this is your captain speaking;

[firstrebel]

Who: All Goldens and Golden friends!
Broadcast: Shipwide to the SS Golden
Action: Golden!
When: All of March, probably.

[ Hera is on the bridge today, looking all business. ]

Hi, everyone. I'm Hera, for those who are new or haven't spoken to me before. I'm your pilot and - as of today - captain. I know it's not a big deal here, but I was a captain back home, so I take it pretty seriously, and I just wanted to lay out a few ground rules and make a couple of announcements.

First and foremost, if I give you an order, I expect it to be followed. I don't give orders lightly, or for my own entertainment. If you think I've given you an unreasonable order, you're welcome to talk to me about it, but trust me when I say, I do it for the good of everyone on board.

Second, as of right now, we have more than enough bunks for everyone, so no one should have to share, or sleep on the floor, or anything like that. As long as there aren't any funny smells coming from your bunk, I don't care what you do in there.

Next, and especially for those new here, we do currently have cargo in the cargo bay. I ask that you don't mess with it, because it doesn't belong to us. We've scanned it, and we're relatively sure there's nothing dangerous in there, but the station has flagged it as contraband, so there's no sense risking getting into trouble just to satisfy your curiosity. If you have a legitimate reason for wanting to get into it, come talk to me so I can do a risk assessment.

Also, guests are always welcome aboard, but I do want to know who is on my ship at any given time, so just let me know when you invite people from other ships.

Finally, I just want to welcome our new crew members and let everyone know that if you have any concerns, you can always talk to me about them. We all have to share this space, and I want everyone to be as comfortable as possible.

[ And with that, have a mingle! How goes it, Golden? What kind of shenanigans are you getting up to? ]

Comments

Takeshi | OTA!

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi isn't getting into too bad of trouble. The seven-year-old is just a short little figure wandering around the ship, getting used to how... small it is, first and foremost. The last ship he'd lived in at length was the size of a city, easily. the halls were easy to get lost in. Die in, even. Now that he's here, in this place... it feels so very small, you'd think it was made for someone his height.

He studies each room very carefully, trying to memorize the layout as best he can.

He heads to the armory as well — and it's a very strange experience... because he understands everything he's looking at. He holds the gun exactly like he should, like he's seen the grown-ups do before. He knows how it functions. He knows how to properly maintain it. It's... very super weird! He had always wondered if he should learn how to use them in case the worsest things out there try to hurt him and his family...

But he always had the power suit.

He puts on his flexiarmor and holsters one of the simple handguns on a holster that is creepily made his size; what kind of weird show gives kids control of these kinds of things? The Atroma's show, is what. Once he's suited up he's pulling his oversized sweater back on and wandering back out into the main halls.

Aa... He's hungry. He's real, real hungry, actually!

Feeling strangely lost despite knowing where he is, he slips into the kitchen and draaaags a chair over to the counters, scaling them like they're little mountains; he's very used to making his own food! He can be found either standing on the counter and digging through the shelves, or sitting down and poking at liquid gel that tastes like teriyaki. Oh well. He's gotta eat, right? He's a big boy, he can handle this new stuff.

He grabs a spoon in hand and starts shoveling up the squishy mess.

His eyes light up.

It's... not so bad! Better than the stuff he ate on the planet, in another galaxy far away.

He starts eating it greedily, a smudge on the corner of his mouth as he goes.]

[precedented]

[ He looked like Crow, Leto thought distantly. Crow hadn't stayed long on Ruby but he was remembered. Leto remembered him, as he remembered the others. They should not be forgotten.

Watching him handle the gun, Leto wonders what was appropriate here. Surely the child should be armed for his own benefit? He can't remember what was the current rules to adhere to. ]

Do you know how to use that?

[throwsdown]

[Oh-! He looks up quickly (boy he has to crane his head, too), to stare up at Leto. Men are a little scarier, in some aspects; his mom was never violent with him, and while he loved Netherlands and Kaze more than ever, they were much more brutish than, say, Miss Reika or Heather. But he holds his ground, giving a firm nod.]

Yessir! It's all in my head.

[He pats where the augment would be.]

They put another chip in my head. So now I know more!

[precedented]

My, you must be a wise soul indeed to know so much. I'm relieved to have you here as our security.

[ He's not even joking. Leto has little issue with children and weapons. His first gift as a child was a knife. He was two. ]

[throwsdown]

[Well, damn, Leto knows the way to his teeny tiny heart.

He straightens up his stance and gives a smile.]

Thanks! I don't think I'm super smart, but I like to try t'protect people! 'Cus we should all protect each other, and if we don't, then we're even less strong. We're all one big team! We gotta act like it! 'Specially on our own special ships!

[A FIST IS HELD UP. DETERMINATION +100]

[precedented]

[ He smiles, genuinely amused. He remembers people of long ago, on teams, working together. ]

That was my feeling as well.

[ Though the Captain isn't fond of him. He shrugs. ]

I'm sure you will do an admirable job of protecting others. More so than me!

[throwsdown]

[Wow, what a nice compliment. He wishes he were so great at protecting people...

Instead, he shakes his head.]

It's better to protect others together...!

If there's more of us, there's more people saved when things go bad.

[precedented]

There is truth in your words. Do you foresee so much misfortune though? That's not very positive.

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi shakes his head.]

Positive stuff's gonna happen, but it'd be stupid if we thought there wouldn't be bad stuff, too!

