driftfleet | Chocolate-flavored Dessert Cream on the House

Chocolate-flavored Dessert Cream on the House

[The bunks are filling up, but the new faces just keep appearing!

Are you a travel-weary passenger having trouble keeping your crew roster straight? Perhaps you are a fresh new recruit, finding themselves dumped into a new (and much less shiny) home. Or, maybe you've been around for a little bit and just haven't bothered meeting the other weirdos on this ship yet--what is their problem, anyway?

Well, this is the place for you!

All new passengers from the last few Shuffles, especially those who haven't met their crews yet, are welcome to post starter-comments here to invite those living on and visiting your ship to come and interact. Newbies could be just arriving on the ship, busying around where others can find them, or you can offering multiple options for interaction--however you'd like to set up your thread is fine. Just make sure to include the name of your ship in the header, so your crewmates can easily find you!

Everyone else-- go meet those newbies! Whether they are new to your own crew, or on ships you frequently visit, now is a great time to bump into them.]

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[Makie rounds the corner with a cup of tea in hand, just as Dean swerves away from a window, and her eyebrows raise. Pills, huh.]

Is something wrong?

[Sup. Pale Japanese woman in a kimono at your service.]

Nothing.

[ He answers, before looking at her, even though he's, you know, panting and sweating, and leaning back against a wall like it's a life raft, and throwing back pills like they're candy. Then he gets a good look at Makie, and stands up straight, and holds the pill bottle behind his thigh, and generally does everything he can in ten seconds to look presentable.

Seriously, is this ship all hot chicks? Dean hit the freaking jackpot. ]

Nothing, I'm good. Just, uh... [ He starts to glance back towards the window and then quickly schools his face back away from it, forcing a very fake smile. ] Not a fan of flying.

[...it's terrible that she finds that kind of endearing, right. The trying to straighten himself up part anyway, though she usually sees that in men much younger than this one. Her smile definitely looks a little amused anyway for the brief time it's there, and then Makie moves forward, settling her tea on a nearby counter.]

A fear of flying or does it make you physically ill? I certainly hope the medication works either way, or I'm afraid your time here will be quite uncomfortable.

[ It's only terrible if "endearing" means she wants to mother him instead of.... you know, the good stuff.

Not that Dean's thinking that of her, I mean, come on, they just met. ............. Anyway, he's still feeling airsick, so that takes some of the enthusiasm out of his shamelessness, at least. ]

Sickness and fear, hand in hand, skipping gleefully together into Upchuck Town. That's me, alright.

[ The only pills he's got are a mild painkiller, and he's taking a lot of them, so no, they don't really help. It was easier on the bigger ship. Wasn't as rocky, and they had shots of the good stuff on top. But he'll find something better than anti-inflammatories to suck down soon enough, and then he'll be good. ]

This place has a door, right? We're on some kind of... space station?

[ That's the gist of what he's getting from the broadcasts he's seen - that there's a real city out there, with grass and everything - but he hasn't manned up and explored it yet. If it's just empty black space... He'll be better off holed up in this thing. ]

[Endearing as in it's so cute that you tried, really. But Makie can appreciate even a pretense at manners. She looks a little confused at first because where the hell is Upchuck Town seriously-- I'm 18th century, dude, what is this slang you're using.

She's also used to not understanding half of what people say, so she lets it go. Particularly as he has a question she can actually answer.]

You can exit the ship from the docking bay. And yes, I've heard it called that. It's a very large and very chaotic place, but I've no doubt a man like you will find all manner of entertainment you could appreciate.

[ It's alright. Dean's used to people not getting his references even in his own time and universe. Her confused look doesn't even faze him. ]

Docking bay. Right, thanks. And entertainment. That sounds good.

[ Dean looks down the hall, in the direction of the docking bay. He's explored the ship, knows it up and down. It's everything outside of it that he's worried about. He looks back to her. ]

You been out there? Is it, uh... [ He glances towards the window before rolling his eyes and swallowing hard, and looking back at her. ] You know... stable? Green grass, blue skies... No turbulence, no... No windows out into the sucking black nothingness of space?

[She smiles. It's an attempt at being reassuring.]

