Meanwhile on the loveboat (mingle log)

[destinyembrace]

Who: Crew of the Blue Fish, anyone who's been invited, and any visitors! So basically everyone
Broadcast: Nope
Action: On the Blue Fish, mostly probably in the kitchen and the mess hall because PARTY
When: Today~

[If there's anything this freaking ship loves, it's food. Somehow, a dinner got planned to welcome the new member. And then other people got invited. And then the dinner pretty much turned into a party with a lot of food. Needless to say, Kairi has been very busy preparing food all the day for this.

There's a lot of meat, per the captain's request. But there's also veggies, some fruit, pasta, and even brownies! There are also two pizza pies. Basically, Kairi just cooked a bunch of food and hoped it would be enough, as she had no idea how many people were coming.

SO DIG IN, BLUE FISH AND GUESTS. Also mingle and be social and all that jazz!]

Comments

[killedwithlove]

[Cole doesn't live on this ship, isn't good friend with any of the humans on the ships and he doesn't eat, so what he's doing there is a bit of a mystery until you realise he's come because of the cats.

He's taken a small amount of meat and is sitting in a corner, hand feeding cats.]

[ex_frolics736]

Cole. Do you like cats?

[ Merrill's finished eating and wandered away from listening in at conversations at the table. She'd thought about going home, but instead she sits down and crosses her legs and watches Cole feed the animals. ]

[killedwithlove]

I like most animals. They have simple needs.

[He looks at her, but it clearly takes a few moments for him to place who she is.]

Oh. I'm so sorry. You should never bring us across, it changes us.

[ex_frolics736]

Us... spirits?

[ She's confused, doesn't realize he's reading her, Audacity's soft whispers and her own determination, piecing a jigsaw of glass together with each cut only adding more power even as she bled for it. ]

[killedwithlove]

[He nods.]

There were other ways. You were Audacious, and the world bled for it.

[There's a thin shiver down his spine.]

Lambert said I did blood magic too. Killed them to keep myself here, but I didn't. It wasn't like that. I thought death was the only Compassion in the world.

[forcemageure]

[ Andraste's blessed backside, honestly. ]

Cole,

[ The long o lasts for two entire exaggerated seconds, the vowel equivalent of tsk-tsk, etc. ]

What have we said about slapping invited guests with their own thoughts before acquiring consent?

[ Uh, 'nothing,' is what has currently been said on the subject. This addresses that point, at least. ]

[killedwithlove]

Um... nothing. I don't understand.

[He looks up at Hawke and blinks, the image of innocence. And then scritches Slay under the chin some more.]

I haven't slapped anyone.

[save_the_souls]

[Hey he recognizes Cole! Eventually Allen wanders over there, kneeling down at smiling at the scene of Cole hand feeding the cats.]

Hello Cole. It's nice to see you again.

[killedwithlove]

Hello.

[He clearly doesn't remember the name, but he remembers the face. Or maybe he remembers the soul.]

I came to visit Slay and Alicia.

[save_the_souls]

The cats? Oh, that's nice- I bet they love the attention.

[killedwithlove]

Slay does. Alicia doesn't as much, but he's getting used to me.

[save_the_souls]

Well, keep feeding her meat and I'm sure she'll warm up.

[killedwithlove]

He. Alicia is a boy.

He just needs to get used to me being here. Most animals like my presence.

[destinyembrace]

[In fact, Kairi had snuck off with some of the meat as well to give to them. Whether Hawke had fed them or not, she didn't know, but they deserved a little treat during the party, too.

Imagine her surprise that someone, a stranger and a non Blue Fish crew member, was already feeding them. But she smiles anyway; it's a sweet sight, and the cats seem to be happy.]

Looks like someone else had the same idea as me.

[killedwithlove]

Slay asked.

[Cole is clearly very comfortable with the cats, especially Slay.]

You... burn, brilliant, beautiful... are you a spirit? Or are you like Manolo?

[destinyembrace]

[She takes it as "Slay was begging". As she tosses her meat towards the cats, she 'tsks' at Slay.]

No begging for food, you. I know Hawke feeds you two well enough.

[Her head snaps up, partly in confusion and partly in surprise as Cole speaks again. That wasn't... expected. And there's a long moment where she says nothing, brow slightly furrowed.]

I don't know who Manolo is, but I'm definitely not a spirit.

[Wait. Is he sensing...?]

[killedwithlove]

He didn't beg. He asked me.

[He looks at her, quiet and peaceful and serene and expectant.

And... maybe his eyes are glowing slightly as he basks in her presence?]

You feel like- He's the same. Good. Fundamentally unshadowed. Just... good.

[destinyembrace]

[She'll revisit that bit about Slay in a moment. Right now, she's a tad more focused on the other thing.

Unshadowed/i>, he said? Then he IS sensing what she thinks he is. Suddenly, she feels self-conscious. She's never had to explain this to anyone yet, not even her crew mates.]

Can you... sense what's in other people's hearts? I'm... if it's what I think it is, you're sensing the Light in my heart.

[Her voice has dropped considerably as she's gone on. Clearly she doesn't want people overhearing this.] Most people have a mix of Light and Darkness in their hearts. Some have a lot of Light, while some have a lot of Darkness. But there's always at least a little bit of the other in their hearts. That's the case for almost everyone. Except me. Well, me and six other girls.

[killedwithlove]

I feel hurt. Harm. Memories. Thoughts. People.

You feel a bit like Manolo did. Not the same. He was... brighter.

[He doesn't know about this Dark and Light. He knows emotions. Compassion, Despair, Rage, Justice, those are things he understands.]

You miss the islands, though the parts you loved best are with you. That's good.

[moonbeams]

[Usagi's been watching this for a moment, probably hovering just a bit of a distance away before she decides to walk over and crouch down curiously. With a smile, she finally chirps her greeting.]

You must really like them! [The cats.]

[killedwithlove]

Like who?

[Intuitive insinuation of subject of statement missed.]

[moonbeams]

[Usagi blinks, momentarily confused as to what this guy missed, but after a quick recovery and a cheerful smile she nods towards the cats.]

Those guys! Hehe, If I had Luna here I would be doing the same. You must be a really nice guy if you take care of animals this way.

[killedwithlove]

Oh, Slay and Alicia. Alicia is very shy about people still, but Slay likes that I know where to scratch him.

I like helping people. And animals. Animals are easier to help, usually.

[moonbeams]

[Usagi nods, agreeing.]

It feels nice to help people! I like taking care of pets... but Luna's usually the one that takes care of me really, haha [She smiles a bit wistfully as she reaches out towards one of the cats, in case it feels like approaching. She really does miss Luna, all of her lecturing included.]

[killedwithlove]

Animals don't need much to be happy. People... people are complicated and need lots of different things to make them happy.

Nugs are easy to make happy.