(no subject)

[lord_wizard]

Who: Starstruck crew and visitors
Broadcast: None
Action: The SS Trainwreck Starstruck
When: August

[It might be accurate to say that the crew of the Starstruck had spent the majority of the month prior avoiding each other, or people in general, but as we leave the hand holding planet perhaps the crew can get back to normal.

Whatever that means...]

Comments

lauralae

[fuga]

[ For the first time since... Well, since she woke up here, really, Lauralae is not actively avoiding being sociable with her crewmates. She's not hiding in the shadows, she isn't tucked under a desk in the lab, she's not holed up in her bunk - she's walking around, trying to keep her head held high - and while she isn't actively speaking to anyone she isn't frowning or trying her best to avoid their eyes, either. She's not trying to hide, but she's not trying to suddenly be the most vocal member of the ship; perhaps there's a somewhere in between.

While she can still most often be found in the lab or her room, she does move around, spending more and more time in the cargo area; it soon becomes obvious why, as a little black wolf is constantly on her tail, chasing her around and learning simple commands that Lauralae offers in soft spoken words, in a language not English.

... She sometimes even smiles at the wolf, soft and sweet as she bends down to touch behind his ears. ]

[lord_wizard]

[Felix comes across her in one such moment. The glimpsed smile is unexpected enough to make him pause, considering her mystery.

He still isn't quite certain of what to think of Lauralae. He knows she has power, and had stopped himself from reacting badly to finding out the source of it. So far he'd considered her somewhat suspicious but nothing she'd done had merited a label of evil. Perhaps she deserved to be seen as something other than what her magic had made her.

And if it turns out he's wrong, being on the same ship means he can keep an eye on her.]

This is a surprise.

[fuga]

[ Tensing when she hears him, Lauralae pauses, hesitating for a moment before she lifts her head and turns to look at the man, watching him almost warily.

It's not as if she's afraid of him, not really. She has no reason to be, and she's comfortable enough in her own skin and her own powers to feel as though she might be able to shrug it off and manage, but at the same time - she hesitates, her gaze narrowing before she takes a step back. Lazarus moves with her, peeking out from under her skirts, little head held high with his ears back - he's trying very hard to appear dangerous. ]

May I help you?

[lord_wizard]

[He's more wary of the girl than he is the wolf, but he'd rather not have any bite marks on his ankles either]

Perhaps you could start by not setting your hound on me. [He offers her a smile to show that he is joking (which he mostly is) and unconcerned (which he mostly isn't)]

Who is your new shadow?

[fuga]

He is not a hound.

[ All the same, she shifts, leaning down and pressing her fingers between Lazarus' ears gently. He calms down, and she tilts her head back up to look over. There is no threat from her wolf pup... Not anymore. ]

His name is Lazarus.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[When Wanda first spots Lauralae in the halls of the Starstruck, she doesn't quite recognize her fellow shipmate. Having only returned to the Fleet herself recently, she was trying to meet the new crew members of the Starstruck, and she was guessing that this girl was one of them. Then, she spots the little, black wolf pup, and she immediately knows that she has to be friends with this girl. Or at least friendly enough acquaintances that she'll let Wanda play with her companion. Wanda greets Lauralae with a friendly enough smile as she approaches the duo.]

Quite the handsome companion you have escorting you.

[She resists the urge to immediately bend down to pet the pup. That would be rude without asking.]

[fuga]

[ There's an uncertainty that comes with Lauralae meets new people, and she shifts and moves back, trying to make sure she has room to escape if she needs to. She's not afraid, however, and she relaxes, the puppy moving forward a little with his wagging tail, all fur and tiny little paws that shift on wobbly legs. It would be distractingly adorable if Lauralae wasn't entirely focussed upon the new woman, stepping back quietly before she nods her head. ]

His name is Lazarus.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda smiles down at the pup.]

Hello there, Lazarus.

[A bit of an unusual name, but Wanda's certainly not going to judge a pet owner's choice of name. Not when Vision has "Officer Snuggles" patrolling the Windrose with him.]

[Wanda begins to bend down to pet the little wolf but stop shorts. She looks up at Lauralae, remembering her manners.]

Is it all right?

[fuga]

[ The pup wiggles at the greeting, but turns to look at Lauralae before he does anything else. It's obvious that he trusts her, and she nods her head once - and it's all he needs before he goes bounding over to Wanda, all legs and excitement. ]

It is fine. He won't harm you.

[ Not unless Lauralae told him that he should, at least, and she doesn't intend to do anything like that anytime soon. ]

He must learn to become used to other people.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda smiles broadly. She's always been a sucker for cute animals. She kneels down as he bounds over to her, petting him as he comes to say hi, and giving him a scratch behind the ear.]

What a handsome boy you are.

[She then looks up at Lauralae.]

I'm sorry. We haven't formally met yet. I'm Wanda.

[She offers up a hand to shake.]

[fuga]

[ Lauralae keeps her eye on the puppy as an attentive mother would, careful and sure, and her gaze flickers over him even as Wanda speaks. She takes a moment to lift her head up, to watch, but then she hesitates.

Well, Lazarus is handsome. She cannot deny that. ]

I am Lauralae.

[ Pausing, she stares at the other woman's hand before she frowns. ]

I cannot shake your hand.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda looks at her hand a moment, confused and even looking a little offended. This was a first, having a handshake rejected like this. However, Wanda has been in the fleet long enough now to understand that many other cultures exist out there, and so perhaps hand-shaking was simply not in Lauralae's. So, she tries to salvage the situation, but simply returning her hand to scratching behind the Wolf's ears as she slowly stands up.]

Handshaking is not a customary greeting where you come from, I take it?

[fuga]

[ She hesitates for a moment before she swallows, looking down at her hands. They're covered in thin gloves and, if Wanda looks closely, she'll see that the gloves are practically see through - it's Lauralae's hands that are pure black. ]

I am... Not comfortable with touching others. I cannot feel it, and my hands often ache once it is done.

[ Glancing back, she waits, almost anxious. ]

It is no fault of yours.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda follows Lauralae's eyes down to her hands. She realizes that the black coloring is not a part of the gloves' design, but that they were the girl's actual hands. Wanda stares at them for a moment, looking concerned. However, she realizes what she's doing and looks back up at Lauralae--though the look of concern lingers.]

It is all right.

[She waves her hand, signalling for Lauralae not to feel in any way guilty.]

But- [She glances down once more at Lauralae's hands.] you are okay? You are not hurt?

[fuga]

[ Once, she might have felt an extreme level of discomfort, sharing the obviousness of her hands with a stranger, but... She is learning to be more at ease, to offer it without shame. Tilting her head up, she frowns, watching Wanda for a moment before she settles, shaking her head and trying to appear more comfortable than she is. ]

I am well enough.

[ There's no point lying; she knows that she will suffer, there's no hiding it. ]

Do not fear.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda watches Lauralae's face, reading her expressions to try and better understand the story behind her hands. Though, if there's one thing that Wanda can understand, it's wanting to keep some painful memories to yourself and a few close others. So she will not press it any further. Instead, she gives her a sympathetic smile and nod of her head.]

If you ever need anything, everyone on this ship-- we look out for each other. Don't hesitate to ask.