(no subject)

[bluediligence]

Who: Aoko Nakamori and you.
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: S.S. Wonderduck
When: Now

[ After having been forced to play through tens of dozens of quote-unquote games — to say nothing of living through not just one, but two counts of interdimensional kidnapping — Aoko's more than used to suddenly finding herself in an unfamiliar place. It's just, you know, one of those things that happens. ]

[ The confetti's kinda new. So's the pudding. ]

Wow, uhm … [ Aoko grins sheepishly into the screen, parked on her butt on the S.S. Wonderduck's bridge with confetti all up in her short, fluffy mop of hair. It looks like she's been trying to desperately brush it out with her fingers – or maybe it's just naturally a mess? Mysteries abound. (Spoilers: it's naturally a mess.) ]

[ The silence drags for one beat. Two beats. And then — ]

Knock, knock.

Comments

Video

[experiencepoints]

[If she was expecting a response, it probably wasn't from the one who kept setting all her shit on fire...]

Aoko? Is that you?

[bluediligence]

[ It's a surprise, but not all that much of one – Aoko still isn't convinced that this isn't just another game. One of Iota's, probably. Although ... she doesn't remember any calls, or being asked if she'd test another simulation. ]

[ Weird. ]

Nightingale! Hey! [ She brightens, smile blossoming into something distinctly more relieved. ] What are you talking about? Of course it's me – and it's really great to see you, too; I was starting to get worried I was all on my own here.

[experiencepoints]

[oh, fuck, it is her.]

... Yeah, there's... A few of us from the castle here.

Please don't freak out if I explain?

Action

[survivalistcookbook]

-oh, hey.

[The jingle's pretty unmistakable, and in short order one of the Wonderduck's crew is peering in on the bridge. Flour-speckled coveralls, towel tucked in his pocket - just about everything reads as normal, expected ship's cook except the left leg that's mechanical-angular bare metal prosthetic from the thigh down. He gives a crooked grin, lifting his hand in a lazy half-wave.]

Welcome aboard.

[bluediligence]

[ Like the smooth, utterly cool cucumber that she is, Aoko jumps. ]

[ Badly. ]

[ For a second there she looks—and, if she's honest, feels—much like a cat that just had its tail trodden on, but she recovers quickly, rising the rest of the way from the crouch she'd ended up in. She quickly slides the communicator she'd been playing around with into one of her skirt's many pockets, freeing up both of her hands. ]

Hi there! I, uhm. [ She laughs a bit, rubbing the back of her head. ] I should have realized that there'd be other people around here somewhere. Sorry to barge in on you like this.

[survivalistcookbook]

Trust me, no apologies are necessary. I don't think anyone really chooses to be dropped onto one of the ships here without so much 'hold on tight.'

[He closes the distance the rest of the way, offering his hand.]

Eugene Woods, ship's cook for the Wonderduck here. Nice to meet you.

video;

[robitussin]

[surprised as she is, she leaves the video function on without a thought.]

—Holy shit. Aoko?

[bluediligence]

Opal!

[ Aoko immediately brightens, relief and happiness chipping away at tight sheepishness she'd worn before. ]

It's so good to see you, I was starting to think I was all on my own here! Where are you? Are you okay?

[robitussin]

I'm on a planet nearby.

Are you okay? How long have you... Did anyone explain stuff to you yet?

video;

[noprophecies]

[what in the world - she prefers the other options, but she switches on the video feed regardless]

Aoko?

[bluediligence]

[ What. ]

[ Aoko's smile drops into wide-eyed, open-mouthed surprise. Because – no, seriously, what. She can hardly believe what she's seeing. ]

Clover?! When did you—how did – I didn't know you were back!

[noprophecies]

[well, that's a new reaction]

What do you mean, back?

action | please excuse me as i scream i love d. conan et al

[frigidaire]

[ While the confetti might be exciting for some, it's even more fun for a pet arctic fox that's gotten loose. In fact, Aoko will suddenly find a tall, gangly boy running at her. He's trying to catch Newton, the ship's resident fluffy, adorable jerk.

He pauses when he sees her, the fox yipping and pouncing at the confetti everywhere. ]

Uh, hey.

[ This isn't awkward at all. ]

a fellow fan 8D yes, good, hello

[bluediligence]

[ After everything she's been through, having somebody she doesn't know running at her is enough to set Aoko a little bit on edge. Just a little, tiny bit. She's up on her feet in one easy, economical movement – ]

[ And there she pauses, blinking wide-eyed and with mounting delight at the completely adorable fox. She blinks again, this time at the stranger. ]

Whoa, hi! [ She quirks her lips up into a grin, quickly smoothing over her own ruffled feathers. ] Sorry to intrude so unexpectedly.

sorry for the late tag, irl got insane. drop this if you need to!

[frigidaire]

Uh, it's cool, that thing kind of happens here.

[ He gestures to the confetti, the weird welcome party that Atroma does. ] I guess you're on our ship. We have the best cook, so you got lucky.

Action

[forsometimenow]

[And here comes another crew member to say hello. Jennifer hears the last sentence and replies-]

Is that a set up for a knock knock joke, or are you just checking to see if anyone's home?

[bluediligence]

[ Aoko's spoken to a few people by now, so she manages not to jump out of her skin. She grins instead, waving a friendly hello as she hops smoothly up to her feet. ]

It's a knock knock joke, of course.

[ If she knows that it's kinda weird to wake up on a spaceship in the middle of nowhere and immediately start busting out lame jokes, it doesn't show at all on her face. ]

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer nodded.]

OK, I'll bite. Who's there?

action

[avocadoatlaw]

[ It's about this time that Matt finally walks into the party, glasses on and cane in hand. ]

Who's there?

[bluediligence]

[ Aoko pauses, very briefly, eyebrows shooting up – does she recognize this guy? Maybe, maybe. Either way, it'd be rude to assume, so instead of questioning it further, she scramble-hops up to her feet. ]

Police!

[ She is so psyched that somebody's playing along with her. ]

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Knock knock jokes in space. The whole world doesn't make sense. So Matt just plays along. ]

Police who?

action;

[feathery]

[Davesprite shows up late to the bridge and it's habit that takes him there, instead of knowing there's a new arrival. He is also definitely texting and walking when he finally wanders in, in true 21st century form, and only belatedly looks up to spot Aoko.]

Oh. Hey. I must have missed the welcome tune. [A beat.] Hope you like animals?

[He is less orange than his icons imply because shenanigans! Still feathery, though.]

[bluediligence]

Oh! Hi there!

[ Aoko scrambles up to her feet, brushing confetti off of her … well, her everything, pretty much. She's mostly (keyword!) managed to overcome her initial surprise by this point, and the sight of a guy covered in feathers isn't anywhere near enough to throw her off her stride – she offers a friendly grin. ]

You must be Davesprite, right? [ There's a pause just after his name, an empty breath where she'd usually place an honorific. ] I love animals. Why? Do we have some? Are there any cats?

video

[foxpas]

[Well, someone seems happy to see you.]

Aoko! It has been some time.

[bluediligence]

[ By this point, Aoko has heard who all is here from Kyriakos. That doesn't stop her from lighting up the moment she recognize just who it is on screen. ]

Aria-san! Hi! The others told me you were here, it's great to see you again.