arrival

[ragingbanner]

Who: Bruce Banner + anyone else!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: SS Caprine
When: June 18

[broadcast; video]

[He's managed to make the transition to the Caprine without too much difficulty, but now that's he's "settling in", Bruce is realizing just what being on a ship long term means.]

So, this is it. We just play along with this show, act like nothing is wrong, and hope we eventually get to our destination? That's optimistic. How do you manage to live on ships like this for so long? I've never- This is... it doesn't seem like a good idea.

[He smiles uneasily. He has to resist the urge to pick at his own body, making him twitch a bit. At least he hasn't had any issues so far?]

The food isn't very good either.

[Action on the SS Caprine]

[At least he's used to lab work! Bruce is relieved that is assignment is something he's familiar with (although he did manage to fly a ship once...) and he spends a good amount of time poking around at the ship's equipment, testing both what it can do and what knowledge seems to come to him, because he definitely hasn't worked on a space ship like this before. Or worked around people this casually either. Not to mention the enclosed space makes him very aware of how tight it would be if he were bigger.

That's a great thought.]

Comments

[ragingbanner]

[For a second he struggles to settle on an expression. He's somewhere between sympathy for her apparently not feeling happy with herself and the butterflies in his stomach that flutter whenever someone talks about who he really is. He barely resists looking around him to find some kind of answer or distraction.]

What do you mean?

[What! You mean she can tell he's forcing his answers? No way!]

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Ah, no, only a (un?)fortunate turn of phrase. Sansa knows that for herself, it's easy to slip on a mask. Perhaps it isn't for others. She knows little enough about Bruce to be able to gauge whether or not he'll be good at playing the ratings game here in the Fleet. )

For me, I find it easy to pretend. I spent a long while having to pretend to be loyal to someone I wasn't to stay alive. It is no different to pretend to be able to please those who watch us. I don't think it's the only way, though.

[ragingbanner]

[Accidental or not, her words are right on target. Bruce is on the paranoid side of things, but Sansa's steady words are actually doing a lot to keep him calm.]

If there are some things that you can't pretend to do, what would you recommend?

[It's a hard question to answer and he's not giving her enough information, but Bruce is morbidly curious. He wants to know what she'll say.]

[theladyofwinterfell]

Well, if you can't pretend, I think it's best to keep quiet. You can't betray yourself if you don't say anything at all, at least not in my experience.

( It had been a painful lesson to learn but Sansa had learned. )

[ragingbanner]

[ Ah, he can sympathize with that. ]

Sometimes not saying anything doesn't work out the way I want it to. Usually I- I remove myself from the situation.

[ Except he can't. Not this time. ]

[theladyofwinterfell]

If it's an option, it's a good one to take. Unfortunately here in the Fleet, it can be difficult to get away.

( Sansa sighs a bit. She wants to help, desperately, but she doesn't know how to help in ways other than what works for her. )

You can remain on your ship and choose not to go down to the planets. That eliminates some risk? But it also prevents you from getting nicer food or nicer clothing.

[ragingbanner]

Actually, I think staying in one spot might... be more of a risk.

[He almost stops himself from saying that, but then says it anyway. There's no way to avoid it.]

Have you tried? To get away?

[Through the shuttles or anything else. It's worth asking.]

[theladyofwinterfell]

No, I've not tried to get away. My world is much more dangerous than the Fleet, I'm afraid, so I am happy to remain here for the time being. It's much safer.

( She pauses for a moment, thinking. )

Others may have tried to escape, though. Perhaps we should ask around?

[ragingbanner]

Safer.

[That's a thought he's been tossing around, wondering how safe the Fleet is compared to everything else he's seen.]

Maybe we should. Some people must want to get back to wherever they came from. This just seems... off.

[theladyofwinterfell]

I'm sure plenty of people want to go home. I would be willing to help anyone who wanted to, it's simply...

( Sansa pauses for a moment, uncertain if she should say anything. )

I don't want to go back. It's better here for me than anyone else. I think that makes me a coward.