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

[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.]

[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.

[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.

Edited 2017-12-08 06:58 (UTC)

[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?

[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?]

[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.]

[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?

[She shrugs and then goes to take a seat.]

Leilani is an elf. Don't know what the hell the new guy is. Rose...is some kind of cat person, I guess.

[Rose has cat ears and a tail and makes her sneeze, so seems pretty cat-like]

The other pilot looks pretty human, but I don't know her well. Carl is human. He's a good kid, though.

[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.

Edited (formatting) 2017-12-11 01:33 (UTC)

[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.

Edited 2017-12-11 01:33 (UTC)

[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?

[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.

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?

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.]

[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.]

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.

[Rose nods appreciatively towards Asuka. The gesture might be a small one, but it doesn't go unnoticed.]

It's a tad bit longer than that. I spent several months at home, but when I woke up, only two weeks had passed. I knew time behaved strangely here, but I hadn't expected anything as strange as that.

[Suddenly, the mug is the most interesting thing in the world, and she's doing all she can to avoid eye contact. Truth be told, she was already having a little trouble sleeping before the last planet, but between the last planet and the trip home, Rose is doubtful she's ever going to get a good night's rest again.]

[ 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. ]

[ 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? ]

So, you can give that Rose girl cat food.

[No, her face absolutely does not change when she says the name "Rose". She doesn't miss the other Squire. Not when the current one is so much more satisfying to mess with.]

So, you have humans you want to feed. I suppose having food is important then. I know Sorey gets a little testy when he hasn't eaten in a while.

Carl? Who's that? [She doesn't know your crew, Velvet. Tell her about them.]

What happened?

[Velvet at least doesn't seem as if she's suffering from some kind of malady. Then again, from what limited interaction she's had with the other pilot, Asuka figures Velvet probably wouldn't complain anyway. Everyone here stays silent about their troubles.]

[She takes another gulp of tea, staring at the rim.]

Don't be too noble. At least eat what looks good, even if you can't taste it.

Yeah?

[Asuka raises an eyebrow, more intrigued now. Sure, she's been here long enough that she's heard of more than one person leaving and then coming back, but she's never pushed for further details. Her interests lie way too firmly in staying in the Fleet, no matter what Atroma throws at her.]

What was it like? [Is Rose one of the ones that actively misses home? Frowning slightly, Asuka tries to scrutinize her face, but lack of eye contact makes that hard.] What was the point of going back, if they were just going to yank you here again?

[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.

[ Thankfully, he doesn't feel obligated at all and takes her invitation to hop up on the counter once he's gotten himself some tea from the dispenser and warmed it in the microwave like a heathen. ]

This is fine. [ Truly, he's not picky, and he feels like the packets should be saved. It's been a while since he's talked to Asuka, so this is nice. ]

Have you been okay? I mean, besides the not sleeping thing.

[Rose frowns noticeably. She certainly didn't like being in the Fleet, and up until two weeks ago, she would have taken a trip home without thinking twice about it.]

[Actually going home was all it took to change her mind. It's not that she wants to be in the Fleet, either, but she prefers the frying pan to the fire.]

It was long. There was a revolution, and we won. Surprisingly, that doesn't make it feel better.

[She sighs. It's too much to go into (and she's already said more than she would like), but it's late and she's tired.]

I would ask the same question. But with the Atroma, I think them stringing us along is the point.

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

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