It's Time for a Red...Fish Mingle

[heroofcocoon]

Who: The Red Fish Crew and Friends
Broadcast: maybe
Action: The SS Red Fish
When: during drift time

[So, who doesn't love cannibals? Amirite? They're the best.

Also, tag yourself, crew. You know you wanna.]

Comments

[searingedgelord]

[Velvet can be found in various parts of the ship cleaning up in the aftermath of all the fighting. While in the cargo hold she'll check on the ship's slugs and lizards to make sure they're all doing okay.

She also spends some of her time in the kitchen taking stock of things they might need when they finally get to a planet that isn't totally fucked up or on the verge of destruction. They're probably getting pretty low on things that aren't protein packs.]

[brothersboots]

[SURPRISE! Time for a visitation from your favorite troll!

Edna has decided to come and visit Velvet on her ship. Being stuck with those guys on the Blameless is okay. And spending time on the Iskaulit with her mountain is fine. But, she likes to know how the other half lives too.

And Velvet is really the least annoying out of Eizen's friends.

She takes some time to look around the ship, mentally comparing it to the Blameless and Huntress. Eventually, she ends up in the kitchen, watching the Lord of Calamity do mundane chores.]

You know, you could always save the food that actually tastes like something for your humans. They might appreciate it.

[searingedgelord]

[She glances up in surprise. She wasn’t expecting Edna, but she doesn’t seem to mind that she’s there.]

Most of the crew isn’t human, actually.

[she finishes up what she was doing. The Lord of Calamity is surprisingly comfortable doing mundane chores. She may even find it calming.]

And if I need to eat I stick with the flavorless gel. It’s just been awhile since we were able to restock.

[brothersboots]

[It's the first time she's come, sure, but she hasn't made a secret that she doesn't mind Velvet. She might think Rokurou's a dumbass and Eleanor gets on her nerves, but this Lord of Calamity's not so bad. You know, for a huge daemon.]

Really? What are they then?

[That's the first time she's heard of that.]

I guess that is a downside to having to eat. Although, we're running low on things for Kate to make me cookies.

[The important things, okay?]

[interstices]

[Asuka's not so much elusive as she is driven by habit. While stuck on the ship, she's easiest to find in a bare handful of places--]

[--the cargo hold, aimlessly working yet again on destroying the taped-up, sewn-up remnants of the punching bag. There's not really a sense of timing or control to the way she's pounding it, just simple bulldozing along. It's a fine enough exercise until she punches it off the hook and the bag goes flying.] Shit!

[--or maybe the kitchen, late at night, not so much for a midnight snack as a midnight sulk. She's got a cup of tea, though, for all that it doesn't erase the furrow on her face as she sits perched on the counter, still dressed, hair in messy braids, and she's cordial enough, for once, to beckon with her hand.] What, couldn't sleep either?

[heroofcocoon]

[Snow looks over at the girl, something about her both inviting and not at the same time. It's the ship's kitchen and they're a tiny crew on a good day.

However, her attitude is nothing new. And he's got his own issues. Even if Billy is making him work on them or something like that.]

Not for like five hundred years. What's a few more months?

[interstices]

Five hundred years?

[His comment seems a bit airier and offhand than she'd quite care for, but she doesn't quite mind. At least for tonight, it's a pretty vast improvement over being in the kitchen alone with just her own thoughts, no matter how much she might argue otherwise. She's kept her sullen distance from the rest of the crew, accustomed to going her own way-- but if they run into anything like that last disaster, keeping to herself would be a liability.]

[Or maybe she's just feeling like some company. Asuka takes a sip of too-hot tea and shrugs. She doubts she knows this guy well enough at all to expect a real answer, but she figures she has to ask.]

Then what's on your mind?

[heroofcocoon]

Give or take a decade.

[Well, when you're an asshole that's lived for five hundred years hating ones self, all serious comments aren't really likely to happen without some levity. And/or sarcasm.]

When one can't sleep, what's better than walking around a little metal ship that's just a few inches too small for me. Besides, sleep only comes easy for those that deserve it.

[searingedgelord]

[Velvet is literally always restless during drift weeks. So wandering into the kitchen late at night is something she does a lot. She grabs a pack of flavorless protein gel and raises an eyebrow.]

I don't sleep much.

[interstices]

Neither do I.

[Her own sleeping habits are turning into a moot point, these days. More something she's hanging onto than something she needs. Asuka surveys the protein gel in Velvet's hand with a look of mild distaste.]

So you're the one eating that junk? You know we've got better food than that.

[Marginally. The Red Fish has been suffering from a real lack of cooks for at least a year, maybe more. Asuka taps one ankle absently against the counter.]

[searingedgelord]

[She shrugs.]

Doesn't matter. I can't taste anything. I might as well leave the stuff with flavor to the rest of you.

[Velvet does cook, though, when they have supplies. She's just needed help learning how to use all the technology she's not familiar with.]

[poisontippedcure]

[Sleep has been rather difficult for Rose the last few nights, and even though she isn't the fondest for other people, it's comforting to see somebody else up so late at night. It makes the ship feel a little bit safer.]

It's a long story.

[interstices]

So? I've got time.

[Asuka reaches up inelegantly, opening a cabinet and retrieving another mug, nudging it over to Rose without expectations or fanfare. She hasn't actually gotten down from the countertop to pick a drink option for her.]

