driftfleet | i - action/video

Who: Eugene Woods, back again!
Broadcast: yes
Action: SS Wonderduck
When: August 5th, evening

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[It's like that moment when you walk through a door and forget what you were about to do. Except replace walk with 'teleport', and replace what you were about to do with

'what possible course of events could move you instantly from your bunk to the bridge of a completely unfamiliar ship'. Surrounded by confetti. Back in the standard jumper.

Oh, and minus both crutches and leg.

One undignified topple to the confetti-strewn ground later - one made infinitely more comical for the festive music playing, probably - Eugene has the opportunity to take stock of his situation. Definitely not the Vanquish. Or any other ship he's been on. Too lost and put-out to be afraid, he sits up, finds his communicator, and stares at it flatly.]

What the hell, guys.

[No response. He's not sure why he expected one. Stare still vaguely accusatory, he opens up the network, grabs a cup of pudding, and settles in to dig for some information himself.]

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So . . . epic mystery nap, huh.

[Eugene's managed to get to the kitchen, but he hasn't moved much since then, scanning his communicator and continuing his long, slow descent down the rabbit hole of what the hell happened. It's been months since he had to play the new-kid-in-town role, and he can't say he's feeling any more fondly toward it now than he did the last time, although for completely different reasons. Last time it was loss, outrage, disbelief. This time, it's just untethered, pure disorientation.

At least with anger, it has a direction. This is just nothing, icy-black as the vacuum of space on the other side of the hull. Dozens on dozens of voices on the communicator, and still, in every second they're quiet he doesn't think he's ever felt more profoundly alone.

He's made himself marginally presentable, finger-combed back the curly chaos of his hair and straightened his shirt. Probably should get up and make something to eat, but the gnawing unease won't let him stand just yet. Standing means looking away from his communicator, and he's still holding out hope that if he studies it long enough, it'll spit up some answer, something to make him feel even a little less lost.]

Shame on Atroma for not even giving a guy a recap episode. Can anyone tell me if I missed anything big?

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Wha... Whoa, hey! Eugene!

[It sounds a lot like he remembers this place, too. It's rare for a person he knows to come back, and rarer still for them to remember.]

[Oh god it's a reunion episode. By the third familiar face cropping up Eugene's on the verge of laughing, though he does manage a straight face as he holds the communicator out to pronounce as grandly and solemnly as possible.]

Oh Captain, my Captain-!

[He cracks a grin.]

Sorry for not standing on a chair there. I have to go hunting for my leg sooner or later.

[Yeah guess who never saw that movie

But Clay can recognize it as a reference, so he can't help laughing. It's both humored and relieved, that Eugene's come back and actually recognizing him. Though he can't help but notice that the decor is not the ship Eugene used to be on.]

Well, I wouldn't say I'm your captain anymore! But you can come back over to the Vanquish any time; we've still got your leg over here!

[In case he came back, or in case someone else arrived who needed a prosthetic leg.]

[In a second, all the grinning and bravado and ego deflates out of Eugene like a balloon, and he slouches down in his chair, releasing a breath and a rush of words.]

Ohthankgod. I am getting so sick of hopping.

Well, once you get over here, you won't have to do it at all. Just tell me when you'll be over, I can meet you in the cargo bay!

I'll let you know when I make it down to one of the shuttles.

[Soon. Honestly, he's already wondering if he can't re-purpose one of the galley chairs as a makeshift walker. He's itching to have his balance back, but even with that antsiness, he's more relaxed just knowing there's a solution in sight.]

Thanks, Clay. You're the best not-captain a guy could ask for. How's the rest of the crew doing?

They're all fine! Lost a few, gained a few. Rogue was asleep for a long time, but she woke up pretty recently! I had to do a lot of the cooking for a while.

[On top of being captain. On top of getting first mate duties. On top of being a pilot. On top of filling in for engineer because Kaworu doesn't do his damn job. Jeez, Allen was right; Clay really was overworking himself for a while there.]

It still feels weird to not have three cooks at all times. Still, we're the Vanquish crew and we're fine!

Edited 2016-08-08 03:08 (UTC)

[The usual chaos, but nothing too terrible, and Eugene's about to give Clay a dry poor baby about his measly two freaking cooks when he gets something even better.]

What was that-? [He over-enunciates, cupping his ear and looking at Clay incredulously.] I don't think they heard you down in the cargo bay, Captain!

Edited 2016-08-08 04:00 (UTC)

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