Chocolate-flavored Dessert Cream on the House

[thespaceopera]

[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.]

Comments

[survives]

[She takes a step closer, making sure to still leave some space between them, before leaning down slightly.

He's sitting... Okay, that's good. Definitely good!! Who needs to sit on a chair--]

I... think I get it. [She huffs out a laugh.] It's kind of a lot, huh?

But... [Ohhh, what would sound comforting, what would sound comforting...] B-but it's fine! I promise! Everyone on this ship's awesome!

[astrobleme]

[Shinji lets those words--"But it's fine! I promise!"--sink in for a minute. Even though he's making a fool of himself, he has someone trying to comfort him, really trying to do that. He doesn't deserve a single act of kindness.]

Sorry, I... I got separated from my friends, so... [So he panicked. He's still panicking, but he hasn't dissolved into more snot and tears just yet.] This is the SS Heron, right? And you're...? A member of the crew?

[survives]

[Whew. Not great, but. So far, so good.]

It's fine. I get it. It's not like they tell us we're not gonna see our friends here or anything.

[A nod.]

That's right though! I'm the ship's Tactical Support! [Whatever that means.]

And if you're here, that's gotta mean you're a crew member, too.

[astrobleme]

[Shinji has no earthly idea where Kaworu and Asuka ended up. They must be on different ships, but he didn't hear the announcement. If he can get his shit together, he can go seek them out... or he can continue to sit here, barely breathing, his mouth an acrid smear. Oh, god. Oh god. Oh god. He's been left behind.]

T-Tactical Support... [That sounds important. Shinji hates to be reminded of the augment, though.] I'm a pilot. I'm supposed to be a pilot. Why would anyone want me to be a pilot...?

[survives]

I guess you've never flown anything before, huh... [She relaxes slightly now, shaking her head. Okay, okay, this she can definitely talk about.]

I don't know how they picked jobs for all of us or anything. It's... [A laugh.] I don't think they really thought about what jobs we could do at all.

[astrobleme]

I've never... not with a ship like this... [Evangelion was a sophisticated weapon, not a method of transport. There might be some similarities between them, but ultimately he's just in over his head.]

You don't want me in charge of anything. I'll m-make a mess of it.

[survives]

You don't have to be! We have a captain! [She shakes her head again, waving a hand in front of her.]

He's a good captain and... And you can still learn how to be a pilot, you know? I... don't think most of us know how to do our jobs anyway.

[astrobleme]

[Shinji doesn't trust himself with anything, but he decides not to explain that right now. More importantly,]

What's... what is the point of an assignment, then?

[This place is crazier than he is.]

[survives]

[Leanne shrugs a shoulder.] Honestly, I don't know yet. I'm not sure anyone does.

I guess we're supposed to do that work and we get stuff on the ships, but...

[A short laugh.] It's just weird!

[astrobleme]

[She seems so upbeat--or, more upbeat than he is--despite all of the weirdness. Honestly, he envies people who can laugh like nothing bothers them.]

That is super weird, [he agrees, now cradling his brow. Pretty bad headache all of the sudden.] I'm sorry, did you say what your name was...?

sorry for taking so long!!

[survives]

[She shakes her head quickly, smiling a touch sheepishly.

Oh man, is he okay... Ohhhh man, she hopes he is.]

Sorry, so sorry! I didn't tell you. It's Leanne. And you are?

it's really no problem!

[astrobleme]

[Headache aside, Shinji looks less like he's going to pass out in a pool of his own vomit. That's an improvement.]

Shinji.

[...]

At least, I think that's... my name... [Nothing has felt particularly real about his time with the Fleet. Including himself.] I hope that's my name.

thank you haha!

[survives]

[Leanne frowns now, taking a careful step closer.]

You think? You hope?

Um. [Well, that's. Concerning.] Did something happen?

[astrobleme]

[Shinji comes close to eviscerating himself and spilling his life story all over Leanne's feet. Even before joining the Fleet, he couldn't be totally sure of his own identity. Thankfully, he just focuses on breathing, breathing more, slow and steady with every attempt.]

Sorry. I haven't... slept in a while, so I'm a little out of it. I guess.

[survives]

[Oh. Well. Okay. All right. That's a lot less concerning.]

Ohhhh. [She laughs, a little relieved.] That's fine, I guess. You haven't slept... and you just got sick! [Her eyes widen slightly. No sleep... getting sick... Jeez, no wonder.] You should get some rest.

[astrobleme]

[Now that he's calming down, Shinji can see just how ridiculous he's being. Getting sick, then worrying this poor girl...]

I'm fine, [he says, like he was saying earlier, except there's a little more force to his words.] I want to get to know my surroundings, before anything else... if that's okay... [He's paranoid like that. He needs to locate any escape routes or good places to hide.]

[survives]

[She nods, though she still doesn't look completely convinced.]

I get it. I guess you probably don't wanna rest somewhere you don't know either anyway, huh? I toootally get it.

But, um. [She looks away for a moment.] If you feel too sick later, you can ask for help, too, or something, you know?

[astrobleme]

[Asking for help? Imposing himself on others? Not a chance in hell. Shinji nods, though, and even smiles briefly, a flicker of feeling.] Thank you, Leanne-san. I'll keep that in mind.

[He's finally ready to stand up. Taking a deep breath, he pushes himself back onto his feet, inching up the wall.]

Is... Is this a very big ship? How many people are stationed here?

[survives]

[She smiles, and nods one more time.] Just don't forget, huh?

But, um... [She leans back slightly on the balls of her feet, taking a moment to think that over.] It's not that big, I guess. But I've never been on a ship like this before. Maybe this is really big. [A laugh.]

There are around... eight of us! People leave or show up sometimes, but that's more or less how it always is.

[astrobleme]

Eight... [Not as many people as a classroom, but more than Shinji is used to living with in close quarters. He has no idea how well he's going to adjust to this. If he's going to adjust at all. Everything about this is scaring him half to death.]

Is that... normal? The other ships, do they have around that many?

[He wants to go find Kaworu and Asuka, but that can wait until after he's explored the Heron and had another ten panic attacks.]