First Breath Mingle!

[detectivewonder]

Who: The crew of the First Breath + visitors.
Broadcast: Nope!
Action: Aboard the First Breath or in station docking bays.
When: 4/25-4/31.

[Every week, regular as clockwork, Tim has a new plan to up ratings - although he doesn't put it like that to anyone out loud. This week, it's a bonding activity for the whole crew - painting their shuttles bright, custom colors. For his part, he doesn't have a color scheme in mind - he's focused on detail work, adding snarling mouths to their front, and impressive fictionalized kill tallies on their sides. If they might face raiders again, every little thing they can do to make themselves more impressive could coutn for a lot...]

Comments

[detectivewonder]

What? No! Why?

[howcanihelp]

[ Wow, that was emphatic. It surprises her a little, actually. ]

She said that after the attack, she felt like... she wasn't really in a position to lead the way she wanted, more or less.

[ she fidgets with the hem of her sleeve ]

She, ah. Asked me to be her replacement.

[detectivewonder]

Well... she made a good choice, anyway.

[howcanihelp]

[ Steffa blushes a little, but grins ]

You think so? I hope she did. I agreed, of course. It would hardly be the most daunting command role I've taken, but... it still makes me nervous.

[detectivewonder]

It seems a lot less symbolic now that we know we might come under attack.

Still. Welcome to the club, Captain.

[howcanihelp]

[ Steffa laughs. "Commander" she can handle, but "Captain" is strange and unsettling. Go figure. It seems ridiculous even to her. ]

Thank you, Captain.

I have to admit, this is more authority than I had as a Warden and less than I had as Commander of the Grey, so I'm... a bit at a loss. What should I even be doing for my crew?

[detectivewonder]

Make sure they can keep their heads in a crisis, and they know to listen to you when one hits. That's... really, that's about it.

[howcanihelp]

Ah, so it's very much like being the Warden-Commander then.

[ That's a joke, technically. She's... not expecting anyone to get it, though. Anders is pretty much the only one who would. ]

Well, we're all pretty responsible. So far, it bodes well, for them listening if I have to give orders. Not that they'll just listen to me, but we don't really... do much that requires giving orders if it's not necessary.

[detectivewonder]

Before the attack, I think I'd given exactly two orders. And that was just trying to keep crew disagreements to a minimum.

[howcanihelp]

Being a leader in a crisis is... not my favorite experience in the world. But I have that experience, and Krista trusts me, so... [ she shrugs ] Here we are.

I would've expected her to give it to Hiro, honestly. I think he'd do well with it. But he's First Mate, and I trust him, so it's nice to have that backup, at least.

[detectivewonder]

Hiro... could do it if he had to. But if he can still be a kid, we should let him. Most people don't get a second chance at that.

[howcanihelp]

True. He deserves it if anyone does.

[ Tim, are we speaking from experience?

Because Steffa feels you, if so. ]

[detectivewonder]

[Very much so. And he knows just enough about Steffa to be sure she gets that subtext, too.]

With how little control we have over things, I wonder why they bother to name Captains. But it's good to have you in the ranks with us.

[howcanihelp]

Probably so there's someone to blame if something goes terribly wrong.

[ she smiles wryly - she's enough used to being used as a scapegoat for things she couldn't control that it's not too hard to joke about it.

Ah, the life of the Hero of Ferelden. ]

Well. I'm... Glad to be in the ranks, I think. I'm glad you'rein them with me, at any rate.

[ Oh Maker's breath, that was awful. She can do better than that, surely? Perhaps? ...If she's lucky? ]

[detectivewonder]

Thanks.

[He flashes her a grin on reflex, flattered. It's good to be appreciated. But he doesn't think anything more of it, yet.]

The only problem is, now I have to give up my plans to poach you onto my own crew.

[howcanihelp]

[ FFFF. With that grin. UGH. She may flush, just a little, at his comment, and grin back. ]

Well, I suppose if you ask very nicely, I may consider it.

[detectivewonder]

I couldn't do that to your crew. You're out of my league now.

[howcanihelp]

I would be loathe to leave them, certainly.

I wouldn't say I'm out of your league, though. Perhaps just... more of a challenge.

[detectivewonder]

Well, who'd take over? Krista again? We agreed we wouldn't want to do that to Hiro... besides, this way we have two ships conspiring with each other. A fleet within a fleet. Wingmen.

[Yeah, he's missing the point.]

[howcanihelp]

Finrod is responsible and quite likely more experienced than all of us combined. I think if it came to it, he'd be the one I asked.

[ she ducks her head and grins ]

However, I will admit that having our ships in cahoots is a good tactical choice.

[ GOSH TIM DOES SHE HAVE TO TWIRL HER HAIR AROUND HER FINGER WHILE SHE SAYS IT? ]

[detectivewonder]

Haven't met him, so I don't know how well I'd work with him. But yeah. Cahoots are good.

[Honestly there's only about a 60% chance he'd notice even that.]

[howcanihelp]

[ You make this difficult, Tim. Here she is and she's only got the most basic flirting levels unlocked and you're a complete failure. Zero levels in flirting. Negative levels. ]

If we're in cahoots, though, we should probably have an official meeting. Work out our official tactical responses to various situations.

Among other things...?

[ Yeah, she's reached about the limit of what she can do without getting a little awkward. LOOK SHE JUST. WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE'S A CHANCE HERE.

PLS NOTICE HER, SENPAI. ]

[detectivewonder]

Sure. Full meetings of the crew, or... just us?

[Oh. Oh. As soon as he says it, he sees it, too. And it isn't as though his mind hadn't gone there, before Steph came back and they sorted things out. I mean, she's a blonde with combat experience named Steoh who says 'cahoots.' That couldn't be more his type if it was written in letters of fire somewhere. But... well, Steph.

But he hasn't actually said or done anything he shouldn't. Yet. Even a captain's table meeting could still just be a meeting, and not the D-word.

Alarmed recognition flashes across his face for a moment, and then, slowly, he flushes. But he stands by what he said. This... this is fine.]

[howcanihelp]

[ Oh. OH NO. oh no oh no oh no. He-- didn't want to flirt with her? Wasn't trying to flirt with her. ANDRASTE'S ASS WHY IS THIS SO COMPLICATED OH GOSH. ]

Either one, really. [ said quickly and very very obviously covering for the fact that she was flirting and now thinks that he is not interested. She's just going to... shift awkwardly and rock back on her heels. ] Wh-whichever you'd prefer. Or none! We could always just talk over the comms, if necessary.

[detectivewonder]

No! I mean, that's... not necessary. The meetings are a good idea. Uh... whether or not anyone else is present? It's fine.

[The meetings, anyway. Maybe not the - is he being clear about this? Since he's not managing clarity inside his own head, it seems maybe a little unlikely.]