of the other crews. And if I can't find it, I'll keep looking for it on every planet we go to. Something Atroma won't give us, maybe.

[Hey, just because he's new doesn't mean she's going to cut him any slack! She gives him a very sweet smile and shakes her head.]

Don't worry. You're surely more competent than you think you are. Most people are, except me, because I know that I'm wonderful.

You're clever, aren't you? Use your head. Not necessarily literally.

[ Engineers gotta stick together. Similarly, Mal is his favourite captain. ]

Hm, that sounds like a pretty nice prize for doing what comes naturally. [ He's noticeably full of what passes for cheer with him. It seems like being cooped up on a ship doesn't agree with him either, strangely. ] Though I'd say 'something that Atroma won't give us' encompasses a lot of things.

I know, but I...

[He stops there because he realizes what he's about to say is definitely not going to make any sense to her. Or at least not be a good enough of an excuse for eating out here. He drops it, clearing his throat.]

What are you doing over here?

You're so thoughtful.

[Joseph leans over to take the thermos, but not before giving Suzie's forehead a kiss. He's just checking her temperature. Ssshh.]

That's why you're my favorite girl.

[Truly, this is the the nature of Life Around Tall People™ a long angle of reach for kisses like that, like it's effortless.

When he draws back, she's got her lips pressed tightly together, and it's pretty obviously because she's hiding a smile.]

Jojo!

[That sure is a token protest that is actually protesting nothing at all.]

Haha, wait until you taste it, then we'll see if I'm your double favorite. I think it came out pretty well...

[Oh yeah, he's really convinced that she's going to file a complaint with someone about that forehead kiss. It's clearly going to be bothering her for weeks now that he's done that. He'll think about what's done and try to make amends when she's ready. Until then though, he's unscrewing the cap on the thermos.]

We'll just have to see, won't we?

[Joseph gives it a quick smell first--because what's better than the smell of chicken soup--before taking a sip. He makes a thoughtful noise, putting on a very good show of contemplating the taste and where he'd place it. He doesn't hold back on his opinion for very long however as Joseph quickly bursts out into a wide grin.]

Nice! [He gives her a thumbs up with a wink.] Perfect as always, Suzie Q!

Good! That's what I like to hear!

[And with that as her cue, she proceeds to settle in, shifting position so he doesn't have to twist around just to look at her. Evidently she's figuring on this being longer than just a passing visit.]

I made some other things, too, for a new friend of mine who'd never eaten real food. So I've got lots of recipes I've figured out by now, that don't look or taste like paste at all. It's not like home, but it's about as close as I can get.

i start it up, turn it over like a general MINGLE

THE FIRST WEEK: SNOWBALL HELL

first week!

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later in the week!

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CAPTAIN NO

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CAPTAIN YES

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