Eyuzi System Mingle

[lord_wizard]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you like!
Action: The planet Lyuku, the Iskaulit, and anywhere else you want
When: Sept 1 to Sept 28

[After a rather short time adrift, the fleet is finally in range of another planet. Small, peaceful, and colorful, there is plenty to do and explore.

Maybe it's enough to forget that vague feeling of unease.

Or not.]

((SYSTEM INFO))

Comments

[ladybro]

That's gotta be possible. [ if winn were still here... ] How hard can it be to make a helmet?

[selfhelp]

Probably depends on the material. Though if I was feeling lazy, I could just magic one up.

[But where's the fun in that? like he doesn't do it all the time]

[ladybro]

And deny us our arts and crafts? Don't you dare.

[ she picks up the tank she's been examining. it's unwieldy, maybe, but it seems like a good one. ]

I say we start with a thimble. Flatten it out. See where that gets us.

[selfhelp]

I'm game. It can be part of his tank decor.

[Speaking of, he's picking out some greenery and a water dish. Gotta get the essentials; anything extra can wait until he actually has some funds of his own.]

[ladybro]

Although if the helmet looks too good on him, you might hafta reconsider the name. Beta Ray Bill might be more fitting.

[selfhelp]

Listen, we can't give him an identity crisis from Day 1. Little J's gotta stick- his skin's technicolour.

[ladybro]

Little J, then.

[ kate grins. only joking, anyway. ]

Hey, uh. [ wait -- is there any easy way to ask this? ] I'm not saying you have to jump ships or anything but -- if you and Little J wanted to join the Blameless...

[ she rubs the back of her neck. ] Consider the invitation permanently open.

[ but not obligatory. it's good just being within shuttle-distance of billy again, really. not that distance was ever a problem with his powers in play. but for someone who doesn't always like to depend on the powers of others, it's nice to know she could just hop in one and see him asap. ]

[selfhelp]

[Billy blinks, brows lifting, and after a moment offers back a calm smile, lifting the hand carrying the lizard up to his face.]

What do you think, J, should we go be Blameless? Kind of ironic for me, isn't it?

[The lizard just stares back blankly, as lizards do, but- message received, and message given. Her invitation is definitely welcome, and something to think about.]

[ladybro]

[ kate's easy. her smile doesn't falter. she lets billy 'deflect' the question onto the lizard and knows better than to push for an answer in either direction. she can wait. whatever way the cookie crumbles, she'll still have a half. ]

Kinda ironic for most of us, I think.

[selfhelp]

I guess nobody's totally blameless of everything.

[that's sort of the point of being people; you fuck up, you learn, you do better. at least, that's the goal.]

I can promise to think about it? Everyone's been really welcoming, but it's not I can't visit them instead. It'd be nice to stay close.

[so... maybe not a total deflection. he's trying not to keep things as close to the chest as he usually does. without Teddy around to drag him out of his own head, he has to find a way to do it to himself.]

[ladybro]

[ she nods. she understands. not least of all because she's acutely aware of how important it can be to make this connections in the fleet for oneself. there's no guarantee depending on familiar faces: they all come and go with no measure of pattern or reason. ]

Think about it as long as you like. Besides, I can make do with slumber parties.

[ a light nudge. ]

[selfhelp]

[have a nudge back, you nerd.]

I'm down for that. You can even bring Lucky. We'll make a pillow fort and cook s'mores in the microwave.

[ladybro]

Provided it's one of my 'custody' days. [ with lucky, that is. kate broaches the topic with a puff of breath. ] Clint and I share dog-care duties. It's all very modern.

[ she hasn't talked much about clint. not since he'd arrived. ]

[selfhelp]

We can schedule it accordingly. I'm selfish enough to demand dog visitation once in a while.

[it's not even his goddamn dog but meeting him once was enough. he's a little bit in love now.

though, speaking of clint.]

Hey, um. Are things okay? With Clint, that is...

[ladybro]

That's a big question. [ she scrubs at the back of her neck. ] I guess they could be worse? I mean -- the last time he was here, he was pretty deep in the worst pits of his depression. Despite all the crap that's gone down, I actually think he's somehow better now.

[ not happier. not lighter. but...more proactive. he seems to be wallowing less. ]

[selfhelp]

[Hmm. Hmmmmmm.

Sounds like cause for a pow-wow. It's been a while for him, and way too long for her, apparently.]

While I've got a tab going, how's about we drop this little guy off on my ship and you can take me out for lunch? We can catch up on all the important gossip.

[ladybro]

Careful, Kaplan. [ but she's smiling. ] People might start mistaking me for your sugar daddy. Pet lizards and tanks and now lunch--? Tsk.

[ it's to diffuse a touch of the tension surrounding the sudden mention of clint. and the idea that -- yeah, there's some important gossip to get to on that front. ]

But lucky for you? I could eat.

[selfhelp]

Is that really all that different from how things started out?

[seriously Kate was half the reason they even got themselves properly up and running again. The lair, the new costumes, the incentive- it was all her. She and Cassie pushed hard.]

I won't tell if you don't.

[ladybro]

[ she draws a line across her lips and makes as though she's looking them shut. throwing away the key. mouth sealed; secrets kept. ]

That was a long time ago. Back when I still had my black AmEx. Still, lunch on the planet shouldn't break the bank.

[selfhelp]

I'm gonna find myself a job after today, promise. I need to start earning my keep. And I have a kid to support now.

[that's what pets are to people with no kids, right?]

[ladybro]

Besides, it won't take long for your first ratings payment to come in. [ not that things have been exceptionally dramatic, but-- ] We always seem to get a few credits. Enough to live off of. Even if you're not making for great television.

[selfhelp]

...Knowing me, I'm sure I'll find some way to stir up TV drama even if I'm not actively looking for it. I'll make do.

[well, she knows him. that's just life in general, not only for him but the YA as a whole. sorry to literally everyone he knows??]

[ladybro]

We could always fake a fight. Real tabloid-y stuff. Cash in on the spectacle.

[ -- SHE'S DEFINITELY JOKING. ]

[selfhelp]

....Well...

[okay but is she joking-joking because he's considering that. they could make it so very flashy.]

[ladybro]

-- Stop right there, Billy Kaplan. That tone of voice sounds suspiciously familiar. I think I've heard it employed by my dad's PR firm once, twice, thrice-dozen times.

[ but, well, it's not a terrible idea. ]