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

[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?

[heresyandlace]

[he's taking that as a big win, and feeling quite pleased with himself about it. not that he's going to let that show, of course. that would just ruin everything.]

I could say yes, but you wouldn't believe me, would you?

[princessia]

[ Perhaps she does believe him. Not that she's going to let that show, not in her voice. Her tone is the same, annoyed sound. ]

Hmph. Of course I wouldn't.

[heresyandlace]

Then, I won't waste my breath.

[with a rather contented little sigh, he offers a polite bow of his head to excuse himself, and he takes a step back toward the door.]

I also won't bother saying that I hope you have a better day.

[princessia]

[ She flips over on the couch, facing her back towards him. Less cautious and not bothering to glare at him with a watchful gaze as he leaves.

It's a win for Tek. Maybe. As if she'd tell him something like that! ]

I. Don't. Care.