005. ☾ "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love" { Action }

[proteusmoon]

Who: Cecil and YOU!!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Adsum and SS First Breath
When: 2/14, all day! (Backdated!)

[ Where Cecil is from, Valentine's Day does not exist. The concept of celebrating affection and romance is tied into the spring festival in her home country, but in spite of this, she has in fact actually marked the occasion before today. Strangely -- or perhaps it is not strange at all considering how frequent an experience this has become -- she cannot remember how she learned what this holiday is about, nor from whom she learned its meaning, but she has the distinct feeling that it was someone in Court who explained it to her and she knows that the explanation she committed to memory was that it was a holiday for lovers only. This slight misunderstanding actually led to a rather heated argument between herself and her then master, who had inappropriately (she strongly believed) gifted her with flowers for the holiday. He certainly had romantic feelings for her, she knows that now, but at the time she very much did not believe that and did not want to give him the impression she felt the same.

Somehow, somewhere over the course of the week though, she's learned that Valentine's Day isn't strictly for those with significant others and that people do often gift friends and family with little treats, to remind each other that they are still loved and appreciated. Cecil regretted how she reacted to Damarhis's show of affection even back in Court months later, but now she regrets it even more. Maybe in her own, unusual way of trying to make up for her wrongs, she's decided to try extending this foreign tradition to the fleet and has bought many little gifts for many of them in her first participation in the holiday. She's sent out messages to everyone she knows, inviting them to come aboard the First Breath docked at Adsum. ]


( OOC ; Open to old, new, and yet-to-be-made CR! If you want your character to get a little gift for Valentine's Day, feel free to assume Cecil either sent them a message — or the network did some screwy things and sent out copies to random people — or implant glitch compulsions drove your character to go exploring other people's ships. The First Breath is open. She'll also be wandering around the moon, so if the aforementioned handwaving ain't your thing, that's fine, throw up a general starter! All implant glitches for both phase I and phase II are welcome and of course optional, Cecil has a pheromones one herself at the moment if you feel like doing something with that. Happy belated Valentine's Day, Drift Fleet! )

Comments

[detectivewonder]

[Since Cass had arrived on the Marsiva, the Captain of the First Breath has been just as distracted as her new officer, spending as much time as possible on the communications equipment, mind elsewhere, forays to the moons set aside for now. When he isn't talking to Cass, he's reading, or spending time on calisthenics - four half-hour workouts a day, gymnastics practice and martial arts kata alternating with social dance moves. He sleeps rarely, if ever - four to six hours a night, usually in two separate shifts. But since, for the moment, he's tethered to the ship, he's interruptable at any time]

[proteusmoon]

[ It's been a bit since they were shuffled into the same ship and Cecil still doesn't really know what to think about Tim. She thinks he's smart and it would seem that he is an experienced athlete (or fighter?) judging by how he spends time on the ship, but since she's been working so often on the moons, she hasn't had a lot of time to actually just socialize with him one-on-one or even amongst the rest of the crew. Their first conversation as fellow residents of the First Breath was... a little less friendly and productive than it could have been. She's protective of him, considering his age, nevermind that she was younger than that and so were many others she knows when they were wrapped up in learning the arts of battle. In typical Cecil fashion though, she's trying too hard to safeguard him and at the same time, giving him incorrect impressions of herself, sometimes purposely. It's not how she wants things to be between them, much less between Tim and everyone else. In spite of her mild joking with Jordan about the situation, she does want them all to get along. They will need each other at some point and she can't keep trying to control everything. ]

Captain. You've been more restless than usual.

[detectivewonder]

[The word 'Captain' seems to have a curious effect on his posture, making him straighten quickly enough that it clearly cabn't be a conscious reaction, and, in fact, he's unaware of it.]

Cecil.

[His tone is formal at first, then there's a brief pause, a distant look in his eyes as he considers what to tell her, and his posture slowly subsides to loose relaxation once more.]

