AUDIENCE 🚀 CHARLES

[dropoffs]

Comments

W1 MONDAY

[dropoffs]

traveler
thoughts on the past few days?

---

It happened.

[riverbeans]

all right, i kind of expected that answer from you. nothing further than that?

[dropoffs]

It's frustrating being able to do nothing. I despise being at the palms of whatever is happening.

[ How do you retaliate and resist when you don't know what to retaliate or resist against? Or even how? ]

[riverbeans]

yeah, i get that. having a confirmed enemy to just shoot at is easier, huh?

[dropoffs]

It makes it easier to exterminate them. Whatever this is, it's getting in the way.

[riverbeans]

think it's going to get worse?

[dropoffs]

I'm prepared for worse until the problem is rooted.

[riverbeans]

that's reassuring to hear, which i mean genuinely. optimism doesn't make for a good head combat systems officer, i'm guessing.

any advice for the rest of us? i'm already going into this week expecting another surprise lockdown at some point.

[dropoffs]

It doesn't. Not that I knew much about this position before joining, but only a fool would keep their guard down especially around so many humans.

We do board the ship and leave on Thursday, so there is a scheduled lockdown for the space jump, but I wouldn't stay comfortable.

[riverbeans]

got it.

though the way you put it makes me curious - are you not human?

[dropoffs]

I'm not.

[riverbeans]

can i ask what you are?

[dropoffs]

Why do you need to know?

[riverbeans]

you and arthur would get along...

because i want to get to know you?

[dropoffs]

Him and I? With his dramatics?

What I am isn't important.

[riverbeans]

dramatics? actually, no, i see it.

all right, got it.

[dropoffs]

He's dramatic without getting anything for the performance.

Good. The important thing is to remember I'm not one of you.

[riverbeans]

it's a little entertaining, though.

don't worry, i'm keenly aware of that.

[dropoffs]

I suppose it's entertaining depending on my mood.

[riverbeans]

would that be when you're in a good mood or bad mood?

[dropoffs]

A very good mood.

[ Even on a neutral one, they might find it annoying. ]

[riverbeans]

what puts you in a good mood?

[dropoffs]

Are you going to try to brighten my day?

[riverbeans]

i'm self-aware enough to know that i'm more likely to annoy you and make your day worse. so no, i'm just curious.

[dropoffs]

You're self-aware, callsign traveler. That's better than most humans.