driftfleet | Video

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Video

Who: Shirley Fennes
Broadcast: Network; open video
Action: SS Huntress
When: Morning after the shuffle (1/03)

[There's a new face on the network! Specifically a teenage girl's, curious but not quite sure of herself.]

Can people see this?

[She pauses for a second before continuing, standing up straighter and speaking carefully.]

Um, if you can...good morning, everyone. My name is Shirley, and I suppose I'm new here.

I'm speaking to everybody now because I wanted to ask if anybody's seen a quill pen. I know I had it on me before they took me here yesterday, but it's disappeared since then. If it's not on this ship, then it should be on the big one...the HS Marsiva, I think. I'm on the SS Huntress right now, but I haven't seen it anywhere.

That quill means a lot to me, so I'd like to have it back if anyone can find it. Thank you very much, all of you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hey, no problem. I'm the captain of the Bloodsport, so you're welcome to contact me anytime.

[Bloodsport? What an interesting name...probably not his fault, though. She's pretty sure nobody on her ship came up with Huntress.]

I'll make sure to do that. Is it often that you get to see people on other ships?

[he thinks it's an AWESOME name but it really does not represent the crew it's taken on...]

You see 'em whenever everyone lands on a planet, or when people dock in stations. Otherwise you have to fly one ship over to another one... so that really depends on how much you feel like visiting, you know?

So most of the time it's only you and the others on your ship.

[That's cause for disappointment again. Shirley's no social butterfly, but that still feels rather limited.]

...Well, it's a good thing I like the other people I'm with.

Aw, don't be sad... [his tone softens, a little.] Yeah, you spend a lot of time with your crew, but whatever this Marsiva's track is, they've also given us plenty of time to get out there and meet new people. You'll be all right.

Oh. That's good to hear.

[Still disappointing, but it doesn't seem terrible. Or at least as non-terrible as this situation can be, anyway.]

Have you made any new friends here?

Absolutely! Many friends. A freckled girl, a boy with eyes like the sea, a storyteller...

[so many interesting people here...]

That's very...poetic.

[Not that being poetic is a bad thing. It sort of sounds like something Grune might have said once.]

Hah, thank you. It keeps things interesting...

What are their names? Maybe I'll be able to meet them sometime, too.

That would be Emblica, Riku, and Garak, respectively. The second one is on a ship with me; I can introduce you two if you don't meet up yourselves.

No, it's all right, but I'll remember them. I wish I could tell you about my own friends, but so far I only have the people on my ship.

Well, one day when you have friends to tell about... I'd be happy to listen.

Then I'll definitely talk to you when I have more to tell. Or...I could try and describe my friends at home for you, if you might find that interesting.

Actually, I would. [laces his fingers together, rests them under his chin...] I'd love to hear about them.

Oh! Um...

[She hadn't been expecting him to really be interested. But if he wants it, then why should she disagree? Now, to try and do it in the colorful way Robin did!

There's enough people that she has to tick them off on her fingers. For each descriptor there's a slight pause, as she tries to think of how to describe them.]

There's two sisters, a knight in blue, a bubbly treasure hunter, a historian and his daughter, a beast's best friend, a boy with otters for family...then everyone's older sister, and a friend from my childhood.

[Some of them are tough and don't necessarily do her friends justice, but Grune and Senel are especially hard to describe. For the last one in particular, Shirley's face has turned slightly red.]

[this is exactly what he'd hoped for. he eats up her words like they're their own story. he knows he should probably start at that last bit, but--]

Otters? Like the kind that live in the sea?

Yes, although these usually live on the land.

[Go figure.]

They're rather strange...they can talk and fight, just like normal people. They're very fond of seafood.

Talk and fight, huh... [he looks... amazed? surprised? something...] That is a little strange, for sea otters.

It is. But they're good friends of ours now, and a good family to my friend too.

I will take your word for it.

[he nods... before sliding into a grin.]

So... Who's the childhood friend?

[HE HAD TO SAY THAT. The blush returns to Shirley's face, and she looks away for a second in embarrassment.]

Th-that's Senel. He came to my village four years ago.