We gotta be ready for it, even if everything's okay today!

'Cus it might not be later.

[He's learned quite a lot in his time being in a team. Both home and in space.]

[precedented]

[ He clicks his tongue. Nothing about his manner seems condescending, taking every word with a measure of seriousness that it deserves. Still, that smile never slips. ]

Indeed. It's always best to be prepared for the unexpected.

[throwsdown]

[Mhmm! He looks pleased by the response.]

'Cus you never know when you'll get attacked by monsters.

There's lots more room for things to happen in space, huh?

[nulliverse]

I'm glad someone likes that stuff.

[The food, she means. Normally she'd say that with the height of disdain, but this is a kid, so she puts a bit of warm humour into it. The kids here. They leave her so torn, because she's no good with kids, but having kids in this situation at all is weird and kind of unsettling so she wants to make sure they're not alone either.

Hesitantly, she takes a seat beside him, giving him a careful look.]

What's your name?

[throwsdown]

It's not bad! It's better than cooked rats.

[They didn't exactly have seasoning or anything, either. So this is nice.

He takes another big bite, chewing through it enthusiastically.]

My name'sh Takeshi! I'm from - [gulp] - Japan. D'you know Japan?

[nulliverse]

[Her eyes widen drastically, just for a moment, as she wonders if any of the children here came from regular homes. And they're all so cheerful about it - was she ever so cheerful about her comparatively cozy upbringing?

But she just smiles, determined not to make him feel strange for anything he's said.]

I've never been to Japan, but I do know of it. I went to a school with people from all different countries. I'm from England, myself, and my name's Celeste. [How do you talk to kids, how do you talk to kids...] What do you like about Japan?

[throwsdown]

Ooooh...! That's really really cool! I was on a big ship with people from all kindsa' places, too, but I never been to any of them. [He lowers his spoon, wiping his mouth on his sweater sleeve; too large on him, his hand disappears into the arm hole.] I like... Um... I dunno! I never thought about that. I like — oh!

[He beams, looking energized.]

I like the Super Sentai! Our TV is really cool, 'cus we got heroes, Heroes that can summon robots, and they drive 'em all over, and they can make aaaall their robots combine together to make a super mega stronger robot. And they got a cool song that comes on at the beginning every time.

[omg celeste don't walk this path

he loves the sentai so much

so so much]

[firstrebel]

[ When Hera comes into the kitchen, she's not terribly surprised to find a kid there. Sure, he's younger than the kids she's used to, but she knows there are several young kids in the fleet.

This one is just more her responsibility than the others, now. ]

Hi there. Want some help?

[throwsdown]

[He looks back, clinging to the cabinets like a spider monkey.

Hello, Miss Alien! He looks a little guarded, surprised by her appearance - he's had a very, very bad history with aliens. But then... she seems to be nice. And he knows now there aren't any aliens here looking to kill or attack people. And her face looks friendly. He shakes his head, determined.]

No, it's okay! I can do it.

I'm good at making my own food.

[firstrebel]

All right.

[ Far be it for her to try and do it for someone. Even a young child. ]

My name is Hera. What's yours?

[throwsdown]

[He grabs whatever there is — it looks like he comes away with peanut paste and some kind of liquidy banana flavored concoction. He doesn't seem too disturbed at how odd it looks, mostly because he's eaten some odd things before in most of his walks of life. He sits on the counter, holding the items close, looking Hera up and down.]

I'm Takeshi.

Are you — a good alien? You are, huh? 'Cus you're the captain... And you're kidnapped, too.

[firstrebel]

[ Hey, you know what, peanut butter and banana is a great combo, even if the paste is kinda gross. No judgment here. ]

I try to be a good person. Are you a good alien?

[throwsdown]

[He gasps, touching his face, his stomach. Did he change when he wasn't looking?!

But -- no, he's just him. He thinks. He looks at her with an owlish, innocent blink.]

Don't aliens look different than me? The ones I fought were real different.

[firstrebel]

If an alien is anyone who looks different, well. You're different than me. So by that definition, you're an alien.

[throwsdown]

Oh... I thought... I thought it meant that it was people and monsters that aren't from Earth! 'Cus that's what people were calling them when they started blowing up places and cutting people up and kidnapping them.

[He pauses, considerate, pensive, and then places the foods on the table.

With a spoon, he starts poking through the cover on one.]

But I know there's good aliens. I didn't meet one 'til I was in space... Um -- aliens like... people not from Earth, I mean!

[firstrebel]

[ It's really just an attempt to gently nudge him in the direction of inclusivity - really, a lot of people here could stand to see that the world doesn't revolve around one planet called Earth. But that's not this kid's fault. ]

I think no matter where you're from or what you look like, there are good people and bad people. You can't really judge that based on looks.

[throwsdown]

[He starts mixing the two foods together, kicking his feet over the edge of the chair back and forth. Now that he knows she's not going to rip his head off or cut 'im up, he feels a lot better. Very much at ease. There's still a bit of a thoughtful look on his face, though.]

Mmm, yeah! I know. Aliens tried to kill me a lot; that's why I'm careful. But normal human people can be real bad, too. My mom's boyfriend was one of the bad ones.

[As much as he has a prejudiced against aliens, he's never hurt one that didn't intend to hurt him back. Or at least look like it was going to. Though, he's thrown around more humans than alien while in space, so there's that.]