/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

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo had just been innocently hanging out nearby, watching the game; he's never seen a pinball machine before, but anything yet-undiscovered in his world is interesting to him. Though it looks like more advanced technology, rather than a relic of the past.

The sudden interruption is startling, and he tilts his head, leaning in a bit to get a closer look at the man's face. He recognizes him, of course- the one he and Sorey had conversed with, and the ship's captain. But something about him feels different in person.

Hmmm... let's give it a shot.]

Hello.

[avaricious]

[The trouble is that even though Ling can sense that there is someone nearby, he cannot quite tell where the other is. But he releases the pinball machine to stare directly in the space where Mikleo should be.

Except he sees and hears nothing.]

Show yourself.

[Come on! There's nobody there, Ling. It's not even your turn right now, so back off!]

[nerdeology]

[Alright, that failed. But it isn't a total lost cause- the guy can sense him, somehow. How interesting. It's unusual for anyone to perceive a seraph's presence without direct verbal communication.

Without bothering to answer - it's pointless, anyway - he reaches down and taps the pinball machine, making one of the paddles flip.]

[avaricious]

Hands off the merchandise, ghosty!

[Well that's different. And it gets Greed's attention that he resumes control. Someone is messing with his game!? And it's probably a ghost!?

Oh hell no.

Greed swings a wild fist towards wherever he thinks someone might be. Which... could be anywhere really, because he doesn't have access to Ling's senses.

... I really don't think that was necessary.]

[nerdeology]

[HRK- THAT WAS UNEXPECTED- and it's only luck that keeps Mikleo from taking a direct strike, stumbling back a step and lifting his arm to block. A blue light flashes between them, water forming out of nothing, and a bubble of liquid takes the hit for him. Mikleo is sent skidding backwards, but at least he doesn't have a broken face, and all Greed gets for his trouble is a wet sleeve.]

...Obviously this is going to require a more cautious approach.

[Short fuse on this one.]

[avaricious]

Ugh, what the hell is this? Ectoplasm?

[Greed steps back to turn over his hand and stare in disgust at his now damp sleeves. He shakes his hand to dry it, but he is utterly disgusted. The last thing he wanted around was some liquid ghost -

UNLESS.]

Zules, if this is your version of payback, I'm gonna put you on toilet duty for a month.

[nerdeology]

[He has no idea what that means, but at least he's not getting attacked. It didn't even connect properly, and his arm's still sore. This guy hits hard.

He does nothing for a long moment, then crouches down, pressing his palm against the floor. A chill spreads from his skin to the metal, and as he lifts his hand back, it leaves a thin circle of condensation behind.

And now he waits a moment to make sure he's not about to get punched again, because no thanks.]

[avaricious]

[Greed was ready for another attack, except he had no idea where to look. He's coiled like he's going to attack again, but an agitated Ling looms back into control again. He can still tell where this so called 'ghost' is and he has good reason to believe it's not Lapis. Nothing about her powers indicated she could transfer her spiritual energy into water.

So a cautious Ling crouches down to where the condensation has formed. He touches his hand to it in curiosity. Chilly.]

That was you, wasn't it? You're trying to communicate, aren't you?

[nerdeology]

[...Now that is interesting. Is this that other voice he'd been talking about? The 'conscience'. Thank goodness he seems to be the sensible one.

Relieved, he starts with something simple: with his finger, he traces Y E S into the condensation.]

[avaricious]

[Well shit, it really is a ghost.

Ling ignored his other half. He gave an understanding nod.]

Are you hurt?

[He doesn't know much about ghosts - but he didn't think they were actually ever solid enough to hit. He had felt the hit that Greed had delivered. That couldn't have been pleasant.]

[nerdeology]

[Not in the strictest sense of the word. He'd been protected by seraphic artes, and if there was any lasting damage, he can heal it properly later. Since this one actually seems to care a little, there's no sense in being unkind.

He clears the text away and replaces it with NO. Then, as an afterthought, he adds DON'T ATTACK. If they can avoid a repeat of that nonsense, he'd appreciate it.]

[avaricious]

[Well shit. Greed is interested now. And it's only going to get more confusing as he takes over. Now that Ling has established communication - he's pretty irrelevant at this point.]

Don't give me a reason to, pal. Why are you haunting me?

[nerdeology]

[Great, he gets to deal with the violent one again.

He's not sure if he should bother dispelling the misunderstanding here- if people want to assume he's some kind of ghost, he doesn't care. It's not that different from back home, though it's a little insulting- ghosts are a type of hellion, after all. He's not here to argue semantics, though- just to prevent further conflict.

NOT HAUNTING

NEW CREW

That's the word for it, right?]

[avaricious]

... huh, so I got a ghost guy now. [Greed rubs his chin thoughtfully. That's actually pretty fucking awesome.]

Well, you're in luck, because I'm your new captain. My name is Greed. Yours?

[nerdeology]

[Oh god, this is the captain? What the hell is with this ship. Who elected him!?

Mikleo sighs. Better than the guy taking swings at him, but... ghost guy. Is that really how it is, now?

MIKLEO]

[avaricious]

[Greed feels like he should know that name already. But... nothing comes to mind. Oh well.]

Augment?

[nerdeology]

[Ugh. Ugh. Don't remind him that the augment is even a thing. He's still grossed out by the alien tech they somehow got into his head. But everyone's in the same boat, so...

COMMUNICATIONS

He knows it's ironic, okay.]

[avaricious]

[Greed linefaces. First the psycho cook, then the cowardly security officer, and now an invisible silent comms officer.]

Well. That's a fucking disaster.

[... at least they still have Kurt?]

[nerdeology]

[Have an invisible shrug. He knows, he knows.

DIDN'T PICK IT]

[avaricious]

We never do, pal.

[So, communications is a bust. But on the other hand...]

So, seeing as you're invisible, you could go anywhere you like, right?

[He isn't sure how to use this just yet... but it could be pretty amazing. Especially since he has Ling around to prevent that being used against himself.]

[nerdeology]

[...He's not sure he likes where this is going, but... he's not wrong.

MORE OR LESS

Don't think he's going to do anything weird for you just because you're the captain.]

[avaricious]

Here's the problem - we've already got a comms guy. Blue fuzzy kid - kind of a pushover. He's already got the job down. But you, Mickey - well, you're something special. We could get some really good use out of someone doing intel.

[Intel like... existing around the ship and just observing when no one else can see. It's the kind of thing that Greed needs. To make sure no one is plotting against him.]

[nerdeology]

[Yeah, he knew it.

HOW SUSPICIOUS

You are being sketchy as heck, Greed.

And now someone else is calling him Mickey. Why does he always end up with the nicknames!?]

[avaricious]

We've been kidnapped by aliens. We gotta use every angle we got, right?

[It's for the greater good, Mickey. Go with him on this.]

[nerdeology]

[He does not believe you in the slightest.

WE'LL SEE

Nooooot making any promises.]