[action] not-so-secret completely off-season santa

[ahappylie]

Who: Okita vs Everyone
Broadcast: No
Action: Everywhere on the Fleet
When: During the drift

[He was asleep for so long that he had very little time on the planet. But he only needed a little time to get what he needed. Just after the drift begins and the planet is a distant spark on the horizon, he starts flitting from ship to ship and cabin to cabin to find people.

Action for Goldstone
For the members of his crew, he has a little gift for everyone. He'll be coming by crew cabins or finding people at their stations, anywhere they are, so he can deliver a little handwrapped present with a smile.

Action for the Fleet
With his main gifts given out, he'll start shuttling over to ships at random. Wonder what that noise is in the cargo bay? What about that weird banging noise in the kitchen? Well it's the Fleet's resident samurai, piglet in tow, and he's leaving little gift baskets for each ship - candy, non-perishables like dried fruit and canned goods, shower gel, a flamingo hat, random weird junk like these things, etc. Whatever he could buy down on the planet, he's stuffed into baskets and is leaving them on every ship for everyone.

Or you could find him wandering the Iskaulit with Saizou trailing behind passing out brightly colored candies. Who knows what flavors they are - maybe Floot Loops.]

Comments

[ahappylie]

[Carnage, huh? That piques his interest and also makes him a little more cautious. It sounds closer to Yoshida's philosophy than he likes.]

So did you win that one, too?

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis is one to enjoy a good fight, especially when he's winning. Not that he's starting any here...

His voice softens a little as he contemplates what to answer with.]

I don't know. I was pulled onto these ships before I could find out. Probably not well.

[ahappylie]

Mm, that's too bad.

[Okita stands and dusts his clothes off even though there is so little dust to be had.]

But perhaps that means the outcome can still be changed.

[ginger_firebird]

[He nods quietly, focusing on Saizou's expression. Then he sets the piglet down to stand as well.]

It might be better if we lose. Our boss, my friend, he is far too much like his father in ways he really shouldn't be.

[ahappylie]

[Saizou grunts a few times in protest, then shakes himself off and trundles back over to Okita. Before he can even jump up to beg to be held again, his owner scoops him up into his arms and pats his head a few times.]

We are what we learn to be.

[For better or for worse.]

Whatever the outcome though, I do hope you survive it. You're an interesting person.

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis feels his mouth moving in an attempt to reply right away, but he can't quite find the words. He wraps his arms around himself and shakes his head.]

One can hope. [His voice sounds hollow, even to his own ears.] For my sake and that of others.

[ahappylie]

[He knows that look. He's seen it on too many people in his life - the lost, the worried. His outcome is uncertain and that uncertainty and the fear that it brings, the worry inherent in not knowing can eat a man alive. Having a glimpse of his own future every time he coughs, he knows what it's like to live with a possible death sentence hanging over his head.

Okita's smile softens at the edges with understanding.]

All we can do is keep moving forward until then, yes?

[a beat]

And eat snacks. That's why I brought all of those to your ship.

[ginger_firebird]

[The real trouble is that Mantis knows what happened to him. If even he couldn't crush the blue menace crawling through their base, there's little hope to have for the others.

Still, he does appreciate the understanding coming off of Okita. Knowing his worries aren't unique makes them easier to deal with.]

One foot in front of the other. [He nods.] I might keep the snacks to myself.

[ahappylie]

[One foot in front of the other indeed.

Okita laughs a little and nods.]

You can call it your reward for having caught me in the act.

[ginger_firebird]

I did cheat a little. As much as one can cheat using their own talents.

[He is so keeping the basket. He hugs it to his chest.]

Maybe eating my feelings could have its benefits.

[ahappylie]

[Okita can attest to those benefits.]

As long as you win, hm?

[He shifts Saizou in his arms and reaches into his sleeve, producing a small drawstring bag. This he holds out to Mantis with a smile.]

A little extra to help with your feelings.

[ginger_firebird]

Winning is paramount to anything approaching fairness.

[He takes the drawstring bag, lifting and lowering it to test the weight.]

Oh! Thank you. [A pause.] What have you hidden up your sleeve?

[ahappylie]

[Sort of like how Sannan used his abacus to win Ayumu's okowa during a footrace. It wasn't exactly cheating, just not exactly fair.

Okita laughs a little and nods, motioning to the bag. If Mantis opens it, he'll find it's stuffed with small, colorful sugar candies]

Look and see.

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis actually smiles when he opens the bag. It seeps into his voice as he moves the different candies around.]

These are like the candies I find back home. They're made from boiled sugar, flavored and colored with certain extracts. [He lifts his mask out of the way and pops two into his mouth, giving a clear view of some of the scarring there.] Some people still make them by hand.

[ahappylie]

In my time, all of them were made by hand.

[The peek under the mask makes Okita curious. He tries not to stare, but it's hard not to at least look. Masks always hide interesting or dangerous secrets and he's always been one to dig where he wasn't supposed to be.]

But these, sadly, were bought on the planet we just left. I hope they are to your liking.

Many apologies for the late reply!

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis is well aware that seeing him eat is to allow people to look at his face, at least a little. The ones around his mouth are fine to show off. He can't take his meals in private for all time.\

Infinitely to my liking. Thank you, again. These alone are just like home.