time for some spring-mingling!

[mucked]

Who: Starstruck crew and guests!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Aboard the Starstruck
When: All of April

[ oi, crew! we've got some upgraded bathrooms this time 'round, so enjoy your extra hot water! and a comfier tub! and some privacy curtains in the changing area, thank goodness. everyone please remind max to actually use the curtains, of course. (right after you remind him to shower!)

mingle away, starstruckers! don't forget you can still toy around with some of the rumours! ]

Comments

[proweird]

[ Honestly, Elena likes her already. To be fair, there are very few people Elena doesn't like. ]

Then I'll have to insist you just call me Elena. [ informality is what Elena prefers (she's a child of her generation in that way) but it makes people feel better when their life and health are in her hands if they call her doctor. ] It's nice to meet you. I was just scoping out the med bay here. It's impressive. Is someone in charge of it?

[mucked]

Mister Aizawa has been tending to the lab for the time being -- and he has a bit of a steel fist when it comes to the consoles. However, he can't argue with your augment. You'll have access to them before the end of the day. I promise. [ peggy pauses. ] I'm assuming yours is for the lab. That's why you're 'scoping' it out, yes?

[ a good guess. but she's also basing it on the previous time elena had been here. ]

[proweird]

[ Elena nods. She certainly doesn't want to mess with anyone's lab set up. She knows how people can be. ] Yes, but also because I wanted to be familiar with it if a need for a doctor arises.

[mucked]

Believe you me, Elena. [ her smile is perfunctory -- sliding into the christian name with all the grace of a practiced conversationalist. ] I want that as well. We're very lucky to have someone with real medical experience aboard. [ ... ] I hope you'll consider staying with us here on the Starstruck, of course.

[proweird]

Thanks. I hope I don't have to use it. [ She's pretty sure Peggy probably feels the same way. However, she hesitates, waffling a little at the next bit. ] I haven't decided yet, honestly. My--a friend of mine from home is a Captain on one of the ships: Stefan Salvatore.

[mucked]

[ her smile, until now merely polite, warms at the mention of stefan. ]

I'm well-acquainted with Mister Salvatore, yes. [ and, perhaps, in a gambit of sorts: ] He visits us aboard this ship quite often, in fact. I've got some of his shortbread in the kitchen right now.

[proweird]

[ That Peggy knows Stefan gets a bright, warm smile out of Elena as well. ] He's a very good cook. I'm from Stefan's world. I've known him for years.

[mucked]

Yes. [ polite, but wary. ] He's certainly mentioned you -- although, in the interest of full disclosure--?

[ there's no easy way to broach this topic. ] Has anyone talked to you about having been in the fleet once before, Elena?

[proweird]

[ Okay, well, she's pleased to have been mentioned. Stefan was one of her best friends back home, someone she loves unconditionally and, at one time, romantically. That hasn't been the case for a few years now. Elena's brows go up at Peggy's question. ]

Kitty mentioned she'd met several versions of me in various places, but not about one of those versions having been in the fleet.

[mucked]

One has. [ abrupt, she realizes. and so she's quick to apologize. ] I'm afraid it's not a very pleasant thing to learn about -- probably. But you and I have met before. [ well. a version of her. ] You lived here on the Starstruck back when I first arrived.

[proweird]

At least it wasn't my evil doppleganger. [ No, seriously. Been there, done that. It's no fun for anyone. She's not casual about having another 'her' having been there, but there are small things to be thankful for. She's not entirely sure she's comfortable asking Peggy questions about her previous stay there. She presses her lips together. ] I don't know whether to ask whether we had a friendship or not. Maybe I should just say I hope we can start anew?

[mucked]

I'll be perfectly honest, Elena. [ a moment's hesitation before her christian name. perhaps that, alone, is telling enough. ] We were acquaintances at best -- you, that is she wasn't here for much longer beyond my arrival. But our terms were friendly enough.

[ a polite smile. ] As I hope they'll be again.

[proweird]

[ Elena's smile is small and soft. ] I hope so too. In any case, thank you for coming to welcome me. I appreciate it.

[ She looks around the med bay. ] I'm going to continue my exploration of the ship and I'm supposed to meet Stefan soon, so I better go. Thank you again, Peggy.