/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

[scrubscrub]

[Oh, no! She's in company — silly her. She brings back that smile.]

But don't you worry, sir. I'll figure something out!

[honorbends]

[ that smile is a little creepy, and zuko returns it with a blink. ]

... where do you think we can find a new blender?

[ he'll just play along, for now. and zuko seems to be asking her genuinely. ]

[scrubscrub]

Maybe I could try to make a deal with another ship who doesn't use a blender often. Or I can maybe find someone who is very good at repairs! Don't you worry, sir, I won't let it stay in such a sad shape!

[She's very much determined, that's to be sure.]

[honorbends]

You probably don't need to go through all that trouble.

[ pause. ]

What's your name?

[scrubscrub]

[Oh, but she sure will, Zuko. She sure will.]

I'm Koala. I'm the cabin girl! I do things like washing and laundry and dusting...

Are you new here? I will get the blender replaced before anyone even knows you broke it.

[SMILE SMILE SMILE]

[honorbends]

[ aha. this must be the girl the ruckus was over. zuko sort of skips over the first part, and even offers her a faint smile.

FEEL SPECIAL, SMOL CHILD. ]

Zuko. I'm on the Blue Fish, not the Huntress. I was visiting someone.

[ and he glances at the blender ]

Pretty sure the person I'm visiting broke the blender, but he'd probably blame it on me anyway if you gave him the choice, so -- I'll help you replace it.

[ fucking sasuke ]

[scrubscrub]

[FEELING SO SPECIAL.

She puts her hands up, as if dispelling the idea of him helping.]

Oh, you don't have to, sir! It's my job to make sure everything stays in good shape on the ship; that's my augment! I'm maintenance. So you don't need to concern yourself. If you're visiting, you shouldn't have to waste your precious time handling our problems.

[honorbends]

[ oh, hm. ]

Does maintenance involve all parts of the ship, or just the engine bay?

[ he's generally curious. ]

[scrubscrub]

I take care to make sure the things aboard the ship are running smoothly, sir!

That means keeping things clean, I believe.

If things are not kept clean, they may not last as long.

[honorbends]

You don't have to call me 'sir', just Zuko is fine.

[ god, what would all of these people do if they knew he was royalty. it's just more incentive to keep it to himself. ]

And you look like you're doing a pretty good job. This ship is really clean.

[scrubscrub]

Y-yes, Mr. Zuko.

[Koala, personally, would flip her shit bro. Don't tell her.]

Thank you! It's an honor to get such praise. I've been keeping a good eye on the cleanliness...

[honorbends]

[ good lord. ]

I can... uh, see that.

[ zuko glances around again before refocusing his attention on koala, brow furrowing. ]

Can I ask you to help me find someone? Would that be alright?

[scrubscrub]

Oh, of course, of course. I'll help with whatever you need.

I-if you're looking for... um... Marhi, she's. Not here anymore. I think she went back home.

[It makes her a little sad; she had liked the woman very much.]

[honorbends]

No, not her.

[ with a slight shake of his head. ]

I was looking for someone named Sasuke. He just got here?

[scrubscrub]

[A-ahh... Her smile falters just a little.

Could it be...?]

Is he a black-haired man? He speaks very... seriously. Um. Darkly.

[She clearly did not start off on the right foot with him.]

He has knives on him and doesn't like to have his sleep interrupted, so you should be very cautious if you're looking for him in particular!

1/2

[honorbends]

[ . . . . . . . ]

[honorbends]

What did he do?

[ sASUKE YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK ]

[scrubscrub]

[She puts up her hands, smiling widely, unnaturally.]

Oh, nothing, sir! Nothing! He didn't hurt me.

He wouldn't let me serve him anything to drink, though. He was worried I'd poison him.

[honorbends]

[ ............... ]

Did he tell you that?

[ SASUKE HAVE YOU LITERALLY NEVER INTERACTED WITH A SMALL CHILD ]

[scrubscrub]

Um, yes! Yes, sir, he did.

He must be a very nervous person by nature. I tried to tell him that I would never poison anyone's drink, because I know I may have my hand removed, or I may be killed... but he was very persistent.

[honorbends]

[ good lord ]

... no one is going to remove your hand or kill you, and Sasuke isn't going to do either of those things, either.

[ not that zuko thinks he would, but. honestly. ]

He's paranoid.

[scrubscrub]

I can understand... I'm very paranoid, too!

[At least she's self-aware.]

I'm glad that I'll be able to keep my hands; thank you so much, sir! I do like having them.

[honorbends]

[ what in the hell has this kid gone through where she's worried about losing her hands ]

... do people threaten you with that a lot, at your home? Losing your hands.

[scrubscrub]

Ah, it was mostly from the slave owners...! Now that I'm not under their control, I don't usually hear such things... S-sometimes Mr. Arlong would hit me if the other fishmen didn't see, but he never cut off any of my hands!

[She holds them both up, as if he needs a clear example that her hands are a-ok.]

[honorbends]

[ zuko does her the courtesy of looking at her hands, and offers her a faint smile, but it doesn't really reach his eyes. ]

Is Mr. Arlong here?

[ because zuko has strong opinions on hitting children :) ]