Gumball Wishes and Taxicab Dreams

[thespaceopera]

[On today's episode of the Drift Fleet:

The cargo holds are full of mysterious crates! The crews are filling beyond capacity with new faces! Official alerts are informing the passengers that they are signed to contracts that they've never agreed to! They are docking at the dazzling FS Starlight, but are flat broke!

What are they going to do!? Stay tuned to find out!


...Meaning, this is a kickoff mingle for you all to enjoy the beginning of the latest plot setting. This is a convenient place to start threads relating to the first week of the event-- meeting new crewmembers, reacting to the mysterious cargo, arriving on the station and discovering that you're all broke, etc.

Tag around, start whatever you'd like, have fun. And, as always, feel free to make your own posts and mingles from here on in, as this will be the only mod-posted one for this event!]

Comments

[arcanepower]

[... That's a really disturbing looking purse. Belth is tempted to just set it on fire, but it's clearly here with Elize and not some random monster, so it's okay.

Speaking of which, he is totally happy to see Elize. His face brightens, and he even gives her something that is recognizable as a smile! Wow!]

Elize! You look well. Would you like something to eat?

[princessia]

[ Thank goodness it's just a normal, lifeless doll and not like her talking doll from it. Then it would probably appear more like a monster.

She hasn't gone anywhere away from the fleet, but she has been holed up in her ship for so long, that she has missed seeing a lot of people. Belthazar included of course. Her expression brightens up just as much as his. And even more when he asks what she'd like to eat. Immediately, she's shoving her face back into the menu and swinging her legs happily.

...She also missed his food. This restaurant is already awesome. ]

What do you recommend?

[arcanepower]

[Yeah he'd definitely torch Teepo.]

Today's special is pan-fried poultry with fried crumbs. It comes with a side of wine-stewed beans and house salad. If you'd rather not have something with meat, we have a kelp-bacon sandwich with winter pumpkin soup.

Both are filling and savory, with a little sweetness.

[princessia]

[ She keeps swinging her legs cheerfully, listening and skimming through the menu. Then pauses. ]

Kelp-bacon?

[ Huh. Elize makes a face at the mention of the second dish. Never heard of such a thing. It's obvious what her choice is going to be. She's a glutton for dishes with meat in it. ]

Meat's fine. I'll have the special.

[arcanepower]

It is a kind of kelp cultivated on one of the planets we visited. It has a remarkable taste and texture like bacon, except it does not come from animals. [He almost laughs at the face she makes, but manages to keep it to a smile.] I understand. I'll make you the special.

Will you be interested in dessert? I don't mind making something that isn't on the menu. You are-- a friend, after all.

[It's still weird having those.]

[princessia]

Yes, we're friends!

[ That's a little loud. She can proudly call Belthazar her friend without feeling weird.

She's not bothering to ask how big the meal portions are. She's tiny, but a big eater. Hopefully she can finish all that she can order. ]

Give me... your best dessert!

[ That's kind of vague, but she trusts whatever dessert Belthazar will make. ]

[arcanepower]

[The reassurance that they're friends makes him blush a little, but it obviously makes him happy.]

I know just the thing.

[He bows with a flourish.]

Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Soda? Coffee, perhaps?

[princessia]

Tea, please! Um... are you working much longer?

[ She doesn't want to pass up Belthazar's food for anyone else's cooking. If it was a different chef, she might have felt more ashamed about her excitement ordering food. But she would like it if he were able to sit with her as well. ]

let me know if you wanna move this, otherwise idgaf about captcha

[arcanepower]

[He blinks, not quite understanding what she's getting at... and then it dawns on him.]

Only about half an hour. Do you want me to keep you company?

[He's not sure if that's what she meant, but he'd be happy to.]

nah... idgaf either and i'm lazy...

[princessia]

I would like that.

[ She has Hoppo sitting across from her like he's another guest, but a stuffed animal really isn't much company for her. ]

I'll walk with you back to your ship after you're finished working!

[arcanepower]

[Tea parties with stuffed animals aren't real social engagements.]

I like the sound of that. [He does like spending time with her, even if he's not the best at... friends.] I need to make your food, but I will return shortly. [Obviously.

He bows and moves to leave.]

[princessia]

Okay. I'll be waiting.

[ Elize gives a little wave of her hand as he leaves. She does her best to remain patient and wait for his return, even though she's an awfully hungry little girl right now. ]

[arcanepower]

[He sends the tea out with a waitress, so at least she has something to sip while waiting. The food is ready in about twenty minutes, which isn't terrible for gourmet; he comes out balancing the food on a platter and carefully sets it down in front of Elize.

He has some noodles for himself and a sandwich, because he's hungry from working.]

I'm off a little early. Your dessert is in the back, so I'll get it when you're done here.

[princessia]

[ During those twenty minutes, she might have been growing a little impatient. But she wouldn't complain out loud. She keeps herself busy by taking small sips of tea.

By the time he returns with her order, she's alerted by the smell and the sight of the food. ]

Thank you so much!

[ Once the plate is set down before her, she's already pouncing on the meat with her fork and knife to cut it into strips. ]

Did you- [ what was the word again? ] conjure this too, Belthazar?

[arcanepower]

Oh, no. [He laughs a little.] I only do that as a shortcut to save supplies. If I cooked like this on the Bishop, we would be out of food within hours. [He wraps some noodles around his fork.] Conjuring meat is basically impossible even for the most skilled of mages. It's easier to make things derived from plants-- fruits, berries, nuts, flour, et cetera.

Is it good?

[princessia]

O-oh! [ She blushes a bit. ] I thought you conjured this too...

[ And she'd probably make more frequent visits to the Bishop or bug Belthazar to come over. Still, conjuring is useful. She wishes she were capable of doing something similar with her spirit artes, then she'd make tons of pastries for herself.

She lifts up a piece of meat with her fork. Give her a moment to chew and swallow. When she's finished, she nods eagerly. ]

You're great at conjuring food and making meals the normal way!