Mingle-ingle

[hollystrike]

Who: Crew and guests of the Vanquish
Broadcast: Probably not!
Action: Vanquish
When: The month of June


[It's been a while since we've had one of these! With two new crew members, it's probably time.]

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha drops her hand to scratch the cat's cheek.]

I thought we had a deal. You don't beg or start acting entitled, and I sneak you treats.

[That to the cat. To Katie:]

I think you're technically right. Whatever that counts for in space.

[hollystrike]

[She grins at the exchange. Licorice, you've been told. Katie opens the cupboards on the hunt for more fish, speaking easily as she does.]

A bit hard to have a noon when you have no idea where your sun even is, I suppose. How have you been?

[Because she doesn't see many people actually on the Vanquish, all things considered. Everyone has lives.]

[outstandingbalance]

[They do. It's something Natasha appreciates about their ship, really. They do have their own lives. When they have had to work together, they've been competent, ready, but they're not so close that it gets restrictive.]

Oh. Not much changes around here, does it? You take the ups with the downs.

But I'm all right with it.

[hollystrike]

I'm treating it as an overly long vacation, myself. Perhaps I'll take up painting. You're not too attached to the cargo bay the way it is, are you?

[Here, cat, have some mashed sardines and quit your complaining.]

[outstandingbalance]

[That gets a chuckle out of Natasha—both the question, and the way that Licorice digs into the sardine.]

Not even slightly. Might stop in to see what you're doing with it from time to time, though.

[hollystrike]

I'll have to make sure I do a good job, then. [She reaches down to scratch Licorice between the ears.] Any requests?

[outstandingbalance]

Just don't get too bedazzled. Otherwise... I'll leave it at the artist's discretion.

[Amused, but not discouraging.]

[hollystrike]

I'll be a hundred per cent as tasteful as I'm capable of being.

[This probably isn't the most reassuring. But Katie does love art, so it won't look too garish.]

[outstandingbalance]

[Not the most reassuring, no. But Natasha isn't too worried about it—not invested in the cargo bay as it is?]

That is a very tactful way to put it.

[hollystrike]

I thought so. Tact is very useful in my line of work, I use it often.

[...well. Only with small children. Sometimes. She's never getting promoted.]

[outstandingbalance]

Is it? [Maybe they never grew close, but it's somehow not a word Natasha would use for her broadly. In specific? Sure. Ironically? Absolutely.]

In most lines of work, really.

[hollystrike]

[Katie very rarely says what she means. It's one of those things people pick up on after a while.]

Oh, I suppose that's a fair point. I wonder what sort of professions would pay you to be brutally honest at all times.

[outstandingbalance]

Not many. Especially not if you're being brutally honest to everyone.

Most of us have a boss to answer to.

[hollystrike]

[She makes a face.] Bosses. Perhaps I should be a boss. [...Katie, you're a captain.] Though I suppose it's no fun being rude to everyone you're ordering around, either. They'd all leave. Not very efficient.

[outstandingbalance]

Seems a little late to wonder that, all things considered. Captain.

[Pointedly.]

Is that why you're keeping such a low profile?

[hollystrike]

[Grin.] Whoever said anything about keeping a low profile? I just keep a sideways one.

Besides, it's not too late if I've never been rude to any of my crew. I'm the gentlest of souls.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll take your word for that. I'd hate to disrespect our captain with skepticism.

[hollystrike]

Disrespect away. [She waves a hand.] I'm extremely honest, after all. It would be a shame if others felt they couldn't be the same.

[outstandingbalance]

I can respect honesty in a person. [It's a good look. On other people.] If I come up with something, I'll let you know.