thespaceopera: (Atroma)
Voices from Heaven ([personal profile] thespaceopera) wrote in [community profile] driftfleet2018-10-19 06:55 pm

when you wish upon a star...

Suddenly, the SS Wonderduck and the SS Starstruck begin to move on their own... slowly, calmly, they drift to into the same direction, away from the other ships of the fleet. Slowly, they move until they're side by side.

Over the two ships' intercoms, an old song begins to play. And that is all the warning there is before the engines engage -- full speed ahead.

Like a pair of rockets, the ships torpedo forward. As they move, they start circling around each other, like a synchronized dance. They move with incredible grace and skill, far more masterfully than the average pilot augment. Except, each time that they pass each other, they clearly get closer to one another.

And closer...

And closer...

No matter what buttons the crews press, no matter how much they might panic, nothing is going to stop the inevitable. On the final pass, it becomes clear there's not enough room between them to avoid a collision. Any impact alarms on the bridge are blaring at full blast. Any other ships watching will not have time to attempt any sort of interception.

Tiiime after tiiime... ♪

CRASH!!

As if to shield spectators' eyes from the horrors of ships colliding in space, there's a blinding light upon impact -- and once it gradually fades, the results can be clearly seen by all: There is no wreckage. Nothing is broken. But where there were once two ships... now there's only one: streamlined and shiny, but still somehow a little like the the former Wonderduck And Starstruck...

-----------

On the bridge, the crews of the SS Starstruck and the SS Wonderduck arrive, along with the usual pop! of Atroma confetti and ridiculous jingle music upon a successful shuffle. Sitting in the captain's chair is a round cake, just large enough for everyone to have one slice. There's a single candle, and the following message scribbled on top in yellow icing:

"Congratulations - SS Starduck!
Happy Fusion!"





... What, did you think you were going to die? Sorry about that.
survivalistcookbook: (well shit)

[personal profile] survivalistcookbook 2018-10-21 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
[-racing down the hallway to the cargo bay, locked into frantic focus with the howl of impact alarms and if he can just get to a shuttle, if he can just, almost there, almost there and he tumbles still at a full tilt sprint onto the bridge, crutches and prosthetic leg clattering on the polished floor as he rolls to a stop and just lays there, breathing hard, staring at the intact and almost-familiar ceiling.

He realizes, dazedly, that he isn't dead. And that he's not alone on the bridge. Slowly, condescendingly, confetti drifts down onto his face.

The unfamiliar voice breaks the silence, and he turns his head in that direction, then silently toward the cake.]


. . . seems like it. [He pushes himself up to sitting, gathering his nearest crutch and twisting the cuff back into alignment with the grip.] Want me to start some coffee?
appletart: (it takes some words to make an action)

[personal profile] appletart 2018-10-21 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ She's still a little stunned, so she accidentally ends up just... staring at him for a second, trying to piece together what the heck is going on and why they're both just... here. But she snaps out of it! And she quickly hurries to help him with his crutches while they talk. ]

Oh! Coffee does sound really good right now! Would you like me to help?
survivalistcookbook: (Glancing up)

[personal profile] survivalistcookbook 2018-10-21 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Ah- thanks. I guess another set of hands never hurts.

[Eugene's usually a lot better at staying on his feet, and he levers himself back up easily once he has everything in order, straightening himself out and taking an inconspicuous deep breath. They're fine. Just . . . in a different ship, it seems like. For some reason. But they're fine. That's a good place to start from.

Balance steadier in more than one sense,he offers his hand.]


Sorry - Eugene Woods. Cook aboard the Starstruck.
Edited 2018-10-21 05:55 (UTC)
appletart: (it takes a thought to make a word)

[personal profile] appletart 2018-10-21 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ She smiles and shakes his head. ]

Escha Malier! Lab support and captain on the Wonderduck. Nice to meet you!

[ ... Hold up. ]

Soooo... Starstruck and Wonderduck... [ She looks at the cake again. ] Starduck. ... Oh my gosh!
survivalistcookbook: (preoccupied)

[personal profile] survivalistcookbook 2018-11-01 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
-Starduck.

[He looks over her shoulder at the cake, re-reading the name cheerily frosted onto the cake.]

You have gotta be kidding me.
appletart: (it takes some good to make it hurt)

[personal profile] appletart 2018-11-01 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
I, um, I'm definitely not kidding you.

[ Looong pause. ]

Well! It's... it's kind of cute! In a way. Even if it doesn't make sense? It's like... a constellation! Stars in the shape of a duck! Maybe? ... Or an actual duck that swims in space?

[ She's trying to be kind about it? at least?? ]
survivalistcookbook: (the hell you say)

[personal profile] survivalistcookbook 2018-11-01 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
I just almost died to the soundtrack of Cyndi Lauper, and now I'm on a ship called the Starduck.

[His delivery is so flat it's almost easy to miss the rueful curl at the corner of his mouth, the what the hell is even happening right now wryness when he snorts. At least the captain is trying to keep a sunny disposition about it.]

I mean. Not that it's that much weirder than anything else that happens around here.
appletart: (it takes a thought to make a word)

LMFAO i want you to know i cracked up

[personal profile] appletart 2018-11-01 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
Cyndi Lauper...? Is that who was singing?

[ Is she part of Atroma? So many questions! ]
survivalistcookbook: (pic#9219252)

[personal profile] survivalistcookbook 2018-11-01 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
Uh- yeah.

[He blinks, momentarily thrown off-balance by the sheer unfamiliarity in her voice.]

Do you not have her where you come from? Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - that Cyndi Lauper?
appletart: (it takes the dust to have it polished)

[personal profile] appletart 2018-11-01 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ She shakes her head. ]

Not that I know of. I'm from a pretty small town, though... Maybe she never came to Colseit... [ Smile! ] Girls do want to have fun, though! That's pretty true.
survivalistcookbook: (grin down)

[personal profile] survivalistcookbook 2018-11-01 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
[The enthusiasm's infectious, and he chuffs a quiet laugh, turning them in the direction of the rest of the ship's amenities - kitchen with all of his supplies hopefully still included.]

Probably why it's a classic. Did you want to get that coffee?
appletart: (Default)

[personal profile] appletart 2018-11-02 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Yes! Of course.

[ She follows him down the hallway, getting a good look around in the meanwhile. ]

Wow, it really is like our ships just turned into one... I recognize some of the Wonderduck's things, but it's all so much shinier now!