driftfleet | ss bishop mingle

[they're not even just hidden around the ship, hiro literally welded them to the ceiling.]

[speaking of annoying tech, hiro can be found over these couple of weeks blasting music in various rooms as he gets the speaker systems in working order. it's only one room at a time so far, but he does the cargo bay first since that's where he tends to work on his other projects, so that's where it happens the most.

[feel free to come harass him over the course of the next two weeks.]

[ tadashi can usually be found in his lab, but will occasionally spend the better part of an hour in the kitchen, just messing with the different combinations of the protein solids and gels. most of the time it's some combination of chocolate and peanut butter -- life for a stress-eater is hard when there's no dessert to be found that doesn't make him want to gag.

he might be a robotics genius, but his aunt is the baker. it never goes well. ]

[Or we could talk about the fact that you now have a very tall, very blonde elf with a stash of arms and armor purchased during his time at Mor. He's not so intimidating, though. He might live with a sword at his side, but when he's not at the communications desk, you can often find him sitting in the rec room strumming a small harp.

He's also particularly prone to wandering the ship at odd hours. Any night owls stand a decent chance of running into him paging through some random book or staring out a window into the night sky.]

[a. the kitchen]

[Belthazar is experimenting. Now, he's a five star cook if there ever was one. It's one of his great domestic skills he picked up from having to take care of himself, and he actually enjoys cooking. He doesn't eat quite enough to put on too much weight-- he's always going to be a lanky string bean-- but at least he can make food like a pro.

The counters are filled with various things, changing from day to day. One day it's a bunch of things made with an approximation of teriyaki sauce. Another day it's roasted... meat. Tofu? Whatever the hell passes for meat in their basic plus one kitchen. A third day is 'pasta' chunks and various deep-fried tofu things, basically carbs everywhere.

However, he's nice enough to leave out a plate of absolutely delectable macarons of many colors. They're even brushed with edible glitter.

Magic.]

[b. the library]

[When he's not forcing his (tasty) experiments on people, Belth is curled up in the library. Literally. He doesn't need a chair, he just reads on the floor. And then, possessing a blanket, he sleeps underneath a pile of books.

He really likes books.]

[ Whatever, she's over on this ship for Reasons. We don't ask questions. ~~The reason is obvious.~~

But she's spotting that cute plate of macarons and just ....... gasping .... ]

Wow ... ! They're so cute ...

[At first he's spooked enough to drop a spoon, then he feels bad for being jumpy and tries to pick it up and toss it into the sink as fast as possible...]

Um-- hello again.

[ Glances up ... ]

Oh, hey! [ Waves! ] I didn't realize you were on the Bishop.

[He scratches at his cheek with a fingernail.]

I was transferred here a few days ago. I'm the cook, so I've been trying to replicate some of the better food I've tasted from Earth.

[A glance at the pastries.]

Those I had to conjure.

They look perfect! Can I try one?

[He lowers his eyes, blushing a liiiiiiiittle bit.]

Y-yes, try one. That was the idea. [It ought to be a biting sarcasm but he just can't manage it when it comes to Ino.] I thought someone ought to put out some real food-- conjured or not. I doubt I can make decent pastries with the ingredients I have on hand.

[ She nods ]

Yeah, it's pretty tough to get all that out here, especially specialized ingredients for these types of things.

[ But she finds a purple one and takes a bite ... ]

Wow! It's really good!

[He watches for her reaction with a little more trepidation than he ought to have. He knows they're good, he ate like five of them himself... but whatever. He likes Ino. She's nice and sweet and thinks he's cool. So obviously her opinion means a lot.]

T-- thank you.

[Ahem.]

Do you like other sweet things?

Well, yeah. [ Takes another nibble of the macaron ] My favorite is chocolate pudding, but it seems like that one isn't in such short supply.

That isn't pudding. It's sludge.

[He sniffs derisively.]

I could make you a real pudding, if I had the ingredients... I suppose I will have to wait until I see a planet.

[ She laughs ]

Well, I didn't say it was good pudding.

Don't go out of your way ... but if you happen to come across the ingredients, I'd love to have some!

Consider it done. If I cannot go home, then I will make it my mission to inform these backwards, tasteless mongrels how real food ought to be.

[ A grin ]

Wow, I think the Bishop might have gotten a real foodie on board.

[He tilts his head.]

Foodie...?

It means you know a lot about food, and you have refined taste.

[He rubs at his nose.]

I... like cooking. I thought it was standard to have good taste when one enjoys making food.

Nothing wrong with that! But, there's definitely people out there who don't care what they put in their mouth as long as it keeps them alive, too.

I've done that.

It sucks.

Yes, it does.

[ Pops the rest of the macaron in her mouth ]

It's good of you to want to keep them well fed. I know Hiro and Tadashi especially have a bad habit of getting lost in what they're working on and forgetting to eat something healthy.

[Belth is definitely liking Hiro after the events of a few days ago, but he's not going to admit that. He just shrugs in that sulky teenager way.]

I'm... the same way, at times.

[As soon as he found out where Belthazar was on this Light-forsaken fleet, Adrasteius had taken steps to visit. Fortunately, this ship's layout didn't seem appreciably different from his own, so it's not long before he comes upon the kitchen--and the lovely scents of baked bread, sugar, and fresh butter wafting through the air.]

Macarons!

[He picks one up, examining it between two fingers.]

This is a delicate pastry. Impressive work.

