Nebula 5

[firewalled]

Heard we're supposed to be having another mission soon... seems a bit like every time we get beat down, we have a nice break, then have to get beat down even harder, huh?

[Rich is starting to get tired of this, honestly. He's trying not to let it show on his face, but the bags under his eyes probably still make it obvious. At least he seems to be back to his talkative self, though he has to admit... it's just because he can't take the silence anymore.]

Anyways, I've been thinkin' a lot about the stuff I miss back home. Video games and cheesy movies, and fast food courts in malls that seem like a great vibe until two hours later when you've barricaded yourself in a bathroom stall. All the stuff we don't have a lot of here. And I think there's one thing we're sorely missing, which is memes.

[He smirks a little.] I mean, I could do an acoustic riff on Astley if anyone wanted it, but I wonder if we have better than that.

Maybe we could use that laptop to make new ones? Yknow, all that bottom text goodness? Though I guess we couldn't really use them as reaction images on these terminals...

Anyways, I guess, what's the one thing you wish you had here, that the train just can't replace for you? So whatever you can't buy from the store. I'm in a nostalgic kinda mood.

Comments

[averyusefultray]

Besides the obvious?

[Does she actually need to say she misses her family? Anyone who's met her knows that, especially if she's had an excuse to brag about the kids]

I miss flying. No matter how bad things got, I always felt right when I was up there. We have a simulator and it's helped, but it can only go so far.

[firewalled]

You were a pilot? That sounds so cool... I'd never get a chance to do that, what with my contacts, but it always looked fun.

And hey, there's also nothing wrong with the obvious, if you wanna talk about it. Sometimes it's nice... remembering people back home and all.

[averyusefultray]

There's no feeling like it. There's no reason you can't try out the simulator, even with contacts.

[Not that they're an issue that come up often in her galaxy]

The crew of my ship are the best family anyone could ask for.

[firewalled]

I guess that's true! I'll have to take a look at it when we aren't busy with missions. Is there a guide, or do I need someone's help to work it?

[Maybe he can ask her for help, even if that'd mainly just be him wanting to make small talk with someone.]

How big was your ship and crew? It sounds like you guys must've been together a while.

[averyusefultray]

Flying's hard to learn from just words. I'd be happy to show you though.

[She likes sharing it, it's a passion]

The Ghost is a small freighter. There's five organics, plus a droid I've had since I was a little girl. My partner's been on board for a decade, Zeb and the kids we picked up later.

[firewalled]

That'd be really cool! I like learning things from people who definitely know their shit, so I think it'd be a lot easier if you were helping me out.

[He listens closely, stumbling only a little on the term 'organics' before he realizes it's probably a joint term for humans and non-humans alike. Robots also sound unpleasant, but he has to remember other universes have better rules in place for those.]

You've got kids on the ship too? That sounds a little rowdy.

[averyusefultray]

I've taught both kids and plenty of recruits.

[She does, as they say, know her shit]

Oh, it's a lot rowdy. They were both teenagers when they came on board. One's an artist with paint and explosives, the other is a Padawan who solves problems with local wildlife or crawling into vents. Utter chaos and I wouldn't change a bit.

[firewalled]

They both sound like my kind of people.

[Also known as absolute gremlins.]

I guess it's hard to wish for someone to show up here. We don't want them pulled into this mess, but...

[But he definitely gets being lonely.]

[averyusefultray]

I miss them but... well it's probably not much more dangerous than home. But if they were here I'd worry more about how the others are doing...

[firewalled]

That's true too. It might be better for them to be home, where they can look after everyone else, so long as you can take care of yourself.

[Rich very clearly does not need company! He's totally tough enough to handle this! Maybe!]

[averyusefultray]

We were in the middle of a bit of a difficult situation. THey have a better chance of pulling it off if they're still together.

[It would still be better with her but that's off the table]

[firewalled]

...It's good if they're together, but I bet you wish you were there to look after them too. It's hard to be away from people who need you...

[Or people he needs, in Rich's case.]

[averyusefultray]

Of course. We're at our best when everyone's playing their part.

ANd mine is to fly and to worry.

[firewalled]

Heh, I think that usually becomes the job of a parent... and I mean, you're kind of one.

[He doesn't have much of a metric, but he can recognize that caring. And kind of secretly miss it.]

[averyusefultray]

Absolutely. Just because there's no legal or genetic tie doesn't make them any less my kids.

[firewalled]

That's really awesome. I mean, some genetic families aren't all that loving, so... I'm glad they have someone who wants to care about them.

[averyusefultray]

Blood's never been as important as who you can count on.

[firewalled]

I certainly haven't been able to count on anyone related by blood for a good decade. [Was that too morbid to say?]