SS Hot Mess shows up to mingles 15 minutes late with Starbucks

[notzubats]

Who: The Huntress Crew and Visitors
Broadcast: Maybe!!
Action: SS Huntress!
When: From now until end of the system!

[There's been an elf invasion! And an Ellen Page invasion! Also there's a star system! Come in Huntress, it's been awhile, so it's time for a mingle! ]

Comments

[monolike]

Shirley, that makes it sound like they valued your purpose as the Merines over your life as a person. [Which isn't a new concept, of course, but it doesn't make it one any less appalling. The people she grew up with, who raised her only wanted her for her ability to carry out the will of the sea? Sorey can't imagine what he would do if he learned something like that.]

[hearsthesea]

Well...I think they did.

[She knows they did, actually. She did too.]

There weren't many people who knew me as just Shirley. Not until recently. But things are changing, so it's not so much like that anymore.

[monolike]

I'm so sorry to hear that. [There are people like that with the Shepherd back home, but not his family. Not the people who raised him and love him. To see your own family think of you that way...

Sorey leans forward to rest a hand atop hers, squeezing slightly.] I'm glad it's changing.

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley smiles at him in response, and shifts her hand slightly to squeeze back. Satisfied as she is with things, the companionship feels good.]

I am too. I'm all right, really. I struggled with what it meant to be Merines for a while, but I've come to a point where I'm happy with the way things are.

[monolike]

[Nods and lets go. Going any further than that would be an insult to how far she's come.] Did the Ferines come to understand your reasoning behind what you did?

[hearsthesea]

Not yet. Right now the Ferines don't completely trust the Orerines, and I didn't expect them to right away. But Nerifes wants peace now, and with time I want to believe the Ferines will understand.

[monolike]

...Shirley, I think you're amazing. [Don't mind this guy you just met today glowing with pride for you, he just thinks you're incredible is all.]

[hearsthesea]

[Too much, Sorey! Shirley's blushing a little, though it's not really a bashful kind. It's a different kind of embarrassment here.]

I don't think I'm very amazing. I've learned to be stronger, but only because I know what will happen if I'm not.

[monolike]

That's not always something people can achieve though. A lot of times people can't pick themselves back up, even with help. I don't think it's wrong for you to be proud that you could.

[hearsthesea]

That's...sad. But thank you.

[It really is sad to think of people in that kind of trouble, but Shirley knows it's a compliment and she appreciates it.]

[monolike]

[Yeah, it really is.]

...ah, anyway. [Sorey scratches his nose, embarrassed at his state and the state of their surroundings.] Do you want to continue this discussion somewhere a little cleaner? I think there might be some snacks Mikleo left in the kitchen if you're hungry.

[hearsthesea]

I don't mind staying where we are. But if you want to move, I wouldn't mind trying those snacks either.

[monolike]

I think we probably should, before my stomach starts shouting. [it'll do that too] And I can give you a tour of the ship, too!

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley's first instinct is to tell him he doesn't have to, she's been on the Huntress before. But on second thought, it sounds like fun and Sorey clearly wants to do it so why not? And it's not as if she's not as familiar with the ship as she used to be. Tour it is.]

I would be honored, Sorey. Thank you.