driftfleet | (no subject)

[She'll stop what she's doing (thankfully, there aren't any actual bite marks on any of the gun parts) at the sound of his voice. It's rather funny to see someone baffled at her presence - she can only imagine how funny it must be to see a fox on a spaceship. She tilts her head slightly.]

Indeed.

[A few worlds ago, the sight of a talking fox would have put him at a loss. Now, after seeing a multitude of stranger things and being able to turn into a talking wolf himself, he merely blinks.]

Ah. Would you be one of the newer crew, then?

[She's just glad no one has freaked out and tried to chase her off so far. That's progress, in her books.]

I suppose I am. I arrived recently.

[And she's still getting used to all this nonsense.]

[He folds his arms over his chest, looking down at the fox. It's going to take some getting used to. There's a nod at what she says.]

I imagine you've heard a lot of the standard welcome information by now, but do you have any questions?

Two.

[Among others, but these are the most important.]

Why is it I have too much knowledge about guns? And is protein paste all there is for food on this ship?

[It's absurd to stay standing while talking to her, when she's so close to the ground. Erik moves to sit on a box nearby.]

That would be your augment, at the base of your skull. They push information into us based on our assigned position. I got the same for engineering.

As for the food, that's all they provide. But I stocked up with provisions of real food at the last planet.

[With an ear twitch she moves a little bit closer - still not within reaching distance, though.]

What sorts of things can you do with an engineering augment?

[Oh, that second answer gets her very fluffy tail wagging.]

Thank god. Paste doesn't sound pleasant.

Maintaining the engines. Building and fixing mechanical things. Those are the main tasks I've used it for here. I've noticed my own aptitude is better than it would be otherwise; this place's technology level far outpaces my home.

[He snorts, in mutual disgust.]

It's not, but you won't die from it. I prefer actual food when I can get it. Some worlds aren't good for that.

That sounds slightly more useful than what I wound up with. [So the sudden knowledge thing is normal. Good to know.] I'm not even sure I could operate any of the guns with paws.

[And she certainly won't be doing it in her human body.]

Then we need a bigger fridge.

[She's seen the one on the ship. It is unacceptable.]

Security, I'm assuming. [Not an immediately obvious choice. Who knows how the Atroma decides to assign their augments?]

I can agree with that. I've yet to find anywhere I can get one, though.

Security. [A scoff.] I should hope no one actually expects me to protect them. [Because that requires effort.]

Are they not purchasable from a planet? Or do they not like it when we make modifications to the ship ourselves?

I wouldn't worry. I've yet to see much here that requires a security presence, other than some isolated incidents. There hasn't been much call for engineering around the ship either. I use it far more on personal projects.

I'm sure they are. The last world we visited didn't have much in the way of that kind of technology. It was very rustic.

Then it's too bad I don't have enough interest in guns to start a personal project myself.

Aha, then we simply wait until we reach a planet that has them. [Important #1 priority.]

I don't like guns either. Humans are altogether too fond of them.

[He smirks slightly, amused by her evident interest.] I'll be sure to keep an eye out for one at the next place we land.

Excluding yourself, apparently.

[Her toes are metaphorically crossed that this can be pulled off.] Excellent! I wouldn't be much help in getting one, but let me know how that goes.

I'm not human. [The correction comes quick and calm.]

You can owe me a favour, if you prefer.

No? What are you? [You smell human, boy.]

Oh, I don't think that's necessary. This is obviously for the good of the entire ship.

[And she also doesn't want to owe any favours if she can help it.]

[That's so rude, foxy.]

I'm a mutant. Many of us look human, but not all do.

Obviously. [He sees that evasion. Were it something else, that he had no inclination of doing for his own sake, this would be the end of the conversation.] In the meantime, there is the existing fridge.

Oh, like the other one here? [Charles, she means Charles.] What can you do?

Sadly. [Sigh, it is so tiny.] I doubt any of you would like to see some dead vermin in there, would you?

If you mean Charles, yes. We're not the only two on the Fleet. My mutation is control over metal and magnetic fields.

The ones running around this ship?

That must come in handy when we're surrounded by metal.

Yes, I do. They're very tasty.

It does indeed. [It may have its artificial limits on the ships, but it's more than enough to make him secure. He doesn't need to carry weapons. He can weaponize everything around him.]

Considering how small the fridge is, not the best idea. But if we get the larger one, you can reserve a space for them.

[Someone is actually telling her putting gross dead ratthings in the place they store food is A-OK. That's a first.]

I'll keep that in mind, then.