driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: The Heron crew + visitors
Broadcast: nope
Action: The Heron
When: August

[As the ship drifts on, what are you up to this month, Herons?]

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[At least he isn't going after her with the broom. That happened in the past, fairly often. She isn't really a fan of brooms thanks to those experiences, so when she exits the vent and sees it she's immediately taking a step backwards. Obviously it's just a kid wielding it, but old habits die hard.

Which is, of course, forgotten when he speak up. Dropping the vermin on the floor she has to respond, sounding a bit huffy.]

I resent that. I am not a pet. I'm a wild animal.

[Who happens to be on a spaceship hunting rats. But totally not a pet!]

[Shinji nods slowly--yeah, maybe he shouldn't jump to conclusions--before he realizes what he's nodding at. That isn't just a fox, but a talking fox. And, well, he's seen all sorts of aliens and screwed up things by now, that's true. But a talking fox is still something that leaves him slack-jawed, blinking rapidly, and a mite uncertain.]

Excuse me? Did you just... say...?

[Okay, it's tough to stay offended when she's getting a funny reaction like that. So far people have been pretty chill about talking foxes (there are pink talking ponies around, after all), so this is a nice surprise.

She takes a few steps towards him boldly, ears perked up and her tail nearly horizontal.]

I said I'm not a pet. Surely you've seen a wild fox before?

[The talking hyper-adorable ponies make it even more difficult for Shinji to believe the Fleet isn't an ongoing dream sequence. Fortunately, the fox in front of him is far more believable for a few reasons. The fox looks like a fox should look, with muted colors, less exuberance...

Shinji takes a full step backward in response--he's kind of a coward, except for when he isn't. He's quailing.]

Well, no, I... I haven't seen one, no. I mean, I might've seen pictures, but not... [...] Do wild foxes usually have things to say?

[His reaction really makes her want to be a huge troll, and well... it's not like she'd give him an honest answer about being a magic folktale creature anyway.]

No. I'm the only one. [These days, all the old fox monsters died out a long time ago and she hasn't seen any mention of her evil kitsune bro here.] I'm exceptionally clever. And impressive. You're very lucky that I'm the first wild fox you've ever seen.

[Shinji isn't a gullible person per se, but he has nothing to compare this talking fox to. Where he's from, most animals went extinct in a far-reaching calamity that happened more than ten years ago. The meat he ate was mostly synthetic... Even the plants, they weren't all that genuine. So, talking foxes? No idea what's true or not.]

The only one... [That's a sad thing to think, and there's real condolence in his tone, at least.] Do you have your own name, then? My name is Shinji.

Renart. [The Frenchest name ever, though that should be a given with her accent.

She isn't overly concerned about being alone. Sometimes it's tiring, but she prefers not to dwell on it and get depressed.]

I assume you're one of the other crew members on this ship? [She isn't sure if she's met everyone, because she doesn't care all that much about ingratiating herself. As long as no one mistakes her for a pest that needs to be removed it's all good.]

[Finally, Shinji decides to stop holding the broom like a weapon. He sets the bristles on the floor with a quiet thump.

"Renart" is a strange-sounding name to him, along with the accent; he doesn't know what to think of it. Meanwhile, he's soft-spoken, like a faltering creek in a hushed forest, and unsure of his own words.]

Yeah. I'm the pilot. There was another pilot, but she, uh... a while ago, she left. [It's a nice euphemism for a random disappearance...] So, you were assigned to this ship? What's your role supposed to be? [What can talking foxes even do? It's a real mystery.]

Edited 2016-08-16 22:04 (UTC)

[She can guess what 'left' is supposed to mean. The place she was previously had people up and randomly 'leaving', and since she can already see similarities between there and here it wouldn't surprise here if that was another one.

Stepping closer, she sniffs a bit at the broom, then sits down.]

Something to do with guns. I've suddenly got too much knowledge about them, even though I don't particularly like them.

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