/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

[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 :) ]

[scrubscrub]

Oh, I don't think he is! But you would probably know very quickly...!

He doesn't care for humans much at all, sir.

[Koala appears to be pretty casual about Arlong and his occasional abusive tendencies -- though it's mostly because she had expected the other fishmen to at least keep him in check. She couldn't imagine how scary it would be to have him around without the others, like Tiger and Aladdin. The idea of him looming over her with that shark grin makes her neck hairs stand on end.]