audio.

[delincuente]

[The audio feed rattles to life with a blare of feedback, and the voice that comes through is bright, cherry, and possibly familiar to a few.]

Gooood morning, outer space! I'm pleased to announce that I've just taken over your fleet. You can call me Your Majesty, or Supreme Overlord, or Beyoncé. One of the three. Mom jeans and aerobic dance are officially outlawed, and nothing is allowed to start before noon.

Kay, thanks. Beyoncé out.

Comments

[stefanged]

Of course, [his laugh is soft, and far more genuine than he anticipated.] You left some pretty big shoes to fill, Capt'n.

[But it's more than that, Stefan knows. It's the warm, fuzzy feeling deep in his chest as he wraps his arms around her, and that equally calm sensation as he rubs his nose against hers.

He loved her. He still loves her. Nothing's changed in that light, and he finds himself furiously blinking back tears (of joy) as he closes his eyes and basks in this moment.]

[delincuente]

[It's hard not to want to kiss him, coming from a year and a half back home, tucked into the crook of a werewolf's arm, allowed to listen to her body as much as her mind. She doesn't think she could ever stop loving him in all the ways she did for their months together, in handholding and late night conversation and dreams that left her feeling traitorous. But the reality is this - that part is over, he's her best friend again, and that is more than enough.

It's going to have to be.]

Bullshit. You guys are probably running better than ever.

[stefanged]

Nuh-uh. Trust me: a smooth ship is also a boring ship.

[He can say this now that she's back, safe in his arms, rather than a whole universe away. He's had more than enough time to think about what he would say (what he should say) and frankly? He's scrapped every word.]

I've already started your transfer paperwork. I hope you don't mind.

[delincuente]

Dude, I'd be pissed if you hadn't.

[She doesn't mean it. Taking in a breath, she tries very hard to remember their last conversations, their amicable split, all the reasons she thought she might not love this boy.

It's useless.]

Kirito offered me First Mate. I turned him down.

[stefanged]

What? But the Paisley's your - hold on. [He furrows his brow as the (incorrect) gears click into a place and he jumps to the most logical conclusion.] Do you wanna be Captain? 'Cause I can step down.

[He still loves her. As much as he's grown to love and appreciate the role, she'd come before the ship - and he has to wonder, is that platonic? Romantic? Or is he just desperately trying to make up for lost time?

Even he doesn't know.]

[delincuente]

Hey, no, that's not-

[She wants it. She wants this ship bad, but she's being a less selfish person these days. She couldn't live with herself if she took that from him.]

It would be weird.

[stefanged]

Not that weird. We could try the co-parenting thing, see how well it works out for us.

[He couldn't live with himself either if he didn't at least offer. She's too important to him (though he's keeping the bed).]

[delincuente]

What, you want to get along for the kid?

[The joke falls a little short; she pulls back an inch.]

[stefanged]

[His laugh is a nervous, startled one as he finally lets go.]

We're getting along now, aren't we?

[delincuente]

We could never not get along, man. It's just-

[Man. Not babe, not honey, not any of the names she got used to calling Mason, the ones that all still feel right for the feeling she gets when she looks at him.]

I can't take Captain away from you. And I'm not First Mate material.

[stefanged]

Now that's bullshit. [He frowns, unable to hide his uncertainty as he looks back at her.] You were first mate when I got here, and you were a great Captain.

As long as we talked to Kirito and got everything ironed out, you'd be fine.

[delincuente]

I was co-First Mate. Jason did all the important-

[She stops herself, and pauses for just a moment, gears clearly turning in her head.]

... You think they'd let us have two Captains?

[stefanged]

[He shakes his head. Of all the times for his insecure, slightly hypocritical self to flare up...]

Sure, but I'd rather step down than co-captain. If you want it, it's yours.

[delincuente]

[She shakes her head now, matching him.]

No deal. No one's moving for me. [She was selfish enough back home; she isn't going to be that person here.] I'll just be your pilot, and it'll be great.

[stefanged]

[The tension in his shoulders all but disappear as he instinctively reaches out to brush back some of her hair.]

Only if you're sure. [ . . . ] I missed you, habibti.

[delincuente]

[Oh god, here it comes, she's going to sigh longingly, she can't help it.]

I missed you too. Even if I didn't know it.

[stefanged]

Hey, it's okay. You made it through high school and uh - you got to live a little more.

[He manages a smile, thinking back to when she once told him that she didn't want to go back.]

How was the Big Apple?

[delincuente]

A pile of crap.

[Said with a little grin.]

My whole family sort of got captured by the government and taken to Area 51.

[stefanged]

[Wait, what?]

Isn't Area 51 reserved for aliens? What would your family have to do with that?

[delincuente]

It doesn't matter, because it all turned out to be some elaborate loyalty test from the wizard world, and I blew it by outing magic to the media. I had to go on trial, and everything.

[Still so casual.]

[stefanged]

[He's quiet for a few seconds as he processes what he was just told. For not the first time, he hates her wizarding world.]

Do you wanna talk about it? Or uh, do you wanna just claim a room on the Paisley and unofficially hang out there until the paperwork clears?

[delincuente]

The second one. It's been a long day, even before I got here.

[stefanged]

You got it. [He finally steps aside, stuffing his hands in his pockets.] I'll go ahead and get everything ready for you, unless uh - you wanna head back with me?

[delincuente]

Dude, of course I wanna head back with you. Get me out of here.

[stefanged]

[ He holds out one arm, as if he's about to escort her back to the finest ball - and okay, he might be grinning like a total loon too. ]

As you wish.