mingle on the pathstone

[dawnwillcome]

Who: The Pathstone crew and anyone brave enough to come say hi
Broadcast: not this time
Action: I mean obvs
When: all month? all month!

[Contrary to popular believe, the Pathstone isn't THAT useless. Yes they can go months without an upgrade and sure they're kind of a mess at the best of times, but they still function!

Most of the time. Flying sideways in space is all about perspective anyway, and they haven't done a barrel roll in like... well probably awhile.

So welcome, new Pathstone dwellers! We're probably very sorry in advance.]

Comments

[princessia]

[ Elize moves slightly, only to tighten her grip around the stuffed animal on her lap. Her eyes remain closed. Yup, anyone can just easily just step inside her personnel room without her noticing right now. ]

[heresyandlace]

[he does so-- but he only takes a few steps in, and he gives a light knock on the doorframe as he does so. he doesn't want to spook her too badly, after all.]

[princessia]

[ The light knock is enough to make her slowly open her eyes. When she sees who's in her room, she lets out a small gasp and is looking very taken aback. Ew, it's Tek.

She scrambles to stand on top of her couch, like she thinks Tek tainted her room's floor and it would be horrible if she set her feet upon it. She lifts her doll up, looking about ready to chuck it at his face. ]

No one gave you permission to be in my room!

[ Well, suddenly she sounds like she's full of energy. A little ball of annoyed energy. ]

[heresyandlace]

[oh yes, that is quite a change! he stops where he's at and lifts his hands, palms-out, in an easy gesture of surrender.]

That is true... but one might make the argument that I, as captain, have the right to go wherever I please on my ship.

[princessia]

[ She keeps holding the doll over her head, just ready to throw it any moment now. He hasn't even done anything but step into her room... ]

Captain? I don't see any captain. All I see is a creepy jerk.

[heresyandlace]

[and he won't move an inch, as if that doll were a lethal weapon.]

You've forgotten already? I could wear a badge if it would help you remember.

[princessia]

I can tell who you are from a mile away. You don't need a badge for creepy, fake captains!

[ Just as she finishes her sentence, it's incoming, Tek. She's hurling her stuffed animal, aiming for his face.

...Yes, it's a pretty soft plushie. Not really lethal weapon material. ]

[heresyandlace]

[he doesn't often let people throw things at him, especially at his face, but she is apparently an exception. he turns his head to the side so the thing doesn't hit him straight-on, but otherwise lets it happen. only then does he lower his hands again.]

You really are trying to hurt my feelings, aren't you?

[he figures as long as she's up and complaining about something, she's not moping. it's something like an improvement, right?]

[princessia]

[ It's some sort of distraction from her thoughts about Cullen leaving. She's far more focused with trying to drive Tek out of her room and feeling incredibly irritated.

She wobbles while standing on her couch, but manages to keep her balance. Still, she won't step off her couch to retrieve her doll. Clearly the floor is lava now that Tek's in her room. ]

You should feel terrible.

[ But she can tell he isn't. It's annoying. ]

[heresyandlace]

Such a cruel girl you are.

[and he lazily stoops down to pick up the doll, inspecting it in his hands as he straightens again.]

It would make you happy to see me sad?

[princessia]

Um... I-

[ A blush spreads across her cheeks, stammering when she doesn't have a retort prepared. Wow, that's a difficult question. Maybe she isn't that cruel. Even if she dislikes him a lot. ]

I-... would be happy if you realized... how much of a horrible captain you are! [ She crosses her arms, watching as he picks up her doll. ] And you better not do anything to my Hoppo!

[heresyandlace]

Is that his name? Or is that the type of creature he is?

[turning the doll around in his hands, he holds it so that it's now upright and facing him, so he can look it in the eye.]

And, if I did suddenly believe you and think that I was a horrible captain, that would make me sad, wouldn't it?

[princessia]

Hoppo is Hoppo!

[ That... doesn't really answer much. Or maybe it's the answer two both questions. Fortunately Hoppo is just an ordinary doll, unlike how her Teepo was. Teepo probably would have been trying to take a snap out of Tek's face by now.

...Would it make him sad? She has no idea. She thinks the only thing he's capable of is being creepy and amused. ]

Do you ever feel sad?

[heresyandlace]

[honestly, that's a reasonable assumption about his emotional range. even some of his closest acquaintances might agree with her.

in this case, however... he smiles more to himself than at her like he typically does.]

I do. [he steps closer to hold the doll out in her direction.] ...I'm very good at hiding it, however.

[princessia]

[ She looks at him, then at her doll. First she reaches out slowly, then once her hand is close, she makes a quick snatch for Hoppo. She doesn't want her hand hovering near Tek for too long. ]

...I'm not sure if I believe you.

[heresyandlace]

[he lets her snatch the doll away and lowers his hand a moment or two later, tucking them both easily into his pockets.]

Well, I tend to sleep a lot when I'm sad.

[which, boy he has been doing lately--skipping a night or two of rest to then spend multiple days at a time in a deep sleep, buried in his nest.]

And I don't talk as much.

[princessia]

[ Similarly, Elize does the same when she's sad, except there's some crying involved before falling asleep. But what he says could explain why he hasn't bothered her when she initially transferred over.

She makes a show of dusting off her doll, keeping up a haughty expression. She doesn't want him to think she believes him. ]

Is that why you're bothering me now?

[heresyandlace]

[oh, no. mustn't let him suspect a thing, of course.]

I'm bothering you now, because I'd heard you were feeling sad.

[princessia]

[ She thinks if he lets him suspect anything, then she'll feel like she has "lost" against him. ]

If you're here to make me feel even worse, it's not working.

[heresyandlace]

[for now, he wouldn't want to ruin that notion. she can win all she likes. he does have to make one important clarification, however.]

Oh, you would know if I was trying to make you feel worse. I am terrible, after all.

[and he raises and drops his shoulders in a shallow shrug.]

No, I only wanted to see how you were doing.

[princessia]

[ She finally sits down on the couch, letting the tips of her toes touch the floor. Amazing. ]

Cullen's gone and I'm doing the same as ever. Upset and angry. There, you have your answer.

[ Well, she's not crying. She's spending her time sounding annoyed at Tek. So, somehow that's better than how she was feeling before. ]

[heresyandlace]

[he'll take these all as little, positive signs. there's progress in there somewhere.]

I really can't blame you. It's not fair, is it-- the things they do with us?

[princessia]

[ She huffs, squeezing her doll tightly against her chest. More like she's crushing the toy like a stress ball. ]

It's not. And they don't care.

[heresyandlace]

They don't indeed. So, it's good that you are on a ship full of people who do.

[he says it lightly enough, as if it's actually something that he would ever utter out loud around any single other passenger on this ship.]

[princessia]

[ She loosens her grip on her doll as though she just released all her contained stress, then flops lazily on her side. It might be saying something that she's now acting less guarded around him. ]

Full of people who care, including yourself?