[Belth isn't expecting Adra to stop by. He thought that was it, just... being told he doesn't remember, crying a bit, and then bam. Bye. Never see him again. But here he is, right in Belth's own kitchen, and he stares a bit dumbly with a bowl of soy sauce in his hands.]

Mas-- ah... [He's not his master anymore.] Lord-- [No, that's not right either. He's getting really worked up just standing here and glaring at his soy sauce.] W-why are you here?

I wanted to see you.

[He takes a bite of the macaron. It's good. He sighs, half from the taste, and half from Bel's obvious anxiety.]

I'm sorry if I've intruded -- I can leave.

[Belth shakes his head hard enough that the soy sauce tries to spill. WHOA THERE, KID.]

No! No, it's-- I don't mind. Please don't leave. I thought you weren't... interested, that's all.

[He sets the little bowl down and moves closer to Adra. He doesn't reach out to hug him, or to tug on his sleeve like he did once. But he does look at him.

After a moment, he ducks his eyes.]

I... won't hold you to things you don't remember. That's incredibly unfair.

Edited 2015-04-05 04:30 (UTC)

[Another bite, and the macaron is gone. Adra considers what to do next. He wants to reassure Bel, wants him to know that, memory or not, Adrasteius isn't going to let one of his own people fall by the wayside here.

He offers his hand.]

I wish I remembered the things you've told me. I'm sorry I don't. But I'm here now, and I'm willing to try. Okay?

[Like he'd ever say no to Adrasteius. He hurts, there's no doubt about it, and usually Belth throws his walls up when he's hurt. Adra here is the only person he's ever let in, and boy did he have to fight for it.

It's been almost a year now since they met, and while that isn't a long time for elves, it's a long time for a child who had zero friends up to this point. He looks at the hand. Very slowly, like a shy animal, he reaches out and clasps it.]

I didn't have anyone else, [he murmurs, his eyes down.] You took me in. You made sure I didn't die from mana withdrawal, and you taught me how to be a better person.

I'm not-- [His voice cracks. Stupid puberty.] I'm not very good at it. But I am trying.

[Adra's goin' in for the hug. Gently, he pulls Bel to him, wraps one arm around Belthazar's narrow shoulders.]

Trying is all anyone can do.

[But--wait a moment. His grip on Bel's shoulders tightens, just a little, worriedly.]

--are you--are you all right? With your mana ...

[Oh no, a hug. This isn't the first time, but he's still surprised. He doesn't stiffen, though-- he just lets it happen. He'd put his arms around Adra too but somehow his finger have found their way to the front of Adra's robes, clinging tightly until the knuckles whiten.

He lets out a breath.]

... It will be painful soon. They don't give us anything, and I haven't... asked. I know another mage here, but I don't want to hurt anyone.

[Adra lifts one hand. His open palm shimmers bright red for a moment, and then he tucks the mana ruby into the pocket of Bel's robe.]

That should help for a while. If you start feeling sick, call me.

[Dammit, Adra, that's SNEAKY. He straightens up a bit.]

Master...! [He frowns worriedly.] You should not have to hurt because of me. Do you have someone you can rely on? I can help you find someone--

[Adra sets his hand, especially warm now from the recent spell casting, against the back of Bel's head.]

Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

[-- That's really nice, and he can't help the way his eyelids droop a bit. It reminds him of Caspa, suddenly, and he clings tighter.]

... All right. I trust you.

[Just two elves hugging in the kitchen, no big deal.]

I, um. I don't know what to call you anymore.

[Lightly.]

Oh, I have many names. My wife never calls me anything but 'magister', usually. People on the street tend to prefer 'jackass'. My daughter just says 'tart', but she usually just means the pastry.

[He smooths down Bel's hair.]

You can try 'Adrasteius,' if you like. Or 'Adra'. Or 'that guy'.

[That bit about the tart makes him snort-laugh, much to his dismay. He pinkens and covers his mouth. He is a super serious young man! He cannot snortlaugh!

This is a very nice hug though, and he's feeling more and more like he's home.

It feels weird to call Adra any of those names, but he doesn't want to whip out the 'father' card when Adra doesn't remember. They hadn't actually gotten to that point yet, before, but Belth had considered it.]

Adra.

[A pause.]

I don't really care what you call me. I was always told that Belthazar is a mature name, so I tried to make it suit me. If only I would grow faster--

You'll get there, Bel.

[Gentle squeeze.]

Trust me, the future always comes on more quickly than you think. Give it a few years and you'll probably be taller than me.

[His ears twitch.]

Not exactly a feat, mind you, but.

I am so very tired of puberty. [He says it with distaste, like a kid who doesn't like asparagus.] I want to be taller already. It has been years!

[He huffs a bit, but he settles down, as always.]

... Thank you.

[ Steffa can be found in a couple of places generally: the library or the cargo bay.

The library is good for reading, not that there are TOO horribly many books. There are still a handful of trashy romance novels she hasn't read yet, and she needs to rate them for recommendation to Garrett (and anyone else who asks).

In the cargo bay, if Hiro's there, she's usually working with him, but sometimes she manages to get hold of his music player and will have her own little music-listening parties. And by listening we mean dancing around, and singing along to the songs she's already picked up.

If you ever wanted to see a Grey Warden dancing around and singing along to Taylor Swift, now's your chance.

She's not even going to ASK about the ostrich bobbleheads. ]

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