Yeah. Uh... my adopted sister arrived on the Marsiva. It's been... distracting.

[proteusmoon]

[ His adopted sister? That's not at all what she was expecting him to say, but it explains a lot about his behavior lately. Cecil's own expression softens a little as she comes closer to him, her hands behind her back. She's hiding something. ]

That girl? Cass?

[ Batgirl. She remembers that part distinctly, but for now, she doesn't mention it, not wanting to overstep her boundaries. ]

Mm... I can see how that would be troubling.

[detectivewonder]

That's her.

[His body language shifts again, subtly, as he realizes she has something behind her back. Stabbing by ambush doesn't seem likely, but he can't discount it... no, of course. The date. He doesn't relax.]

It's comforting to see a familiar face, but...

[proteusmoon]

...but you wouldn't wish this on anyone you know— much less someone you truly care for.

[ She commiserates. She takes a few steps closer, still keeping whatever she has behind her and out of sight. She definitely isn't giving off any threatening vibes, but rather, perhaps a bit of nervousness. ]

I'm sorry. I'd say you should ask her to transfer here, but... I believe Jordan has already schemed to fill our last crew spot with his... "friend".

[detectivewonder]

That doesn't have to be an obstacle, if we can afford to upgrade our crew capacity.

[proteusmoon]

I wouldn't mind helping you pay for it, but you realize that's something that should probably be discussed with the rest of the crew first, of course?

[detectivewonder]

Of course. I've heard more than a few complaints about the accommodations. The more crew we have, the quicker we can purchase upgrades... I think I can talk them around.

And it'd be a little hypocritical of Jordan or Alex to complain, considering.

[proteusmoon]

I don't think Jordan would especially care whether or not he's being hypocritical.

[ Did he not laugh at Tim when Tim inevitably told him he was the captain? Because he sure did laugh lots when she told him. ]

I find it hard to think his companion would not similarly be apathetic. Jordan doesn't strike me as the sort to be generally bothered by guilt as long as his best interests are being spoken for.

[detectivewonder]

No. But I can explain my perspective on his best interests.

[proteusmoon]

What should we do if that doesn't work?

[ Cecil doesn't usually show worry over conflicting with others like this, but she's visibly a little shaken and a lot uncomfortable on this conversation topic. ]

[detectivewonder]

[We. That's progress, the two of them on one side, the side of rational diplomacy. He'll remember that.]

If that doesn't work, we'll try to find another argument. Talk things out. But I don't think it will come to that.

[treasureling]

[ Beyond working little jobs (on Cecil's recommendation, and often with Cecil), Malak spends his time on the ship. He's been working hard on the design, and he's almost done now - he thinks he has all the general problems worked out, and knows what materials he'll need for each stage. He has a feeling that there will be a lot more that he doesn't anticipate, but having this much of a plan complete makes him happy, makes him hum softly to himself.

He can be found in the engine room, in the kitchen, in the bunk room. ]

[proteusmoon]

[ Lately, Cecil has been trying to give Malak more opportunities to act independently of her, but it's been somewhat of a difficult process. By nature, her guardian instincts are strong and they only ever get stronger when she sees vulnerability in someone that's large enough to be taken advantage of. Because of this, she sometimes runs the risk of becoming the accidental, well-meaning manipulator herself. Keenly aware of this after her interactions with Tim and conversations with Zhas and Robin, she's taken a few less jobs with Malak, encouraging him to venture out on his own, which he's done splendidly with his smithing work. He's been doing well enough with her combat training that she feels confident he can take care of himself should mild trouble arise. He isn't helpless and he's not afraid.

That doesn't mean though that she's content to exclude him when she decides to gift members of the fleet with little tokens of her affection of them. It does, though, mean that she struggled with picking something out for him the most. She can tell he's attracted to her and while she might be similarly inclined to pursue that were there not a dozen and more reasons not to, she didn't want to give him something too... personal, so as not to give him the impression that she felt that way. Yet, she wanted her gift to be thoughtful and devoid of offensive implications. For example, she considered a nice twill apron for use in his smithing, but on second thought, decided against it because an apron represents more domestic duties too.

