AUDIENCE 🚀 SHOMA

[dropoffs]

Comments

[dropoffs]

[ well they definitely don't tower, so there's that! ]

Exactly. We're working as fast as we can around the clock, but there's a lot on this ship we have to run ourselves. In the meantime, we're here to courier stuff to you guys that we might have. Within reason.

[ they're not going to make you all work outside of delivery considering your circumstances. at the question, however, son mrrps because thebe has stopped petting his head. this is an outrage, but sorry son they are thinking. ]

Yeah.... yeah. Rent doesn't pay itself in capitalistic hell, y'know...? Never been to space, but... there's a first time for everything, right?

[solesuccess]

[ he looks down at son again. sorry kitty, there are important things to address! ]

...so it was really just about the money and going "yeah, why not?" That simple? What about the place you came from? Didn't you have stuff there you still needed to do or people?

[dropoffs]

[ there's a very particular kind of hunch that hits thebe's shoulders. they do not resume petting son. ]

There's more to it, but I don't think I want to talk about that.

So that's the simple answer. I need to survive somehow.

[solesuccess]

[ ...well. ]

Yeah, I get it. Mizuki told me the stipend we're supposedly getting from this is huge. If it's true, then...I can't really say no to that kind of money either. Sorry.

[dropoffs]

[ softly ]

That kind of money wouldn't just help me... I can think of a lot of other things it could do...

[ they sigh. ]

[solesuccess]

[ ... ]

Are there other people you're trying to take care of, too?

[dropoffs]

I know a lot of people back home...

[ rubbing at their side, just a little bit. ]

... I could do a lot of good... that would make me happy...

[solesuccess]

[ ...? ]

Usually doing something good helps. [ a pause. ] Is that what you're used to?

[dropoffs]

I like to think sometimes a good drink and some conversation can change your life...

[solesuccess]

I've heard that, but...you can imagine how easy it'd be to get into bars back home even if I wanted to. [ on account of looking 12. ] Were you actually a bartender back where you're from, or just a hobby?

[dropoffs]

[ a soft hum ]

Yeah. I was. Just kinda carried it over. Everyone needs a good drink sometimes.

[solesuccess]

You think it really helps? [ curious. ] Or is it like a placebo effect where the idea of drinking to relax is what relaxes you? That's...not a real question, I guess. Never mind. It's a pretty big jump from bartender to Chief Science Officer though.

[dropoffs]

I think people trust their bartenders like they trust their doctors or their priests with confessions.

[ a light fold of the arms, more amused than anything. ]

It's a jump, but I'm equipped to hop to it.

[solesuccess]

[ ...the slowest of blinks. ]

Rabbit puns, Thebe? [ he lifts his hands to the side of his head, index fingers wiggling like bunny ears. ] I'm not a religious person, and I don't trust doctors anymore, so...I'll take your word on that analogy.

[dropoffs]

Hey, I gotta get my kicks somewhere...

[ the ears wiggle in kind, a little chuckle. ]

Y'know, you'd think with both I'd cover my bases. But also don't blame you on that... stuff like who helps you take care of your body is kind of a big deal...

[solesuccess]

[ an uncomfortable shift of his weight from foot to foot follows that. ]

Exactly. So you'd think you could trust a doctor to actually take care of you and tell you the truth, but that's not always how it works. Guess it's about deciding what you can and can't believe is safe.

[dropoffs]

It's hard... when you're told that's the way but it isn't.

[ a stalling out and then softer, hesitant. ]

... Can we sit? It hurts to keep standing. But I wanna still talk with you. Sounds like you've really been through it, huh.

[solesuccess]

[ he doesn't quite acknowledge the first (or the last) part of that other than shifting his gaze elsewhere, but he does nod. yeah. yeah. surprisingly, despite the fact he came here for something completely different and his flight instinct already starting to rear up, he's willing to talk. ]

Yeah, sure. The food court's not far if you're okay for walking? There's chairs and everything, or...I mean the ground's fine. [ he is used to the ground. ]

[dropoffs]

Ground's fine, actually. Isn't like it doesn't get cleaned.

[ basically, they're not picky. floor sounds nice. there are some nice mall-like plants here, and it's not like there's heavy foot traffic. son hops out of his pouch and just does a big stretch, giving roboji A Look as cats do. ]

[solesuccess]

[ then he will have a sit on the floor. roboji wheels a little, hovering near shoma and seemingly staring at son. but it is a robot. shoma, meanwhile, once again holds his hand out for son if the kitty wants. ]

How's this?

[dropoffs]

It's a little better.

[ son just, with a low curious head, leans in to give shoma sniff... ]

Sometimes my implant acts up, but should pass. If not I'll have to go back to Io for another check up...

[solesuccess]

[ no sudden moves to startle the kitty, but he does look at thebe instead. ]

It's hard when it's something you can't always fix on your own, right? [ idly. ] ...your implant?

[ he thinks it's okay to at least ask a little, given. everything. and if thebe doesn't want to explain they don't have to. ]

[dropoffs]

[ yes good... stay still. eventually son will just brush against fingers lightly and. sit. this is good.

thebe just pauses for a long moment. but leans back on a hand. they seem to think it is... okay for now. ]

Yeah. I had to get one during the last tour... My back. Shush about it, though, okay... I can do my job just fine.

[solesuccess]

[ good son and good thebe. ]

Never said you couldn't. [ it's not his business to tell anyway, but he does look a little curious and concerned. ] Has it helped a lot then? What does it do for you? [ he knows about the screws in viktor's spine and the brace he made for himself, but he thinks maybe this is somewhat different. ]

[dropoffs]

Good.

[ a little laugh. ]

And I mean, it has. It mostly just keeps me upright, helps me even carry a bit more than usual because of how it's made... so that's a perk... but. That's about it. Nothing special.