SS GOLDSTONE MARCH MINGLE

[throwsdown]

Who: SS Goldstone crew and visitors
Broadcast: N/A
Action: On the newly smooshed Goldstone!
When: Month of March



[Well, we're all here together, aren't we? Let's mingle for March while we're at it.]

Comments

[ahappylie]

[Caught red-handed. He blinks and then laughs easily. Of course, he should remember that the universe is not all made-up of bipedal creatures.]

Right. I apologize. I'm still not used to the concept of...aliens.

[spacebro]

You know, to me, you're the alien.

[ahappylie]

Does it surprise you as much as it surprises me?

[spacebro]

[He shakes his head.] We had aliens on Daxam my whole life and I've visited different worlds. You'd never even heard of people from other worlds before?

[ahappylie]

My country was closed to other countries on our own planet until the past...oh...

[He tilts his head back, thinking.]

Twenty years?

Sooooo, no. [He laughs a little.] We're already in a civil war over foreigners coming to our shores. I can't imagine how much worse it would be if people from space came down.

[spacebro]

[He remembers him mentioning that before, but it's strange to imagine having no idea anything else is even out there.] You probably have as hard of a time picturing being used to it as I have with that.

[ahappylie]

I do, but it seems to be the normal approach to the world here.

[He laughs a little.]

I suppose I'm behind in more than just my time period in that respect.

[spacebro]

Is it strange for you to be around me?

[ahappylie]

To be completely honest?

[He shrugs slightly and threads his fingers behind his back.]

Yes, but not for the reason you think. It's not because you're not from Earth, but because I'm not used to seeing anyone who looks like a Westerner. In that respect, it's strange for me to see almost everyone here on the Fleet.

[spacebro]

[He smiles at that.]

It's a lot of culture shock. I know the feeling even if it's not exactly the same.

[ahappylie]

What culture shock have you experienced here, Mon-El-san?

[spacebro]

It was less here and more when I left Daxam for Earth.

[ahappylie]

Ah...yes, I'm sure that must have been.

Is there a lot that is different between our planets?

[spacebro]

Yes. I mean, all of the references and pop culture are different. The customs, the holidays, the foods, and the fashions. There's overlap too, but it all feels very different at first and then when it's less overwhelming you see the similarities too.

[ahappylie]

Tell me about your planet then. I'd like to learn about it, if you have time between teaching me this "pinball" thing.

[spacebro]

Oh... There isn't really much to tell. [Feeling awkward about his planet of origin largely because the longer he's away the more he realizes it was a bad place and just how complicit he was in that. He knew it at the time, but it's just getting more and more real and true as he's experienced other places, even the fleet.] It was ruled by a queen and king and people liked to have a good time there.

[ahappylie]

Was everyone very affluent then? It seems that you can't have an entire planet where the only purpose is to "have a good time."

[Since he remembers Mon-El's version of a "good time" involved a bar and a lot of alcohol, not much of which Okita imbibed, but still.]

[spacebro]

Um... No, not everyone. But some things were easier to get than others. [His parents usually kept people entertained.]

[ahappylie]

Oh.

[He can't quite imagine what that would look like coming from a country that had strict stratification of the people. But he wonders if everyone is happy with the arrangement if not everyone is rich.]

I suppose if that is the culture of your homeland, then perhaps people were used to finding the entertainment that suited their rank.

[spacebro]

I think so. And entertainment was easier to have access to. But we're a long way from there! [Trying to redirect the conversation without really having anywhere to redirect it to.]

[ahappylie]

[See, the thing about Okita Souji is that he is VERY perceptive about things. He knows that this topic is making Mon-El uncomfortable, but he also knows that he needs to learn about his shipmates if he's ever going to trust them. A little pushing so he understands is okay, right?]

Mm, yes, but we all carry parts of our homes with us wherever we go. [Case in point, the fact that Okita is continually lying to everyone in the Fleet.] For better or worse, we're representatives of our homelands here.

[spacebro]

It's...for worse. [Definitely for worse. And there is a key ingredient he's still keeping from Kara just hanging over his head.]

[ahappylie]

...?

[Now that's an odd statement. Okita stops and looks up at Mon-El, tilting his head.]

Is home that terrible to you?

[spacebro]

[He laughs awkwardly after a moment.] No, no. I mean, it's just the usual stuff. Nothing to worry about. Look at your face. Taking me so seriously. [Yep, nothing to see here.]

[ahappylie]

If you don't wish to talk about it, we don't have to.

[Buuuut he knows something's up now, Mon-El. Don't expect he'll just let it go forever.]

But if it is something that bothers you, it's best to get it out in the open eventually. Secrets can weigh you down in ways you don't expect.

[Says the expert in lies.]