Mingle 'til you drop

[hearsthesea]

Who: SS Huntress and company
Broadcast: Nope
Action: SS Huntress
When: Post-Shuffle, through the month of May!

[The past few weeks have seen a few losses and a few gains, and now all told the Huntress is at full capacity! The ship itself has more or less recovered from the attack in April and the time since then has been relatively calm, but who knows what May might bring...

In the meantime, it's mingle time.]

Comments

[serves]

[He wants to reply with a sharp yes, because that usually gets people to go away even if they don't believe him. But it's Shirley, and so Cullen takes a steadying breath before looking at her.]

Just a small headache.

[It takes a moment too long, but he musters up a thin smile. She needn't worry.]

[hearsthesea]

[Well, she is one of the lab support people on the ship!]

I can get some medicine for you, if you'd like.

[serves]

I've yet to find a medicine that helps. [And yet...] But I suppose I have nothing to lose by trying.

[hearsthesea]

I'll be back in a moment, then.

[Shirley heads off as quickly as she can without making too much noise - surely that would be no help for a headache, after all. She returns a few minutes later with a bottle in one hand and a pill in another.]

Here, try one of these.

[serves]

What is it? [He takes it in his hand.]

[hearsthesea]

It's medicine for pain relief. I don't think it's the sort of thing either of us are used to, but it should work.

[That or she's been led very astray by her augment as well as the reading she's done...well, maybe the books can be trusted more anyway.]

[serves]

[He'll try anything at this point. He knows it'll get worse before it gets better, of course. He takes the pills.]

Thank you, Shirley. And how are you doing?

[hearsthesea]

I've been fine. It's been a quiet month...although I don't think that's anything to complain about, after how it began.

[serves]

And your magic?

[hearsthesea]

I didn't tell you? I'm sorry, I got it back a little while ago. Somebody took it, and then they returned it.

[serves]

That's good to hear, though I'm.... hoping the whole matter was some mistake, if someone has the ability to take magic away entirely.

[hearsthesea]

It wasn't a mistake, but it's nothing to worry about. I don't think it will happen again.

[She's satisfied with that, anyway. Call it karma.]

[serves]

Who was it?

[JUST WONDERING...]

[hearsthesea]

I don't know their name, but they're able to change their appearance. Apparently they need to borrow others' powers, but they'll be asking people to volunteer theirs temporarily from now on.

[Sorry, Cullen.]

[serves]

You seem very relaxed about all of this. [Cullen doesn't trust it. Or maybe his head just hurts.]

[hearsthesea]

Whoever it was, they were in need and desperate. I don't want to fault them for that. Besides...

[And she sighs.]

I've taken away people's power, once before - but I did it to many more than just one person. I don't feel right getting angry at him when he's only done the same thing to me.

[serves]

[She's too kind. She's also a young girl, and Cullen reels in anything else he might have to say. But you bet he'll be keeping an eye out.]

If you're sure.

[hearsthesea]

I'm sure. If it becomes a problem, I can take care of it myself.

[She is a young woman with serious responsibilities, okay! Even if she is the youngest on the ship.]

[serves]

I believe you. [But if he can help, he would. In a heartbeat.]

You're a kind young lady, Shirley.

[hearsthesea]

Ah...

[Stop embarrassing her, Cullen.]

I want to be fair. That's the best way to go about things, isn't it?

[serves]

[Even with the pounding in his head, he manages a chuckle.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you.

[hearsthesea]

It's fine.

[Don't do it again, though!]

...In any case, thank you.

[serves]

And thank you, for your kindness. Don't lose that.

[He rubs his temple. Maybe he's feeling a little better, it's hard to tell.]

[hearsthesea]

I hope to.

[His action catches her attention, though, so she changes the subject.]

Do you want to lie down?

[serves]

[He wants to say no, that he's fine, but what use is there in being stubborn when she already knows he's ill? After a moment of consideration, he sighs.]

I suppose I should.

[hearsthesea]

You should get to your bed then. If you need medicine again, I can give you more later.

[serves]

Thank you, Shirley. I'll be sure to remember that.

[Even if it might not really help, he's grateful.]