driftfleet | attempt 002

Who: Anders and you???
Broadcast: fleetwide video
Action: SS Golden, if that's your jam
When: no time like NOW

[Anders is very close to the camera when it switches on, nearly raising the illusion of being nose-to-nose with it.]

Evening! I've got an important question for everyone, if you'll do me the favor. Just a moment. [He goes on talking, peppy and conversational, but he isn't precisely looking at the camera as he does. He's rummaging through something slightly left and below, head tilted down and expression partially obscured by the way some of his hair slips out of its tie.] Got lucky with this place, didn't we? [beat] Well, sort of. Makes one wonder why we don't stop places like this all the time, instead of frozen-wasteland-here and merciless-jungle-madness-there.

[That's the thing with Anders having an audience: once he starts, good luck getting him to stop.]

Though what happens when we're all drifted out, I wonder? End of the line, so to speak, even if this one isn't so much a line as it is a drunken wobble through the void. I know, I know, vast emptiness of space and all that, but it's got to end somewhere. We've all places to be, yes? Even if those places are just, you know, not quite so cramped as here. And no one actually likes a story with no ending, even Atroma's got to know that.

[Something white and furry hits him repeatedly in the face while he talks; people who have spent more than ten minutes with him might recognize it as his cat's tail. He's remarkably good at ignoring it, though whether that's because of exposure or fortitude is hard to say. Maybe a little of both.]

Anyway. No reason to keep you in suspense! My important question: purple or blue?

[He sits up, having apparently now located what he was looking for, and waves bundles of fabric that may or may not be shirts of some kind at the camera. They're complete with the bright, glowing strips of color characteristic of the fashion sense of this place in, you guessed it: purple and blue.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He winks at her.]

Please, I'm always entertaining. It's the audience I'm really concerned for, you see, I can't be the focus of our little drama here all the time, can I?

[She was already smiling, but the wink makes it crinkle up the corners of her eyes.]

Well if you're the only one being entertaining, that's just the natural conclusion isn't it?

Fair point! [He sighs, wistful, a little melodramatic.] What a burden I carry. Perhaps I'm all that's keeping our little fleet afloat!

You sacrifice for the good of us all.

[She actually pulls a sober, straight face.

She manages to hold it for a solid 6 seconds!]

[Maker bless her for her valiant effort, his ego appreciates it.]

Oh, you know me. [He lays a hand delicately and dramatically over his heart.] I'm a giver. I can only imagine where you'd be without me.

Well I certainly wouldn't be having nearly as much fun, I can tell you that.

[Wink. ;)]

[His answering wink is very literal.]

Beautiful and intelligent. I knew I made a good call with you, my friend.

[Damn it, Anders, always with the compliments. This is why she complained to Beverly.

She will smile through the blushing.]

You just like me because I stroke your ego.

[His grin goes lopsided, a little sharp, a little wolfish.]

Well, I can't say it's not a bonus, can I? But it's certainly not the only reason. Would you like me to give you a list?

[Oh fuck. Don't look at her like that!

She can feel the heat in her cheeks while she carefully attempts to back pedal.]

I don't need flattery. You know that.

[Anders, have pity on this poor flustered girl.]

[Absolutely not. He's enjoying himself too much.]

Oh, no one ever needs flattery, do they? Not even me, shockingly enough. It's just a little extra something, if you will. [He curves his tone into innuendo, brows lifting.] From me to you.

[Wicked man.]

You're being over generous then.

[She will stay strong. She won't cover her face, even if she wants to. She will continue flailing internally though.]

Nonsense. When have I ever done that? [a beat, then amending:] When have I ever done that to someone whose company I actually enjoy?

That's hardly a fair rhetorical question, seeing as I have almost no way of knowing all the people you've ever met whose company you enjoyed.

[Distract. Distract.]

No, no, that's all right, I'll give you a hand. You see, the correct answer is: "Maker's breath, Anders, you're right! I am intelligent and beautiful."

[what kind of amateur do you take him for]

[Okay, if that's how you want to play it.]

Ah but you do it so much better than I could. And with such conviction! I mean, I'm highly convinced you are both intelligent and beautiful.

Oh, well, we knew that already, didn't we? That's the difference between you and me, you see, I'm happy to bask in whatever compliments you'd like to toss my way. Rightly so or not!

[He spreads his arms as if to, yes, literally bask.]

I'm having a stellar hair day, by the by.

[She will gladly compliment you all you want, Anders. Especially if it keeps you from reciprocating.

Hush. It makes sense if you squint. Really squint.]

You will have to share your secrets with me.

[She pulls a curly red lock into her face, blows it away. Her hair is cleaner and healthier than its ever been, but she still doesn't know how to do anything with it.]

That can be arranged. [He perches his chin on the heel of his hand and squints at her, contemplative.] Name a time and place. This deserves better than a video chat, that's for certain.

What, really?

[Unexpected answer, but good.]

Whenever is fine (?). I have nothing but time. Maybe not on the Red Fish though.

[He waves one hand dismissively.]

The Golden's got nothing but space. Pop over when you have a moment, and I'll tear myself away from my captainly duties for a few hours, hm?

[A few hours? Well she does have a lot of hair.]

Alright. In a little bit then?

[Is that too soon?]

Confession: I don't actually have anything important to do today. Which is to say, that works perfectly.

Okay.

[She is suddenly beaming. She's actually excited for this, and is moving already.]

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes it is! I'll be expecting you.

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