text;

[nostraightlines]

Who: José Ramse and YOU
Broadcast: fleetwide text
Action: the Starstruck
When: now!

Celeste Blackwell went home. At least, I figure that's where they sent her. So much for my plan to be as boring as possible to get sent back.

...

Does anyone here know where I could get sleeping pills or anything like that?


[ Ramse can be found on the bridge of the Starstruck, staring down at the unfortunate moon. He's definitely in a mood. ]

Comments

[nostraightlines]

...I could try. I don't know if I'm the best example, I still can't sleep through the night alone.

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, I mean, maybe you two could come to an arrangement with the sleeping thing...? He's currently on my couch.

[ she's kidding, she's kidding. ]

[nostraightlines]

Hmm...

[ He seems to be considering it. ]

How did you get a couch? I don't have a couch.

[takingkarabusiness]

My personnel augment got me an extra office. I lucked out, I guess.

[nostraightlines]

I think I've got somebody willing to spend the night now and then, but I'll keep your friend in mind.

[takingkarabusiness]

Let me know if you do talk to him. He really is a good guy.

[nostraightlines]

You'll be the first one to know. What ship is he on, anyway? Yours?

[takingkarabusiness]

He got assigned to the Bishop, but I wouldn't be surprised if he officially transferred and got his own bed.

[nostraightlines]

You know I never asked, what's your job here? Personnel doing what?

[takingkarabusiness]

[ shrugs ]

I don't think I've found my calling yet.

[nostraightlines]

Making the protein edible. Or being there for people right when they need it.

[takingkarabusiness]

I was thinking "pep talks", maybe.

You know, this isn't the first time my powers have been dampened.

[nostraightlines]

Official pep talk officer.

No? Was there an eclipse or something?

[takingkarabusiness]

No, I just... overextended myself in a fight with an android. James was calling it a "solar flare", which is silly. It's more like I drained my batteries and it took a few days to recharge.

I hated it. I felt so useless... but I still managed to stop a robbery in progress, mostly by wearing the uniform and talking the robbers down from their situation.

[nostraightlines]

[ Android? What? No, that's not the point of this story. Ramse listens, nodding when she finishes. ]

Like a... negotiator, I think they used to be called. No powers, just a good read on the situation. Knowing the right things to say.

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, them thinking I'm bulletproof as helped, but yeah. I guess I have some talent with talking through things sometimes.

[nostraightlines]

You're easy to talk to. There's something... genuine. Does that make sense?

[takingkarabusiness]

[ if she hasn't taken her glasses back yet, she does now, cleaning them on her shirt and generally fussing with them slightly before putting her back on. she's clearly not completely comfortable with compliments ]

Oh, well, I have my moments, I suppose.

I mean, thank you. You're easy to talk to, too.

[nostraightlines]

[ Interesting, considering as a superhero he'd imagine she gets showered with praise from admirers. ]

So I've been told. I'm a pretty open book, that helps.

[takingkarabusiness]

It can. I appreciate honesty.

[nostraightlines]

Yeah... I've made my mistakes but I've always been honest, I guess.

Seems like you are, too, that must be hard to balance with a secret identity.

[takingkarabusiness]

It's hard. I really don't think of myself as a good liar. Though, my sister once told me the best way to be a good liar is to make people think you're a bad liar.

Except, I think I'm just bad.

[nostraightlines]

How often do you have to straight up lie?

[takingkarabusiness]

A lot more than I'd like to?

[nostraightlines]

They say you get better at it, the longer you have to. It helps if you've got your story straight beforehand.

[ ...not that he'd really know. He's hardly ever lied in his life. ]