/takes the huntress out back and buries it (jan mingle pt. II)

[scrubscrub]

Who: Anyone on the SS Huntress! Crew and visitors.
Broadcast: N/A
Action: SS Huntress
When: More of January! We got three new crew mates and it will be messy.

IT'S ANOTHER MINGLE FOR OUR EVER-EXPANDING SHIP.

Also, we need an update on how well Koala is doing at pinball.

God, help this ship.

Comments

[princessia]

[ Elize is also visiting the Huntress today, but she's unfamiliar with most of the current crew now, she can't quite tell who is actually part of the crew or simply visiting.

When making a turn while roaming the ship, she nearly bumps into the woman in the corridor. She quickly takes a step back before anything like that could happen. She didn't bring her doll today, so she folds her hands before her out of nervousness. ]

Um... hello...

[imahologram]

Hello.

[Admittedly, her first thought is: oh, no, not another child. Every one she meets makes her more frustrated with the Atroma, who shouldn't be pulling children out of their homes and schools and families to be their unwitting stars.

(They shouldn't be pulling anyone, but it seems especially egregious with such young kidnappees.)

That's not the girl's fault, though, and Leia gives her the friendliest smile she has in her arsenal. The poor thing looks nervous.]

Are you a member of the Huntress?

[princessia]

[ A shake of her head. ]

I-... I was, but I transferred off not too long ago. I'm just visiting. Han said it was fine.

[ She's playing with her folded hands a little. This person seems kind enough at least. Her eyes are fixed to the floor briefly, then timidly back up to make an effort to directly meet the woman's gaze. ]

I was about to ask you the same question.

[imahologram]

I'm from the Windrose, actually. I'm here to visit Han, too.

[He hadn't mentioned that he'd made friends with multiple children. Leia bites back her amusement--she can save that for Han himself.]

Are you a friend of his?

[princessia]

You are? [ There's some small surprise in her voice. ] And yes, we're friends.

[ Even though she has only known Han for such a short while, her answer comes easily. Elize is a child that's quick to register someone as a friend as long as they're genuinely nice to her. Plus he said he's making sure her old ship doesn't crash... ]

My name is Elize.

[imahologram]

That's right. He and I are from the same place.

[Elize seems on the quiet side, but she's sweet enough.]

It's nice to meet you, Elize. My name is Leia.

[princessia]

Oh? Leia... it's nice to meet you, Leia.

[ Saying her name gets a tiny, amused smile out of her. She's reminded of a friend from home. She hasn't seen her in months, unfortunately. ]

I have a friend from home with the same name as you.

[imahologram]

Really? I've never met anyone with the same name as me before.

[Leia smiles back. As rusty as she feels, talking to children, it doesn't seem to be that difficult.]

It's a nice coincidence. Maybe it means we'll be friends, too.

[princessia]

Maybe...

[ That's when her smile starts to falter. ]

I haven't seen her in a long time. So, I don't know.

[imahologram]

I'm sorry. [Her own expression grows more somber.] It can be hard to be away from the people you love.

[A pause.] Have you been in the Fleet a long time?

[princessia]

Eight... nine months, I think?

[ It's getting close to a year. There are people who have reached that amount of time. She returned home once. That was months ago, but the amount of time back home wasn't very long.

She looks down bashfully, drops her arms to her sides and sways them a little. ]

But everyone goes home, someday.

[ Still, that doesn't make her happy. She misses Cullen. ]

[imahologram]

That's a long time. I'm sorry.

[And as long as it sounds to her, how much more unending is it for a girl Elize's age?

At the other comment, Leia tilts her head a little. It's a surprising thing to say, something that runs contrary to what others have told her.]

Do they?

[princessia]

Yes. There was a completely different crew on this ship before. Chris, Shirley, Isabela, Corey, Dad- [ "Daddy". She stops, correcting herself. ] Cullen... a lot of people. They all went home.

[ These are only several names. There might have been others before her transfer, but she remembers quite a number of people. ]

Not just this ship, but it's like that for everyone brought on the fleet.

[imahologram]

...I can see why Han likes you.

[All right, mostly Leia's just struck by the girl's...can you really call it optimism when she seems so sad? By Elize's idea that everyone must leave eventually. Eventually, provided they just wait long enough.

That idea appeals to Leia a lot right about now.]

You know exactly what to say to a person.

[princessia]

I do?

[ That gets her from being sad to... looking rather embarrassed. She can feel her cheeks heating up. That's a compliment, right? ]

I-I'm just telling you what happens...