ship mingle: february is for starstruckers.

[mucked]

Who: Crew of the Starstruck
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Y, aboard the ship
When: All month

[ welcome to february. y'all know the drill. ]

Comments

[notmutantbutmiracle]

You seem pretty good at it yourself.

[Her eyes fixing on the crane for a moment. She'd always wanted how to make one herself.]

[shamisens]

It's part of my work so I have to be.

[ He'd be a pretty poor magical story-teller if he didn't know the intricate ins and outs of origami. ]

I can teach you if you want.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

You would? You'd teach me?

[Wanda's face lights up at that.]

I would very much like that. Thank you.

What kind of work do you do that involves these?

[He doesn't seem that old, so he couldn't possibly be referring to having a "real" job, right? Plus, Wanda couldn't think of an occupation off the top of her head that would involve origami.]

[shamisens]

[ Kubo doesn't get the enthusiasm. It's only origami . . . still he nods. ]

I'm a story-teller. I perform from morning to evening.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

You must know a lot of stories then.

[To tell stories from morning to evening... that has to be quite a number of stories. Even more impressive that he performs them at such a young age.]

Which one is your favorite to tell?

[shamisens]

Usually the ones about the . . . samurai Hanzo.

[ His father. At the time it was the only way Kubo knew how to be closer to him. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

The samurai Hanzo? I have never heard those. You will have to tell me them sometime.

[She smiles gently down at him.]

How does one story and one origami lesson cost?

[shamisens]

Five coins.

[ But then he scrunches up his face. The sudden realisation that he has no idea how the currency works on the Fleet shows clear as day. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[That causes Wanda's smile to brighten. She holds back a giggle however. Thinking that might seem rude.]

Hmmm... well, I don't have any coins. But how about five cookies? Or brownies. Your choice.

[shamisens]

I . . . don't know what those are.

[ Should we know what those are? They don't sound familiar. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Okay, this time she's thrown a little bit. Who has never heard of cookies? This poor child is going to get stuffed with sweets now.]

Have you never had a cookie before? Or a brownie?

[shamisens]

Should I have?

[ Kubo isn't comprehending what the issue is here. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She opens her mouth to respond, but stops herself for a moment -- seemingly reconsidering her words.]

Not... necessarily, I suppose.

Hmmm, well, in that case, I have something you should try.

[She starts off in the direction of the ship's kitchen. She stops and motions with her head for Kubo to follow her if he wants.]

[shamisens]

[ Kubo shoulders his bag as he follows Wanda through the ship. ]

What am I trying?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She smiles back at him.]

A cookie, of course.

[A quick stroll, and they arrive in the Starstruck's kitchen. The mountain of baked goods Wanda had made for her belated Christmas gift venture had diminished significantly, but there were still some cookies and a few brownies left. She picks up two, one in each hand. She offers one to Kubo as she takes a bite of the other. She watches him with thinly veiled anticipation. It's one thing to have a taste-tester. It's quite another to have one who has never sampled that kind of snack before.]

[shamisens]

[ Kubo bites into it tentatively. The sweetness of it is overwhelming for a child that only ate what was necessary and put all his energy into taking care of his mother and himself. He finishes it quickly because he rarely eats out of enjoyment. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda snorts and starts giggling as she watches him devour the cookie. Well, that's certainly an encouraging sign as to the quality of her baking.]

You can have another if you like. Though I'd suggest chewing a little more to avoid choking.

[She walks over to a counter to fetch them each a glass of milk.]

[shamisens]

It's so sweet. What's in it?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She returns to the table and places a glass of milk in front of Kubo. She then demonstrates the art of cookie-in-milk-dunking.]

Well, sugar for one. There are also chocolate chips in these ones, and I also added a bit of vanilla to them as well. They are not too sweet are they?

[shamisens]

[ Kubo eats slower this time, taking time to feel it in his mouth. ]

They are, but that's okay.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Hmm... maybe too much vanilla then. I will remember that for the next batch.

[If the critique bothers her at all, she doesn't show it. Simply ending her little thought with a wink. Hey, she did promise cookies for origami lessons, right?]

[shamisens]

[ He swallows, feeling awkward. ]

You don't have to make that many. This is way more than I'm used to eating anyway.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda snorts, bringing out the teasing sister voice.]

Well, they are not ALL meant for you. They are for the whole ship to share.

[She then adds more gently.]

But that does not mean you cannot help yourself to one or two from time to time. As long as they are on that table, they are up for grabs.

[shamisens]

[ He nods quietly. ]

Okay. I won't take too much.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda smiles at him.]

Make sure to get them while you can though. Knowing this ship, I'm sure anything sweet will disappear real quick.