driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: EVERYBODY
Broadcast: Maybe
Action: Lone Breaker System
When: The fleet will be in this system from 3/10 to 4/14

Welcome to the Lone Breaker System. The planet consists of a single ghost town that replenishes its stock daily, and a desert that does not. There are quite a few points of interest, no consequences, and a mystery to be investigated!

→ More system info is here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[oh

oh no

don't make that face oh no

He shifts uncomfortably on the bike, his gaze flitting from her, to the bag, and then to the open road. Fuck.]

I have no set schedule. I can drive you there, if you like.

Thanks, but I was planning to walk. It's nice out, I'd like to enjoy the weather.

[Her smile's recovered now, and she's back to basically normal. Don't worry!]

I'll keep an eye out for anything that you might like, okay? Let me know when you've got time, maybe we can have dinner.

[why

is he so bad at this

it's like reliving his existence on Xaos in real time. He didn't think nostalgia could sting so badly.]

...Alright.

[He revvs the bike up again, gently, almost indecisive. Just go, right? He said no, and she said no, and- that's fine. It's normal. This is how they function. She has lots of friends who are better at making her happy.]

[

no

no you know what]

...Half an hour.

[what's the point of coming back to life if he's just going to make the same mistakes again and again?]

[She's already turning to go ~~in disappointment~~ when he changes his answer. Kaname looks at him and blinks, not sure if she heard that right.]

Really?

[okay. okay. breathe deep. don't be insensitive or dismissive or whatever. channel someone good at this.

The captain? no. Chuck? oof. Haya- fuck that.

Wait does he know anyone who's good at this? Besides Kaname herself?

....he could channel- no, that's absurd.]

Really. Let me store this somewhere hidden away, and I'll meet you here.

[Does Messer see her face light up? Because it totally is. Smiling more genuinely, she walks back over to him and the bike thing.]

How about I take that ride, then? We can walk back together.

[He does, and it's the most nerve-wracking thing he's ever seen. He said something right? What??

He's honestly struck wordless by it, so instead of trying he unclasps the helmet from around his head and holds it out towards her. It'll be a short ride, but he only has one.]

[Kaname takes the helmet, but doesn't put it on right away.]

Should I figure we're not going anywhere until I put this on?

[He turns the handle, easing off the gas again, and responds with a telling look. You're damn right they're not.]

Yes, all right. [Kaname gives him a knowing smile, not at all bothered by his stare. She's used to him. Putting on the helmet, and fastening it, she moves to sit behind him on the seat.]

Does this work?

[It's a tight fit - the bike isn't exactly made for two - but he's able to shift so she can sit comfortably enough. Thank goodness she's smaller than he is.]

That's fine. Hold on tight, it isn't far from here.

[Once she's firmly in place and he can feel an arm around him, he fires up the engine proper and drives towards a certain set of buildings that he'd mapped out a day or so prior. It's not much at all like flying - nothing really is - but there's always been something comforting about the thrum of an engine under him. It helps. Distracts him from... this and that. Or everything.

Anyway.

It's a quick ride over, and a quick job of carrying the little bike down a set of stairs (which is heavy, but he's plenty strong enough for it) and tucking the wagon in the boughs of a tall bush, and then she's got his full attention.]

Mm. [And hold on tight she does. Kaname watches the scenery pass them by, and soon enough, Messer's stashing his ride in some foliage and returning to where she stands.

She smiles at him, and moves closer, reaching up to pluck a leaf from his hair.]

I think you got a little too close to the bush over there. [Flicking it to the side, she points down the road.]

It's actually a couple blocks that way, closer than before.

[Wh- oh, leaf. Absently he pats down his hair as they begin to walk, remaining at her side this time.]

What are you looking for this time?

[May as well be useful and keep an eye out.]

Clothes. [Kaname answers him with a cheery tone, smiling like she's perfectly content with their current arrangement. Any specifics will come once they're closer to the shops she was thinking of earlier.]

How's your day been going? You ate a good lunch, right?

[It's really just casual conversation with the addition of her idly checking up on him as she might otherwise.]

There's plenty to choose from, it's a nice change of pace from the food provided on the ships.

I've been eating the ship's rations. I still don't like the suspicious circumstance of this place.

[And he knows it's getting a bit absurd and paranoid at this point, with everyone else raiding the food supply left and right, and it's not as if the ship rations themselves aren't similarly suspicious in how they refresh themselves regularly, but- look, it's him. She should know by now.]

...It's good that everyone seems to be enjoying it, though.

[Progress, right??]

[She really does know, which is why nothing about his answer surprises her. Except maybe his addendum, which causes her to glance at him.]

It is good. [Definitely progress. Kaname puts her hand on his arm to get his attention.]

After this, we're getting some food. Good food, not the ship stuff. I won't take no for an answer.

[She looks at him a little expectantly.]

[don't

don't look at him like that

Messer doesn't need to return the look for his internal conflict to be pretty obvious.]

...I suppose no one's died from eating it yet.

[Don't shame him for his caution, Kaname!! It's not a no, though.]

Aside from Freyja's particular taste, I haven't heard of anything wrong with it.

[Despite his very obvious inner battle, Kaname remains smiling, almost amused by it. Almost.]

Admittedly, it tasted fine to me, too. [Any scolding or look of disapproval Messer might send her way is cut short by a triumphant exclamation from the redhead.]

Here we are.

[In front of a men's clothing store.]

[Messer doesn't answer for a long moment, following her gaze up- to the display window, to the sign above the shop, to the obvious intent in her stopping here. And then:]

...Kaname.

[His tone says it all: what. what are you doing. why.]

[Kaname turns to face him, giving him a knowing smile.]

Have you gotten anything for yourself yet?

[Because really.]

A little.

[He sounds a bit reluctant to admit it; he knows he's already doomed, and he's damning himself further with this. They are going shopping for him and there's nothing he can do about it.]

[With that answer, she turns and walks inside, knowing full well he'll follow her. There, she looks around for a good place to start.

Oh look, t-shirts. She pulls a dark green one off the shelf and turns to hold it out to him.]

How about this?

[T-shirt... he can't even remember the last time he wore one of those. It's so informal. He accepts it from her anyway, one eyebrow cocked.]

It's... fine.

[IT'S NOT HIS STYLE AT ALL]

[That gets her to chuckle and pluck it out of his grasp to put back on the table. She can read him well enough to know.]

Then you pick something out.