✧ — passionfruit green tea.

[boba]

Comments

[transmit]

[ dating is scary… it is probably a coincidence that he glances over his shoulder toward thorns. do they make eye contact?

regardless, his answer doesn't change. he isn't seeing anyone as work keeps him busy. why the interest? is romance in the air around the ship? he starts prodding for details. give them to him. ]

[oversea]

[ they do but thorns does that thing where you try to pretend you weren't just staring at someone. but they complain it's the opposite–being away from land more often than not means there's less opportunities to find it. there are hookups, but since the crew is now much smaller than it once was, there are less chances for it to happen...

thorns goes back to directing where the cargo should go. he got the answer he wanted. ]

[transmit]

[ thorns that one crewmember we used as a plot device is going to come back to haunt you

gossip really is universal, though. back on rhodes it's romance gossip, and now it's romance gossip on la conquista. but, they do eventually move out of range as elysium heads toward the guest rooms where the rhodes operators are usually stowed. out of sheer curiosity, he starts asking about thorns. how about their captain? has he shown interest in anyone? ]

[oversea]

thorns is not aware that guy is a problem in this psl so it's an issue for later.

they explain that he started wearing a liberi feather seemingly out of nowhere one day, but he took it off when they arrived here. they look at elysium with some slight confusion, and one says that they actually assumed it came from elysium...

thorns is unaware of any of this is going on......... his job. ]

[transmit]

[ …

elysium goes through a full internal crisis but manages to clarify that he is not the one who gave thorns the feather. somehow, this only makes the rumours worse! he's the only liberi anyone ever sees thorns getting cozy with, so now they're determined to get to the bottom of it… mysterious. no one has a life on this goddamn ship. news of elysium being single also seems to be a topic, apparently.

he waddles back to his room. sits down. he stares at a single spot on the wall until thorns presumably comes to retrieve him. this is the most uncomfortable he's ever been in his life? so much for getting comfortable. he has so many questions. ]

[oversea]

[ thorns is completely unaware of any of this since he didn't hear any part of the conversation after confirming that elysium is single. life is bliss when you are ignorant.

but he does eventually pop in to check on elysium. he was good and greeted the other operators as well, who all commented that was the first time he said hi to them first... wow, what becoming a captain does to a person... ]

Elysium?

[transmit]

Thorns…

[ why was he left alone for so long with his thoughts. he snaps back to attention, looking almost sheepish. ]

I'm starting to think your crew has too much free time.

[ the irony of elysium of all people saying this ]

[oversea]

They need to entertain themselves somehow.

[ he wants to ask what happened, but he figures it's about something he doesn't care about. little does he know, he should care. ]

Come on. Let me show you all the upgrades Weedy made.

[transmit]

[ little do either of them know, those same crew members are already arranging a mixer between every known single operator and the rest of the crew. is the dating pool really that bleak? maybe.

makes you think when they're probably the people they see most often aside from each other. ]

Ah. Can we stop by your room first? I have things for you.

[oversea]

Mmhm.

[ he'll steer them in that direction once elysium gets up and is no longer planting mushrooms in his room.

his room is messy, with paperwork all over his desk, which thorns must obviously be bothered by because he immediately glances in that direction before looking at elysium. ]

[transmit]

[ he's cultivated enough that there should be plenty for everyone when it's checked the next day.

but watching elysium move around the room is probably amusing. wherever he goes, clutter gives way to neat stacks, as if tidiness follows him and is left in his wake. eventually he reaches the walls, now dressed with photo frames: the iberian crew on rhodes, a snapshot from their last anniversary, and three full-sized posters from each successful volume of saga of the captain valourchin. the captain's shown from behind every time, his crew growing larger with each release. it's obvious who it's meant to be, his clothing emblazoned with radial suns and stars.

has thorns been keeping up with them? the best friend is on none of these… ]

I thought, when we got back, that your room might feel better with a few personal touches. Not bad if I say so myself.

[ holdover from purrfect penance being so off-putting to be in alone? maybe… ]

[oversea]

[ the idea of having posters of himself up is so insane to him

but thorns will look each new addition over, amusement growing on his face with each one. ]

I was expecting more sunscreen.

[ he is holding one of the photos... he doesn't even remember when this was taken... ]

[transmit]

[ it's the captain valourchin, hello? there's enough suspension of disbelief to pretend it's not thorns. don't worry… ]

That's coming, that's coming!

[ he lets himself straighten out this last thing before bounding back over to thorns, plopping a ten-pack into his arms. ]

For you.

[ has he even used up the the last of his stock. probably not. but let a guy dream. ]

[oversea]

[ he definitely has not. it's fine.

he will take this... ]

I really should be paying you.

[transmit]

You can pay me back by taking care of yourself. There's nothing more I want than a return on my investment.

[ pats his shoulder. ]

You haven't told me what you think! Doesn't your room look more lived in now?

[oversea]

It looks fine.

[ he puts his sunscreen stash down.

... ]

Thanks.

[ his manners... ]

[transmit]

Noooo problem.

[ heheheh… last hour's mushrooms are a thing of the past. ]

Was there anything else you needed to get done, or do I have you to myself now?

[oversea]

I won't be needed anywhere until later.

[ he's given everyone free time before they are forced to do chores, which also means that he has free time before he must go back to work.

if elysium wasn't here, thorns would likely spend it working still. ]

[transmit]

Theeeeeen we're getting you off the ship—!

[ he goes ahead expecting thorns to follow. ]

Have you eaten yet?

[oversea]

[ he follows after him... what else is he supposed to do... ]

Yes. [ ... ] Wait, no.

[ he ate dinner last night... ]

[transmit]

[ make him walk off alone like a loser… ]

What do you mean, no? You—

[ he's about to chew him out again when thorns' crew members hook their arms around both of them and haul them down to eye level. apparently they heard something about dinner? funny coincidence, that's exactly why they'd been looking for them—or at least, why they were looking for elysium in particular. elysium, there are single operators among the crew, right? and he's single too, isn't he? it's perfect. he can help set people up and join in on the mixer!!!!!!!!!! ]

Huh? I was hoping to catch up with—

[ cut off again by another excitable crew member saying they can catch up anytime! and thorns is welcome to join or supervise, if he wants! elysium's reluctant thought is that this can probably be platonic…? so he glances over at thorns, deferring the judgment to him. they do not seem like they want to let it go. ]

[oversea]

[ okay.

thorns looks so pissed at this that the crew member immediately apologizes for assuming thorns would want to get involved and starts carting elysium off.

thorns is pissed at the idea of elysium being set up with someone. ]

[transmit]

[ help ]

That's a pretty strong reaction. They try this with you often…?

[ he thinks thorns is more pissed off at them trying to set him up… ]

[oversea]

Not really.

[ he forces his expression to be more neutral. ]

Are you interested...?

[transmit]

They seemed really desperate. [ … ] Hard to imagine anything coming out of it, but I could at least ask the other operators if they were interested in mingling.

Should I?