If you're worried about something like the last planet, don't be. That crap doesn't happen much.

[postocular]

[ It's happening a little less than it did a few months ago, but after an hour or two in bed, his body is wired and unwilling to settle back down. He's always ready to spur into action as soon as his eye is open, but it's been calm since the raid on the ship. Giving up the fight, he gets up and moves to the kitchen for something to drink. Maybe something warm will help him relax. Carl doesn't really expect anyone else in the kitchen, though it's not a complete surprise in a ship full of misfits. ]

You say that like it's uncommon on this ship. [ Sleeping problems, whaaaaat? ]

[interstices]

[Red Fish really is Insomniacs Anonymous.]

[Asuka hasn't talked to Carl much in awhile-- really, not since when he first came back injured. Nothing personal, and nothing awkward-- not exactly. But she doesn't want him to feel obligated to open up just because she doesn't have a working eye, either. She lets out a hoarse little laugh.]

You're not wrong. [She scoots over amiably enough to make room for him on the countertop, if he'd rather not pull up a chair.] There's the usual tea, but I've got some black tea packets from a couple planets ago, if you want. They're in the drawer.

Let It Snow, Snow, Snow...

[heroofcocoon]

[Most days, Snow is definitely spending his time around in the armory of the ship, trying to figure out exactly what he's supposed to be doing. When he was on the Blue Fish, before everything went completely pear-shaped, he'd almost had a routine. Now, he has to start over with a new crew.

And he only knows one of them. The captain, apparently. Not that he got a name all those months ago.

So, the armory is like his safe haven, but he also spends a little time in the common areas of the ship, getting used to the layout.

The only downside is that the ceilings are closer than he likes. And he has to duck a lot.]

[searingedgelord]

[Velvet is checking various places on the ship to make sure everything is order, so eventually she does stop by the armory even though it's the place she knows the least about. She pauses when she sees Snow, though.

She still doesn't know much about him except that he's huge and can apparently turn into a murderbeast in the wrong circumstances.]

Oh. Hey.

[heroofcocoon]

[He looks over at the voice and bites back a groan.]

Hey. Velvet, right? Ship's captain?

[Stop with the damn glares, okay.]

Something I can do for you?

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose doesn't enjoy fighting and isn't overly fond of weapons, but she also doesn't have a death wish. Every so often, she sneaks away to the armory to see what she can find that's useable. Recently, there's been somebody else there when she stops by. She was happy ignoring him at first, but now seeing him is almost becoming routine.]

You aren't very social, are you?

[heroofcocoon]

[Snow looks over at the voice and...sees ears. And mess of red hair.

He doesn't really pay much attention to this crew. When he's not doing the little bits of maintenance that goes along with his job. he's either on the Blue Fish or the Iskaulit. So, cat-eared girl is new.]

The words you're looking for are "Hello, my name is...whatever. You appear to be new. Welcome to this shithole".

[postocular]

[ Thankfully, new crew doesn't necessarily mean new routine. One of the instances Snow finds himself in the armory, Carl wanders in. He likes to make sure everything in that room is working properly- especially the lock on the door. It had saved their ass during the last raid, and he's not about to slack on it. He glances at Snow and that one eye narrows a bit, scrutinizing the guy. ]

New crew? [ Which is fine. Carl doesn't really wait for an answer before he shrugs the bag of tools off his shoulder and gets to work opening the control panel for the door. ]

[heroofcocoon]

[Snow looks over at the young boy and shrugs. He doesn't remind him of anyone from home, and for the first time he's thankful for that. No reminders means he's less likely to have pangs of regret or anger when it comes to the little things. It means that any relationship he manages to have with him is based on what happens between him and this boy. And not some superimposed feelings he has for someone long dead.]

Yeah, I guess. I was on the Blue Fish before.

backdated to 12/06

[poisontippedcure]

[Two weeks after Rose disappears from the Red Fish, her door opens, and she stumbles out. She's wearing a fancy new outfit, which is about the only part of her that is well put together right now.]

[She has the look of someone who, despite spending the last two weeks in a deep sleep, didn't manage to get any rest at all. Her mood isn't helping, either. All it takes is one good look around the familiar halls of the Red Fish to bring whatever high spirits she had remaining crashing down.]

Of course. Of course it was them. Why should I have expected otherwise?

slides in a month late with ishbucks

[aetherflows]

[Alphinaud's already had his outfit upgrade months ago, but he's heading over to find Rose as soon as he's awake and his sister is taken care of. He apologizes his way through the cargo bay and runs down the hall before he realizes... he doesn't actually know which room is hers?

Oops.

But Rose is in the hall anyway, so he imagines they must've woken up about the same time.]

Rose! Rose, are you all right?

[... And now that he's gotten himself worked up, he takes a moment to lean on the wall and catch his breath.]

:D!

[poisontippedcure]

Alphinaud?

[Rose is still a little out of it, and probably not in the best state to receive company. It takes her a moment to register what Alphinaud being here actually means; he isn't assigned to this ship, and as far as she knew, hadn't visited before either. But if she had gone home for that long, some time must have passed here, too. It's only natural that someone would be worried.]

[As tempted as she is to snap back, Rose is able to reel herself in.]

I'm fine. How long have I been asleep?