enter if you dare (i'm kidding we're 80% approachable)

[theroadwarrior]

Who: Crew and visitors for the Starstruck!
Broadcast: None!
Action: The SS Starstruck
When: March! And, y'know, until the next mingle too.


[EVERYONE GET IN HERE AND MINGLE AND STUFF OKAY.]

Comments

[lord_wizard]

[That fact is rather instantly noticeable, despite, or maybe because of, the fact that Felix has given the stubbornly quiet man a wide berth on board the ship. Especially once they're been a lot more groaning and moping and punching for his taste, and had acted accordingly to preserve his own skin and questionable sanity.

He stops what he's doing abruptly, staring, then sighs in aggrieved recognition of the simple truth in those words.]

You're right, I am. Though, if I were one to wager, we have different reasons for that.

[He twists the washcloth in his hands, only half looking at Max as he eats] I hate being trapped in here. I'm sure that's not a unique sentiment either. But there's very little on the ship to do.

[theroadwarrior]

[He shrugs.]

It's not.

[A unique sentiment. Max is notorious around here for pacing, being awake instead of asleep, finding the most random things to do... He climbs the hell outta' these walls.]

Could start invading everyone else's ships.

[lord_wizard]

[Felix tends to find other walls to climb, which is part of the current problem.

He does, however, let out a small snort of laughter]

I don't think the rest of the fleet would appreciate that. Besides, it's a temporary diversion at best. [And he's going to choose to believe Max meant that in jest, even if nothing else in their conversational history would suggest he has that ability.]

[theroadwarrior]

[Did Max mean it in jest? The world may never know.]

Isn't everything a temporary diversion?

[lord_wizard]

[Another slight chuckle]

I can't argue with the startling truth of that revelation.

[Much like his brother, Felix reminds himself he probably shouldn't underestimate this man.]

I meant more in the sense that we'd be quickly deposed. Or worse. I'm not one for hostile takeovers, in any case. Unless you meant invade in the more mundane sense, in which case you may be on to something.

[theroadwarrior]

Mundane works. [He hums, stirring at his food.] More people to talk to... Interact with.

[Not something Max is interested in, but maybe Felix would like that.]

[lord_wizard]

[He's right on target there, and Felix smiles at having his desires guessed at]

That would be nice. Clearly we aren't restricted to traveling around the fleet, and certainly the Iskaulit helps in that regard, but it's still very self-contained. [He grasps at the air with crooked fingers]

[theroadwarrior]

Most seem sociable.

[The implication of course is that he isn't. At all. That much has always been pretty crystal clear, of course. He grumbles under his breath, taking a moment between eating to add an unimpressed:]

Too sociable, sometimes.

[lord_wizard]

We can't help what we are, my dear Butcher.

[It's not as teasing as it could have been; his tone too soft. Because that seems to be a lesson that crops up frequently.]

I imagine you're lots of fun at dinner parties.

[theroadwarrior]

I don't go to dinner parties.

[the most serious response]

[lord_wizard]

[But pretty close to the one he expected]

Perhaps you could start. You clean up nice, I can already tell.

[He's careful to keep any note of flirting vague enough to be dismissed, but sometimes he can't entirely help himself. Still, he doesn't want to scare the man away after he'd started using actual words.]

[theroadwarrior]

[........... You just get a Look before he starts eating again.]

[lord_wizard]

[The smile Max gets in return is the parody of innocence, but it starts to crack in seconds. It's so achingly like the response he'd have gotten from his brother that even though the echo pains him, he can't help but giggle.]

...No? Not ready for that?

[theroadwarrior]

[omg why does everyone giggle or laugh at me

>:^((((]

Not even a little.

[lord_wizard]

[Because it's easy and Felix is a terrible person. A fact he's acutely aware of, and thus makes another attempt at seriousness. He can't completely stop smiling, but it's a start.]

Ah, well...baby steps, then. [His smile cracks one more time before he lets the teasing go entirely, for the time being]

Actually, I've thought of putting something together, but we hardly have the resources. And we won't, until we get to another planet, which puts me right back where I started.

[He gives Max a curious look]

Is there anything that you prefer to do the pass the time? Anything you do for fun?

[And this time, he doesn't even hint that he isn't sure 'fun' might not be in the man's vocabulary, but it bears asking.]

[theroadwarrior]

[Insert a record-skipping sound here.

He looks absolutely puzzled.]


... For fun?


[......... Well, that answers a question, doesn't it.]

[lord_wizard]

[Yeah, it kind of does. And honestly...it's kind of sad.]

Like you said before? Diversions. The kind you do to relax? The kind that amuses you? The kind that has nothing to do with the necessities of existence?

[theroadwarrior]

.....

[He stares even still, befuddled.

Then he shakes his head, looking more serious about the topic.]

Hnn.

Necessities are more important.

[lord_wizard]

[Felix sighs and rolls his eyes slightly.

Powers...]

Yes...but that isn't the point. They aren't everything. Fun is about what you desire.

[He thinks about some people who had found joy in more mundane things and makes a soft sound that might be amusement]

Although I suppose what I said before is half a lie - some people do find some necessities fun. Like cleaning. But there's no accounting for taste.

[theroadwarrior]

[He hums, looking unimpressed with this so-called point.]

I desire... caution and being armed. So I work on that.

[He waves away Felix's words with a hand.]

I don't have any taste.

[lord_wizard]

[Felix snorts and waves his hand at the slop Max is consuming while an attempt at real food is being made]

Clearly. Would you like some bread to go with that at least? It's fresh.

[It's also his first batch so how good it is remains to be seen. Max seems like a perfect guinea pig, under the circumstances]

[theroadwarrior]

[....... He stares.]

... Real bread?

[He has been... admittedly enjoying the things he didn't usually get, in the wasteland.

Like, you know.

Baked goods.]

[lord_wizard]

Yes. Real bread. [Theoretically] Real flour is involved.

[He moves over to the counter with the pan of bread sits and tilts it up a bit so Max can see the loaf. It is, admittedly, a bit scorched around the edges but otherwise seems ok. He's a bit scared to find out for himself.]

[theroadwarrior]

[................. Do you expect him to try it first?

He looks up at Felix, eyebrow raised.]