driftfleet | [Open Moons Mingle Log]

[She doesn't really resist, partially because she's still muddled and partially because the part of her that registers what's going on is grateful for the save. Shirley follows him quietly out of the library, rubbing her eyes once they're outside and resisting the sway of sleep.]

Thank you.

[he lightens up, starts acting like a real person once they're out of there. he lets go of her arm, but pats her on the shoulder.]

Hey, no problem. You're too cute to get arrested for... sleeping, or whatever their deal is around here.

The people here value using everything they have to improve. I'm not putting my full attention towards my learning...that's a terrible insult to them.

[Shirley says it quite easily, given how she doesn't have the energy to speak in anything much louder than a mumble.]

Well said, sleepyhead.

[he leans down so that he can look at her eyes... for something, pupil dilation, trouble focusing, just trying to get a read on her. it seems like this has been going on for a lot of people, but he hasn't met anyone with a sleeping problem yet.]

Has this been happening a lot? Since the beginning of the month?

[For her part Shirley looks pretty healthy, just tired and a little worn out.]

Yes. Sometimes I feel very good...sometimes I get like I do now. Something similar's happening to another person on my ship as well, but we haven't found a pattern yet.

[She stretches, trying to wake herself up further and think for a moment.]

I came here for a reason. Maybe I ought to try and find a different library.

Interesting... Must be the same thing happening on my ship, as well.

[the augment malfunctions... he's vaguely aware, but he's been under the whims of Court long enough to not be surprised when weird shit starts happening with everyone's feelings. besides, that other bit she said is more interesting--]

What are you trying to find?

[Shirley looks back to the library to think. The augment's still chugging away at running in its weird ways, so she's starting to look more alert now too. Or maybe it's the stretches. Who knows? ~~Spoilers: it's the augment.~~]

I've been trying to learn more about medicine, to better fulfill my role in the lab. The augments help, but I don't want to depend only on that in times of trouble.

[And come to think of it--]

What about you? Why are you here?

[he's watching her carefully, but he's... always watching people carefully, so it's not all that notable. he nods, listening, but looks over at the library himself when she asks...]

Oh, I was just out and about. I've been in a good mood, lately. It's a beautiful moon. I like books, the stars aligned.

[Shirley opens her mouth to reply, then stops. There's a pause before she speaks again - more carefully this time.]

And how are things with Nel?

[Yeah, she hasn't forgotten about that.]

[aw, and here he thought he might get a break... there's barely a change in his expression, though. he's still in a bizarrely good mood.]

Things are rough, but I've done what I needed to do. It's a lot of hoping, at this point.

...Good. I haven't seen Nel yet, but I'm keeping an eye out for him wherever I go.

[She promised, after all. But thinking on their last conversation, Robin seems to be acting a little strangely compared to what she would have expected.]

You're not worried about him?

Oh, I'm very worried about him. [his smile remains, though it gets a little sad...] Always.

Oh.

[She can work out the rest for herself. Yeah.]

...When I see him, is there anything in particular you want me to look for? You would know him better than I do.

[he shrugs. he's got a whole list of things, actually--dozens of little signs, nicks, traces of bad nights and shitty sleep and blatant misery that he wishes he could watch for. but he can't. and he doesn't want to burden Shirley with that.]

Mostly just if he looks like he's having a hard time or not. He's just like anyone else... You probably know what a bad week looks like.

Yeah. I do.

[Shirley nods, thinking of her friends at home and the things she's seen them go through. That only adds to her resolve to find Nel - she wants to help, and she can't help if she's always missing him. Where to find him, though...]

And do you know what kinds of places he might like to be?

[he laughs, suddenly--] Opium dens and nightclubs, if we're being honest. You'll have better luck looking for him in clothing stores and parks, though.

Um...

[She's not really sure what to say to that.]

Right. I'll be sure to look around.

Hey. [he pats her shoulder.] Don't stress yourself out, okay? It's just if you happen to see him.

[She shakes her head.]

I want to try. I want to make sure he's all right, or at least make sure he won't do anything he'll regret.

[A beat.]

That goes for you too, you know.

For me? [that's... maybe in any other mood he would take this poorly, but something about the chemicals buzzing around in his brain make him want to believe her.] That's kind of you.

Like I said before, I've had experience. Me, and my friends from home...since I met them, we've all needed to do things like that for one another. I think that goes for people here as well.

[Is that counting Robin as a friend? Maybe, maybe not.]

Oh, Canary... [he seems a little wistful, but it fades as he looks at her... he puts his hands in his pockets, but his face stays very open. very honest.]

I don't know if you trust me, after all of that, but... I would be happy to do the same for you, should you ever ask.

[Trust - yeah. Shirley's learned a lot about that. She nods, with a set firmness to her expression.]

I think can trust you, but if there's anything like--like what happened with Nel, that might be bad...it doesn't have to be now, but I'd rather know sooner or later.

[She softens there. Not easy to throw stones here, after all.]

It's hard, but it's better than not saying anything. Senel, my friend...I once found out he was hiding something from me at a bad time, and I lost the courage to trust him when I should have. It's something that both of us regret.

Ah...

[Tek comes to mind. Crow comes to mind. there's a great deal about himself and his friends and his past that could potentially come about and make people very upset. it's a little absurd that someone would just... ask him to talk about it, though, and absurd that he'd consider answering truthfully. a couple of years ago he would have threatened her away from the very notion.]

You know, it's a funny thing... [he tilts his head up, looking up at the sky above them. it's nice, on this moon--the weather. warm, clear. it'd be wonderful to fly through.] I had a friend who tried to tell me I should talk about myself more, be more honest and open. She left a while ago, but I haven't quite been able to shake the memory of it from my mind, since then...

It...it's good.

[Robin may not be able to see but she's smiling to herself now, thinking of the friends she's made and everything they've been through. Talking about feelings with Chloe, seeing Norma achieve her dream, helping Jay accept his family...all of it, important.]

It's not always easy in the moment to be honest, or open up when you're afraid. But once you've done it, everything comes so much more naturally.

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