driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Krista & YOU
Broadcast: Video!
Action: For all library visitors!
When: NOW?

[the fleet's resident, soft-spoken teen goth shows up on screen... backed by several bookcases filled with books! and maybe a couch back there. she waves, awkwardly.]

Uh, hey guys. Good news, the Bishop's library actually made it through the whole space-fight thing pretty well. The electronic tracking system is still down, but that's why people invented pencils and stuff.

[she gives the camera a funny look.] --No, actually, I'm pretty sure it's... the other way around. ... So nevermind.

[she holds up a very... charred-looking book. it had a red cover, once.]

The bad news is that "The Romantic History of the Galactiplastic Sector 9" totally bit it. So, uh. If there was a waiting list, we're gonna have to put this one on hold for a while. Alternatively, if anyone would like to play a little funeral tune, now's the time.

[she just. drops it flat on the floor. it's dead to her.]

So, um, for everyone who doesn't know... Me and a bunch of other people around here have been putting together a little library in the spare room on the Bishop... The ship's still kind of a mess from the fight, but anyone's welcome to come in and read or check out books, or whatever. We take donations and basically whatever stuff people bring us.

And we've got beanbags. And little lights that go "wowowo..." [accompanied with a little finger-wiggle and a totally straight face.] So if you're into that. This might be your jam.

---

[alternatively, if anyone comes to visit the library--it's a personnel room that's been outfitted with lots of bookcases, a couch, a table covered in archival materials, and several beanbags that you can drag around and sit in...

the collection is still small, but there's a little something for everybody! fiction, nonfiction, history, magic, charts, maps, comic books, whatever. Krista's around, probably putting books back on a shelf.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her grin comes out again. She can't help it. She's charmed. If you're going to read trashy romance novels, why not own it? Why be embarrassed by it? She absolutely can't imagine.]

[As it is, she's helpless: she hands the book back to Cassandra with a little bow, holding off on the torment for at least three whole seconds before:]

Do they have a large tawdry romance section here? Are you going to check it all out?

[Cassandra takes the book back and holds it close to herself. There's no fear that Mal will try to take it back, but she'd rather not give any sort of temptation. And she feels like she needs something to hold onto. Even if it's the most damning piece of evidence with regards to the secret she'd rather Mal not know; at least it is in her hands instead of his.]

[She sighs as he continues with the questions. She can see there's going to be no end to his mocking.]

I doubt I will have that much time to read.

Really? Not a good multitasker, are you?

[This asked as she inspects her nails, no longer meeting Cassandra's eyes, in order to give her a bit of a break. Eventually she's got to stop blushing, right? Mal is pretty sure you can't blush forever.]

I should think, with all the time and space we've got out here, reading would be a priority, if you're into that kind of thing. Unless you're concerned about ratings?

[You just watch her blush forever, okay!!]

[No, actually, that's not a thing that will happen. Mal is no longer directly teasing her about the book and she can go back to being irritated at his cavalier attitude and smug disposition. Gradually, at any rate. Deeper shades of red fading back into faint pink.]

I could care less about "ratings." I would think an engineer, or at the very least a corporal, would have taken notice at the state of this fleet and the cause of its disrepair.

This fleet was fortunate to not experience casualties this time, but I will not leave it to chance that it remains that way. You're a fool if you believe that an unknown enemy will not return or that they will not strike harder the next time that they do.

There are far more important things that all of us should be doing in the coming days and weeks than reading books.

[Slowly her smirk changes. Doesn't disappear, of course, because a smirk is the default expression for Mal. But it changes, her eyes narrowing, her lips going thinner. She does, of course, recognize the damage to the fleet. But she still considers this a temporary stopover. She believes that her sergeant will find a way home.]

[Maybe she shouldn't be so certain. But she believes in her people. Not that she's about to tell Cassandra that.]

So it's not a matter of being a bad multitasker. You just can't sit still, can you.

[There's something vaguely approving in her voice, now.]

I cannot predict how long I will be here, but how ever long that is, I will serve to the best of my abilities. It would be irresponsible otherwise.

[Duty has been something part of Cassandra's life longer than it has not at this point. She believes in doing the right thing. And that so happens to be helping those who cannot necessarily help themselves. Would that she could, Cassandra would have all those who are not built for the battlefield to be moved away from the frontline to the Marsiva where they would be be safer while those that can take command of these smaller ships.]

[But that is not within her power, so she will do what she can and help in other ways.]

[She's is watchful towards Mal now, however, gauging his reaction. She can tolerate being mocked for her choice in literature, but something like this is too important and would very easily make or break his character in her eyes.]

[Truthfully, Mal hadn't thought of it that way until now. She really hasn't been taking this place seriously. It's been a grand adventure, really, the way she just showed up with knowledge she could never have comprehended until now, the way Polly showed up with her; like destiny.]

[She doesn't really believe in destiny. But for a few days, she could pretend as though she did. Now, with the way Cassandra is speaking, with the way she's looking at her, Mal feels a bit foolish, as though she's missed something huge right in front of her. There are people here in danger, just as there are at home.]

[She isn't, yet, as dedicated to the cause of the fleet as she is to the cause of home. But she can see Cassandra's point, all the same, and straightens up a bit as a result.]

You make a good point. I've been focusing on getting home. There are . . . people who need me there. But in the meantime . . .

[She shrugs.]

Well, why not follow your shining example and keep busy?

[Cassandra rolls her eyes at Mal's answer, but it's not as harsh and critical as before. She won't give him her direct approval, not after his attempt to embarrass her as much as humanly possible, but this is still fairly close to it. Perhaps there's hope for Mal after all and he might eventually turn out to be somewhat respectable in the end.]

That is the first sensible thing I have heard you say since we met, but I won't be impressed until I see you follow through.

I wouldn't expect you to be.

[There's a measure of respect in her voice, even if it's not a heavy measure. She has no desire to suck up, but once she's taken a measure of someone and decided they're worth paying attention to, she doesn't tend to let up paying attention to them. Frankly, she hopes that Cassandra's ready for it.]

Like I said before. You will be.

[There's probably no way Cassandra could possibly be ready for it, lbr.]

I suppose stranger things have happened, [she says as she returns to her spot on the floor.]