→ 001 | network + action

[cactusy]

network | text | OTA

Sameen Shaw, 32, Marine Corps veteran. Skills include medical work, weaponry, and combat. Formerly of New York City circa 2015. Currently of the Glitter Food crew, I guess, though whoever named these ships needs to rethink their life choices.

Three things.

1. Who's in charge here on the human side of things? I'm seeing rosters, I'm seeing specialties, but I'm not seeing rank. I don't even know who my own captain is.

2. I saw a guy has his baby with him. Anybody know how I can get these aliens to abduct my dog for me?

3. Anybody with access to hard alcohol want to be my new best friend?

[... And that's it! What a friendly, sociable sort she is.]

action | OTA to Glitter Food residents

Knowing what the Data Points do is all well and good, but that intel only goes so far if they're unlabeled. Shaw studies the six identical Expertise Data Points, vaguely wondering if she's supposed to just be able to tell somehow - but if that's the case, then that part of the orientation clearly skipped her over. And playing trial and error with her brain? Not a very enticing prospect at the moment.

"Hey," she says, flagging down a passerby at random. "You got any idea which of these can get me into Security?"

After that, she wanders, giving herself something of a self-guided tour of the accessible areas of the station: find her walking through the greenhouse, furrowing her brow at the library's empty shelves, or sampling the food paste dispensers (giving them some impressively disgusted looks as she does so). She can also be found taking in the beach, and after a moment's consideration, stripping down to her underwear so she can go lounge in the hot spring area for a while. Her sports bra and boyshorts both provide more coverage than the average bikini, so she's hoping she's not violating any ship decency laws here - but she'll try to stay submerged up to her shoulders just in case.

Eventually, she makes her way to the training area, where she appreciatively inspects the gym equipment on offer and uses her newly-acquired Security expertise to open the door to the security center. And this, finally, is what makes her... not light up, exactly, but her pupils definitely dilate and her mouth curves up in a small half-smile. Ah, yes. This is absolutely what she'd picked that Data Point for. Good job, Agra 10.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," she breathes, hoisting up one of the glowing guns with her hands, testing the weight and feel of it. And then, practically salivating with anticipation, she heads straight for the shooting range. Sorry to anyone else who might be interested in using the space, but she's definitely going to be here for a while. Care to share?

Comments

[cactusy]

You wish you could handle me.

Communications?

[It's either that or Security, she figures, that would be able to edit people's accounts and display names - and she certainly didn't get that as a part of her new skillset.]

[in_extremis]

You said you were looking for a captain, that sounds like someone looking to be handled. I'm very good with my hands.

Look at that, we already know each other so well. Some first dates can go so smoothly.

[cactusy]

And yet you haven't even offered whiskey. Pretty lame. Is it too much to hope your real name is Cayde?

[in_extremis]

He's on the ship.

You'll know him when you see him.

[cactusy]

That means absolutely nothing.

[in_extremis]

Don't you believe me? I'm hurt. I do promise you Cayde is unique among the 'human side of things'.

[cactusy]

Ok, but how so? Details, Stark. Or is it Shepherd?

[Look at that, she's been checking out the crew rosters. Unfortunately, there are apparently two TSs bumming around.]

[in_extremis]

Oh, getting warmer. You're good at this. Quick, what number am I thinking of?

[cactusy]

Around how many times a week do you get punched in the face?

[in_extremis]

That's very aggressive.

Let me know if you figure out who's in charge.

[cactusy]

Rough estimate? Actually, getting kicked in the nuts counts, too.

[in_extremis]

You know what, you're already fitting in really well. You'll find your match by the end of the day.

[cactusy]

Yeah, I heard about how this place is filled with "intense personalities". I can read between the diplomatic euphemisms.

Do I at least get to know what ship you're on?

[in_extremis]

That's going to be a 'no'. We can cycle back around to it when I'm feeling less attached to my nuts.

[cactusy]

Baby.

[But. Okay. Maybe she shouldn't make a genuinely terrible impression of herself, so--]

I'm not actually looking to disable a crew member.

[in_extremis]

I'm not actually trying to keep you from finding Cayde. You really can't miss him. Sexiest craftsmanship you're going to find in the ship. Kind of looks like Dr. Doom.

[cactusy]

Earlier I met a guy who looks like he stepped out of a Tolkien novel. "Looks unique" could have applied to anyone here.

Does Cayde have the morals of Dr. Doom, too?

[in_extremis]

Were you lying about the 'New York' part? I'm trying to think of a day in my life that I didn't see an elf or a dragon, honestly, I could use some tips.

Cayde hasn't tried to declare himself the supreme ruler of Agra-10 yet, so I'm pretty sure we're clear there. Gotta admit, I haven't asked, so he could just be biding his time. There's not a lot of good days for a coronation in this situation.

[cactusy]

Ok, to be clear: literal elves and dragons?

[in_extremis]

You know what, that's on me, I should have recognized the pattern before now and, listen, in my defence, I'm not going to make that mistake again. Forget I said anything. What goes on in my New York seems to be a pretty localized problem. There are plenty of people here who will never mention a dragon to you, I promise.

[cactusy]

This alternate universe stuff is bull.

Not saying I don't believe you.

[She's just saying that she hates it!]

[in_extremis]

Hey, when you meet someone that you don't want to disable, you'll think it's pretty wonderful. There's some extraordinary people stuck in this ship, and getting to know how massive the universe really is, not as an equation on a whiteboard but something really tactile, right in front of you, that's almost worth it.

[cactusy]

I'm not much of a people person.

[Diving headlong into the wide open universe, though. Right now, after everything, that feels like it could be a draw.]

Exploring the universe and kicking monster ass sounds pretty okay, though.

[in_extremis]

That's almost the same thing, kicking is a kind of reaching out and touching the universe. I'm not about to judge what gets somebody else going.

[cactusy]

Do you recite poetry to every girl you meet or am I just special?