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]

[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.

[proteusmoon]

[ She doesn't really have a response to say to that. It doesn't comfort her, but she doesn't want to think too much about the worst case scenario either, so she just nods. ]

[detectivewonder]

... We'll find a way to work together.

[proteusmoon]

[ She sighs a little, but then shakes her head and straightens up again, forcing the look of agitation off her face with practiced ease. ]

Well... anyway, I... Tim, I know we didn't exactly get off on the right foot when we were put together on this ship. I want to apologize for that. So, this is for you...

[ She takes a thin, medium-sized gift box wrapped with a white bow, holding it out to him. ]

There are some things you have to know about me.

[detectivewonder]

[His eyes widen, and he accepts the box, weighing it on his palms, but his gaze stays on her.]

It's a nice apology.

What do I need to know?

[There's a courteous note of caution in his voice, raising his voice just a half-step in pitch.]

[proteusmoon]

[ It's a little heavy, but doubtfully anything he can't handle. The lid of it slides off very easily if he tries to move it, and inside of it is a finely crafted staff. On first glance, it seems rather short, but a closer look will reveal that it actually unfolds outwards to become much longer. ]

When I spoke to you at first about our minds being tampered with here... I didn't mention that some of my memories, since coming here, seem to be fragmented. There are parts missing. Because of this... certain things tend to... cause reactions in me that are strange or might be considered overreactions. I can't help this much, but I've been trying to.

[detectivewonder]

... I understand. if you'll let me know if, or when, it causes a problem, I'll take it into account...

[He opens the box, and his eyes go very wide, hefting the staff with a practiced motion, setting the box aside, and stepping gracefully back before flicking it to extension - a practiced motion, even before he examines it.]

How did you know?

[proteusmoon]

[ She watches him wield it and instantly feels better knowing that she made the right choice for him. Considering she and Tim don't really know each other all that well, she wasn't too sure what to get him without first asking, so... ]

...I didn't-- not for sure. But I've seen you exercising. It's a small ship. It's a little difficult to hide much from each other here. At home, I am friends with a ninja and a monk. I know how they fight and your style reminded me of theirs. I thought you might find it handy.

[detectivewonder]

You were right.

[He steps back, spinning it quickly enough to whistle in the air, getting a feel for its weight - while none of his martial arts exercises have implied anything but a high level of skill, this is different - far smoother, more confident, faster. Already, he holds it like an extension of his arm.]

[proteusmoon]

[ She watches him and can't help smiling. It would seem she was far more on the mark with her educated guess than she ever could have hoped to be. ]

Was this your weapon of choice at home?

[detectivewonder]

My sensei told me that I'd never have the skill to be world-class if I trained in every style I could and diversified. So to keep myself alive, I needed to focus, and choose just one weapon to excel at.

This is what we settled on.

[proteusmoon]

[ A thoughtful hum. ]

...When you described Malak to me, you called him "a civilian". What does that make you? Military?

[detectivewonder]

[Well, crap. He hadn't intended to keep cover entirely, but this isn't how or when he would have chosen to go confessional either.]

Paramilitary.

[proteusmoon]

[ He's still been rather obvious, and his skill and discipline with that bo staff only makes it all the more so. His admission to being related to "Batgirl" doesn't exactly help with the secrecy. ]

Paramilitary? Meaning what, exactly? I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific. I don't know this term.

[detectivewonder]

An unofficial group using militarized training, tactics, and discipline.