I'm told the grass and the sun are not entirely natural, no, but they feel it. I've been to the parks and gardens myself. It's completely stable. Unless you travel the outer corridors or visit the shuttle bays, it's hard to recall you're not on solid ground.

I hope that helps. You do get used to the balance of the ship in time, also. I'd never been on any kind of ship before this one. [So it was fun.]

[ Dean nods, looking nervous but at least mostly reassured. ...Even though he doesn't really feel it. But no, she said it's stable. It's good. He'll be good.

He swallows hard. ]

You drink? [ And since who knows if she's an alien, or if the timeline she's from is dry or what, he feels the need to clarify. ] You know, alcohol. Beer, whiskey... Anything to take the edge off.

I drink. [She seems faintly amused, but it's a gentle sort of amusement. The way he explains things.] I don't drink often, and I haven't had much opportunity until now in any case. Are you familiar with sake?

[ That's a good enough answer for him. She seems like the kind of woman who needs a good strong drink or two to relax, and there's nothing wrong with that. And he sure as hell could use something himself. ]

Yeah. I, uh... [ He pauses, eyebrows lifting like it was a bad time. Not because he got drunk off it. The stuff barely touched him. But the bottle he's talking about had a shojo tied to it... And that was a laugh riot. That's what the pause is about, and the regretful look. ] I'm familiar.

[ Then he smiles a little. ]

I'm more of a whiskey guy myself, but I wouldn't say "no" to a good wine. You know where I could get some?

[Probably doesn't help that Makie's near as pale as that shojo ghost. It's okay, her colour will improve a little over the next few weeks anyway.

She watches him curiously a moment trying to puzzle out that reaction to sake, but a lot of people have poor meetings with certain kinds of liquor, don't they? To the question, she hums thoughtfully, glancing back to her tea left on the bench.]

I would show you myself, but I think I've exhausted my ability to travel today. But the station is very used to entertaining such large crowds of visitors. The moment you walk in, you're sure to see signs for at least three different bars.

...my name is Otono-Tachibana Makie. [She gives him the whole mouthful, curious to see what he'll call her, to be honest.]

[ He noticed the pale thing, but he doesn't think much of it. Maybe if she were blue or covered in scales, he'd ask. Looking like she's never seen the sun, along with that skinny, willowy kind of frame, just makes him figure she's an indoor girl. ...That is, until she's mentioning "exhausted my ability to travel." And then the pale thing makes more sense, clicks in Dean's head. She's sick, and not the simple cold kind. Maybe asking her out for a drink wasn't the smartest move after all. Good thing she was smart enough to know herself and turn him down. It's probably no good for her, anyway.

But damn, that name is a mouthful. ]

Otono?

[ Is that what she said? Is that her name, or was it the whole thing he's supposed to be saying? He's gonna shorten it for sure. ]

I'm Dean. Thanks, for all the advice. I'll be able to find something, no problem.

You need anything? I hear the food here kind of sucks. You want me to bring you back dinner?

[ Is that presumptuous? Or insulting? Dean rushes after to explain. ]

You know, for helping me out. Since I'm invading your ship and all, a house warming gift's the least I can do.

[She smiles outright, though it's a small thing. He tried.]

Makie. [A gentle correction.] In Japan, we say our family name first. [Or-- well, it's not so much her family name, but it's complicated.] You're most welcome.

[She's about to give genuine consideration to the offer for a meal, because her appetite is shot but she really should eat more than the paste in the kitchen generally provides-- but the name sinks in, and after a moment she realises where she's heard it before. It's likely a coincidence, but...]

Dean. Do you have family on board the fleet?

[Practically every time she ran into Sam he was looking for a Dean in some way or other.]

Yeah. My brother Sam.

[ But Makie, good. Already sounds like a nickname. That's a lot easier to remember than the whole thing, too. Dean likes it. He grins wide, guilty before he's even opening his mouth. ]

I guess I'd be Winchester Dean. [ Dean, no... ] And Sam would be Winchester... [ Dean, no. ] ...Eh, forget it. [ Thank god, you listened to that little voice inside telling you when you're embarrassing yourself. Good job. Only a couple sentences too late. ]

So Sammy's been talking about me. Is that it?

