driftfleet | 002; video

Who: Hank McCoy and Erik Lehnsherr
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: crashed ship
When: today!

[when the feed opens, the network is gifted with the bickering of two men]

I don't see why you can't do this.

[Erik is the one visible on screen, and he doesn’t look pleased about it at all. He jerks his chin towards the wall next to him, irritated.]

Because it’s your idea, and I don’t want to.

[the huff that follows is a little on the growly side]

I’m here to open paths, not send out messages. [As if to punctuate this point, Erik turns away from the camera and swipes his hand through the air. The metal wall crumples to the side with a shriek, curling up on itself like a ringpull.

The camera shifts off of Erik with a muttered "show off" to the plant life spilling out of the side of the hull, and a clawed, blue foot comes into frame to poke at a nearby pumpkin]

In any case - Erik and I are at the crashed ship, if anyone would like us to bring some of these back. If you're interested, feel free to message one of us.

As for the ship - if anyone else is planning to come out here, be careful. There's ways into the ship, but it has been here a while, so it's falling apart. We'll try to get some information about the signal while we're here, though so far we haven't had much luck.

[the camera moves back to Erik]

Do you have anything you want to add?

[Erik’s mostly occupied with pointing his flashlight into the gloom of the area beyond the wall. He does give a curt response.]

No requests for pumpkins bigger than the usual Earth-size.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

At least someone is enjoying themselves.

[He opens his mouth to reply, some comment on Hank's geekier tendencies... then closes it, expression growing more pensive. Erik's been quiet this whole conversation, out of consideration for the cavernous space. Now it's more due to what he says.]

I've liked it. Making the trip out here.

[ He blinks before smiling. ]

I'm glad.

[Though he hadn't been enthused at first, having something to aim for and work towards had been gratifying. There's little he can do to fill time on his own, and he knows he suffers for it.

There's still a trace of hesitance about him when he talks about such things, coming from a place of such shaken foundations. As though he doesn't really trust his own feelings.]

I don't know if anything we've found will be worthwhile. But I think the journey itself has been ... [Bracing.] educative.

[ He nods slowly. ]

I think that's enough. We never know what we find in the end. There might not even be one in sight.

But the journey is worthwhile.

[No end in sight. He swallows a bit, feeling his own end stretching off into darkness ahead. Behind are a hundred other endings, false starts... and paths still being walked. It's hard to tell the difference between some of them. But he's still on that road, despite everything.

He manages a faint smile.]

Yeah.

It sounds like you've found something at least.

Enough to be getting on with. [He lets out a breath.] I've decided on berries. For the ship.

Aurae said flowers might be good from a decorative standpoint but herbs would be a decent option as well.

The choice for the second pot is yours. If you can't decide, we'll find a place for both.

[ We. His smile deepens. ]

Are you sure?

I've gotten rather good at making the things now. I already have spares.

All right then. If it's not too much trouble.

It's no trouble at all. [It gives him something to do. More than that... making things for Charles has always felt more rewarding.]

Flowers and herbs, then.