02 ❀

[princessia]

Who: Elize Lutus and YOU!
Broadcast: Maybe if you'd like?!
Action: Docking Station- in front of all the fleet ships AND on board the SS Huntress (thanks for the invitation, Cullen!)
When: April 13-17

[ Elize has been faring much better since arriving. Of course, she still misses Teepo a great deal. But she can't keep herself locked away, moping in her personnel room for too long. It's lonely in there. Despite how shy she may be, she wants to meet people and make more friends. She's going to try. Although, expect her to possibly get flustered a lot when you speak to her.

The little girl can be found sticking around the docking station, lingering in front of the fleet ships. Unless invited, she won't board your ship. And don't worry, if it looks like you're busy, she won't bother you. She tries not to get into any trouble.

Leave her alone without talking to anyone for too long at the station, she'll grow bored and start to softly sing an original tune from the top of her head: ]

So many stars shining bright ♪
Maybe Teepo's somewhere in one of those specks of light ♪

[ Her voice is soft and amateurish. Not exactly a professional singer, but it seems like she's having fun. She ran out of words, so she's going to start humming another random tune she just came up with.

Feel free to run into her outside of your fleet ship. Or if you just happen to be on the SS Huntress, she's most likely already on board... ]

Comments

[princessia]

[ Clasping her hands in front of her, she nods. ]

Yes. It was... a little scary at first.

[ Really scary, actually. She may have cried several times. ]

[hearsthesea]

That's normal. I was very scared when I was first taken here, too. But it helps to know you're not alone, especially if you have a good crew.

[She's...not going to say the whole thing is good, because it's not. But bearable isn't the worst baseline.]

[princessia]

I know. I've been making a lot of new friends!

[ Just like she always wanted. No one can ever replace Teepo though. It starts to get lonely again whenever she returns to her quarters. ]

[hearsthesea]

That's good! And Cullen is one of them?

[princessia]

Yes. [ Though, she's beginning to quickly see him like a parental figure. Beginning to turn red again, embarrassed. ]

Umm... I want to be friends with the other people on the ship too.

[ She means you too, Shirley. ]

[hearsthesea]

Then I'll be happy to be one of them.

[She smiles warmly at Elize, and stands back up.]

Do you want me to show you more of the ship? Maybe we'll find a few of the others, too.

[princessia]

I would like that very much.

[ She nods and smiles back. Without a word, she reaches to gently hold Shirley's hand, hoping she doesn't mind... ]

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley takes her hand and holds it firmly, shifting a little closer to Elize for comfort.]

Why don't we start with the bunks? Then I can show you my room.

[princessia]

I want to see your room. I bet it's nicer than mine...

[ Well, she did just get her own quarters. It's empty and small. ]

[hearsthesea]

Maybe a little. It's still very small, though, so we might be cramped inside.

[Shirley starts leading the way, still holding onto Elize's hand.]

[princessia]

[ Elize walks alongside the older girl, keeping up the same pace as her. ]

That's fine. [ She'd like to take a look anyway. ] My room's all empty.

[hearsthesea]

[Maybe they can change that...but Shirley doesn't say anything yet.]

You can start filling it if you look around the waystations. You won't be able to get much with the amount of money we get at first, but you should be able to find some clothes you like, or something to play with--here we are!

[They've arrived at the bunk area now, so she leads Elize inside and towards the ladder down to her room.]

[princessia]

...I'll have to look around more for something good.

[ She'd bought several articles of clothing at the station with the allowance she had, though she's not fully satisfied with them. They're plain and nothing like the dresses Jiao brought back for her sometimes. She knows she can't be picky though, especially in their current situation.

When they arrive in the bunk area, she finds that the layout is the same as the one on her ship with individual rooms. She carefully climbs down the ladder, into Shirley's room. ]

[hearsthesea]

I can help you look, if you'd like. It's more fun with two people.

[The room's cramped, of course - even the best upgrades haven't given them any more space so far. There's not much room for anything more than the cot, but Shirley's tried to add some element of character to it anyway with a nice little pillow and some cheap artwork hung on the walls, plus a stack of folded clothes on top of a towel at the foot of the bed should Elize look over there.]

[princessia]

I would like that very much.

[ A bright smile spreads across her face. Shopping with company reminds her a lot of being with Driselle and Milla. She had fun with them and wouldn't mind shopping with a new friend as well.

When she's in the room, she looks around at the artwork on the walls. It really is cramped in here... and her room on the Wonderduck is pretty much the same size. ]

It's still better than my room.

[hearsthesea]

Give it some time. If you'd like, you can have something from in here, too.

[Elize could probably use it more than she does now. Besides, Shirley's done enough odd jobs that she can afford it.]

[princessia]

Oh! I can? [ Surprised, she wasn't expecting Shirley to offer. She doesn't want to take anything that might seem important. ]

Umm... like what?

[hearsthesea]

Anything besides my clothes. They're a little big for you, don't you think?

[Shirley smiles, just to show she's joking.]

[princessia]

Huh? Uh... [ A pause. Then she smiles, attempting to joke right back at her. ]

Then I'll come back for them when I'm taller!

[hearsthesea]

[Ehehe. Shirley's smile brightens - yes!]

I'll make sure to keep it for when you do, then. In the meantime, why don't you choose something else?

[princessia]

[ She already has her eye on some of the artwork on the walls. She'll just point at whichever one has the most pink and floweriness on it. ]

Can I... take one of the pictures? My wall doesn't have anything on it.

[hearsthesea]

Of course. Go right on ahead.

[Shirley gets up and takes down the piece Elize is pointing at, handing it to her gladly.]

This ought to make your room a little more cheerful.

[princessia]

[ Cheap or not, Elize handles the art piece carefully in her hands. Gifts from friends are important. ]

Thank you, Shirley. I'll take good care of it.

[hearsthesea]

[The way Elize holds the artwork makes Shirley even more sure that this was the right thing to do. Ah, if only all their problems were so easy to solve - but this is good, really.]

I know you will. Maybe we can visit your room instead one day, once you've had more time to fill it up.