[Oh, Dean. You were doing so well.

...to be honest you're still doing pretty well, but the look she gives him is kind of a mix of you're amusing and oh god please stop. At least she doesn't find it offensive, just kind of... well. You're kind of odd.

But so's Sam in his own way. Must run in the family. Now that she's placed him, she's remembering how Sam described him once. Short, spiked hair, surly, a little freckley-- Yeah, think we have a winner.]

The first time I met Sam in person, he was looking for you. But he never found you. Apparently, you had just returned... ah. [She may be getting ahead of herself.] I'm sorry. Have you been told about Adstringendum?

[She draws out the word. There are too many consonants in that thing for a Japanese woman, okay.]

[ Not like he isn't familiar with that look. She doesn't say anything about it though, which Dean'll take for a win.

And hey, she pronounced it way better than Dean does when he tries, and he was born and raised speaking (poor) English. ]

Yeah, a little bit.

[ He hasn't heard much about how Sam handled the place, though. Just bits and pieces from a couple people about what it was like as a whole. There's still a lot left to be filled in, so he encourages her. ]

So you were there too, huh? And friends with Sam? He do anything I need to apologize for?

[ Dean's joking. ...Mostly. ]

[Her lips quirk up a bit at that.]

Sam apologises enough for himself. I'm sure you're fine in that regard. [The amusement there is because Sam apologises entirely too often for things that aren't really his problem. It's ridiculous. Not that Makie can talk.]

He was very helpful over the months that I was there. Kind, too. [He taught her how to garden. She, uh. Kind of tried to kill his dog once. It was awkward.] It is an honour to finally meet family that he cares so much about.

[An honour, Dean. Don't make her change her mind now.]

[ Sam's a tricky case. And Dean knows all about it, lived with the guy pretty much his whole life. Problem is, Sam apologizes for things he shouldn't because they aren't his fault, and nobody could've helped them... but he apologizes for what he should too, and for doing things he should've never done to start with. "The road to Hell," like they say. And Sam doesn't just walk that road; he drives thirty over the whole way. It's not like Dean walks the straight and narrow himself, but compared to Sam? Sam's done things sober that even Dean would never dream of doing, not without black eyes or the Mark of Cain on his arm. Sometimes, Sam scares him. He's done the kind of things you can't apologize away.

But that's family business, anyway. From what Makie's saying, if Sam did anything he shouldn't've in that Adstrigium place, at least she didn't know about it. And Dean's just going to assume that "cares so much about" part was because they're brothers and Sam was looking for him, not because of anything he said. ]

Yeah, he's a good kid.

[ Dean says. Because despite it all, he still believes it, always will, and loves the hell out of him. Sam doesn't have the best taste in friends either most of the time, but so far Makie seems alright. ]

If you've got any embarrassing stories from that place, you know I'm all ears for them.

[ He grins. Because what good is it meeting all of your little brother's friends if you can't get some ammunition out of them? ]

[True enough. Unlike certain redheads, Makie only knows that Sam is gentle and kind and would probably be more than a little disconcerted if she knew any more about him than that. Also, that he makes a cute kid. She makes a small, amused sound at the thought, given the embarrassing stories line from Dean.

But sadly for him, Makie's just too polite to go around embarrassing people she respects.]

I'm afraid I don't know any. I imagine that in the time we've known each other, I have been far more embarrassing than your brother.

[She kind of shares that whole self-deprecation thing in common with him, though. But that's at least a product of her upbringing. Outcast women should be seen and not heard, all that jazz.]

[ You're too nice for your own good, Makie. And Dean doesn't really want to embarrass somebody he just met, so he doesn't ask. ]

Eh, it's just a matter of time. Hang around him enough, you'll get some good ones.

[ He glances over his shoulder briefly, thinking about the space station, before he turns back to ask. ]

You eat meat, right? You're not one of those vegetarians, are you? Food restrictions? Allergies to shellfish?

[ Like it or not, he's bringing you back dinner. He was planning to before, but for a friend of Sam's? Now it's just a given. ]

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Chocolate-flavored Dessert Cream on the House

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