Yadrolla System Mingle

[lacyprincess]

Who: EVERYBODY
Broadcast: Yeah, sure, I guess
Action: The Fleet and the Yadrolla System
When: 4/29 - 6/8

[Hey, hey, look, we have a new system! Let's go compete in stuff and root for sportsball teams! System info is here!

GO WAVES!]

Comments

[privateeyed]

Well, yeah. I like being somewhat sane.

[there's a method to madness, no pun intended]

[watermarks]

[ Grumbling: ] I don't see how getting into a pointless fight and receiving needless injuries help anyone to stay sane.

[privateeyed]

It keeps me focused, it keeps my mind off other things that tend to creep in when I'm not focused, and it lets me work off a bunch of anger I have pent up.

Also I'm insulted you think I get injured that often.

[watermarks]

[ She lifts a hand and gestures at his face. ] You're kind of wearing the evidence of injury.

[ What with his raccoon eyes and all.

And she is no psychologist, and has no training in mental health, but that sounds like a horrible cycle he's describing. ]

[privateeyed]

Yeah, but it's not like this happens all the time.

[give him a break they're on an alien planet.

And it absolutely isn't the best cycle, no, but it's better than everything else he's tried]

[watermarks]

So you get into weekly fist fights and don't get injured?

[The skepticism, it drips.]

[privateeyed]

Not seriously. A few bruises at worst, maybe a busted eyebrow or lip, nothing that doesn't take more than a few days to heal. Guy who runs the fights is real strict about it not getting out of hand.

[watermarks]

[ In true sisterly spirit, she reaches up to poke at the bruise under his eye. She's not moving particularly fast, though, so he'll have plenty of time to stop her. If he doesn't, the poke won't be all that hard. ]

And the guy here wasn't?

[privateeyed]

[if it's the bruise under the artificial eye, there's no flinch whatsoever; if it's the one under the real eye, then he just wrinkles his nose a bit]

He ain't about blood and guts, if that's what you mean. Wouldn't jump in there if I didn't like what was going on, you know.

[watermarks]

[ SIGH. ]

Look, Ben, we are just not going to agree on this. You can tell me that you're making a rational decision, that stepping into a ring and getting beat up and beating someone up is good for you all you want. That's not going to stop me from being concerned that you're just doing something that's hurting yourself.

[privateeyed]

I'm not trying to get you to agree, I'm just trying to - lessen the concern, I guess. [he shrugs a shoulder] I don't let it get too far. That's all.

[watermarks]

[ Sheeeeeeeeeeee doesn't believe him, but that might because they have different definitions of "too far." She rolls her eyes and grumbles: ]

I just hope it's not messing up your leg more.

[ She's been working on that and if he's deliberately making it worse, then, woah boy. ]

[privateeyed]

Do I look like a man with a death wish?

[look, he has unhealthy coping methods, but he isn't stupid]

[watermarks]

I don't see what that has to do with it.

[ Except, obviously, he knows she'll kill him if it does, so... but yeah, no, not yet making that connection. ]

[privateeyed]

I know better than to undo a lady's hard work.

From experience. Painful experience.

[watermarks]

[ Congratulations, Ben! She laughs. Ten points. ]

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

[privateeyed]

Yep. So, no death wish for me.

[watermarks]

I'm glad to hear that. For a lot of reasons.

[ Including the fact that you've been spending the night getting beat on. ]

[privateeyed]

Yeah, well, I've had two near death experiences in my life and I'm not too keen on going for the hat trick, you know?

[watermarks]

...this, coming from the man who's spent the night getting beat up.

[ It's said more like a tease, at least. ]

[privateeyed]

I did more beating up than getting beat on, thanks.

[watermarks]

[ She sighs and rolls her eyes, stifling a smile. ]

Boys always say that.

[privateeyed]

Maybe other boys, if I got my ass kicked I'd own up to it.

[watermarks]

I'll believe that when I see it. [ It's a teasing tone, but she's serious. ] But hopefully, if you're going to keep doing this, you won't have to fess up.

[ If he was going to keep doing this, she'd rather he won than not. ]

[privateeyed]

It'll probably be pretty obvious, I mean. [he gestures]

If it makes you feel any better, this side - [and he gestures again, to the right side] - will be all "healed" by tomorrow. Gotta love fake stuff.