It was hard work, but she thinks she's found a few things appropriate. ]

Malak?

[ She knocks lightly on the wall of the kitchen before she enters. ]

Are you busy? I can come back later.

[treasureling]

[ His experiment of banana chicken hasn't really gone well. He's grimacing, tasting it, wondering if there's something better that he can put on it. It seems as though chicken would go with something sweet, but it needs a sort of spicy-sweet, and he doesn't think banana and chili will do the trick.

He glances up, and breaks into a smile at her presence. ]

No, please interrupt.

[proteusmoon]

[ Once given the go-ahead, Cecil approaches, notably hiding something behind her back. She's distracted though at the sight of Malak experimenting with cooking again and takes a moment to peer down at his newest attempts, keenly interested, but a little confused as to what it is HES trying to accomplish with the banana and the chicken. ]

Having... fun?

[treasureling]

Not... as such, no. Gods grant me a better kitchen - grant all of us a better kitchen in the coming month.

More flavors. More options. I'm much less enamored with the microwave than I was at first.

[proteusmoon]

[ She sighs deeply, exasperated. ]

I just want actual food back. Not this processed... "variety".

[treasureling]

The moons have been nice, for that.

Is there something you needed, or just looking for company?

[proteusmoon]

[ Ah, right! ]

Oh— a bit of both, actually.

[ She takes out from behind her back a brown gift bag lined with red and white tissue paper. It's not too big, but a decent size, and sturdily made, as though whatever is inside is actually a bit heavy. She holds it out to Malak with a bit of a hesitant — nervous — smile. ]

Ah... this is for you.

[treasureling]

[ It's on the tip of his tongue to give a polite refusal. When women give gifts, he's found, it's either a show of wealth or the beginning of a courtship, and either way it's patronizing, it implies that he can't take care of himself - it reduces him, somehow.

But he looks up to Cecil and thinks here is different. He truly believes that Cecil doesn't want anything in return; he even believes it deep in the pit of his chest, where his distrust lurks like a worm. ]

Is there an occasion? [ Lightly, even a little happily, as he takes the bag and goes to look inside. ]

[proteusmoon]

Yes, actually. It's Valentine's Day. It's a holiday I've heard for celebrating love, but it isn't just about romantic love. People apparently gift anyone they want to show some affection and appreciation towards on this day, so I thought I would give some presents to people of the fleet. I think we could all use some cheering up.

[ Inside the bag are three things: a brick of beeswax, a book on advanced metalworking, and a pair of plastic, rubber safety goggles. Cecil looks distinctly anxious, afraid that he would refuse it and misinterpret her gesture as something she didn't want. She sees it flicker on his face for a moment and once again she can't help but think back to when Damarhis gifted her with flowers. The same thoughts had flitted through her mind too. ]

I know you don't like making weapons and armor, and I've seen the beautiful ornaments you've made... so I thought you might find other things you enjoyed making that you haven't tried yet.

[treasureling]

I don't have anything for you. [ This, with a little bit of regret; he would have made her something simple and lovely. But he goes to open the gift anyhow; touching the beeswax, a delighted look at the goggles - he hadn't even thought to get something like that - and then there's reverence when he touches the book. A fusion of what he's been given, his augment, and what he knows from his own world. He'll be able to put it together. Make it a whole, not just pieces of new and old. ]

This is wonderful, Cecil.

[proteusmoon]

[ Relief washes over her and she slowly smiles, waving off his remark of not having anything to give in return with gentle dismissal. She's deeply glad this hasn't seemed to have gone wrong after all. ]

Please— there's no need. Knowing you like it is more than enough. Besides that, you've done plenty for me already, and for Tim, for the crew of this ship. There isn't anything I want more than my friends to be as happy and as safe as they can be here.