unknownseas | And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

[The preparations hit differently this time.

Last weekend was at least an attempt at being festive, even with the light supplies they have; at being joyous, at giving people at least one nice thing to look back upon before things inevitably took a turn for the worse. And now two people are dead, and instead of trying to figure out structure placement and how best to keep everyone entertained and occupied and well-fed, the preparations now are given to much more practical purposes.

Large amounts of bottled water from the machine. Bagels and bread and muffins, light starchy things to avoid forcing anyone to keep meat or seafood down after seeing a corpse. Fruit for the sake of providing energy. Avoiding including bananas for any reason. Quietly pulling aside one of the first people she sees with any experience in the matter and asking them to help her make tea.

Once she's got one of the tables at the party zone set up and the tea is on its way to being prepared, she'll set around letting people know; the invitations are simple, written in Freyja's broad, elegant handwriting:

I think another gathering tonight would be beneficial. Not to celebrate, but to remember; perhaps more importantly, to ensure that no one is alone if they don't want to be.

Tonight is hard. There is nothing further to do but get through it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...of course.

[He doesn't see why you'd wanna see him specifically, but okay.]

How are you feeling?

...not good at all. But...Freyja did point out that this was just an accident. Despite all the nervousness about this motive...we didn't have multiple people trying for it.

That is true. It could be a hopeful sign for the future.

[Which isn't exactly the same thing as saying "it is a hopeful sign". You know. He doesn't think this bodes well, generally.]

Yeah...if people can resist temptation once, they can do it again.

[Or get more and more pressured until they snap, but she's trying to be positive here.]

Quite possibly. It may make the captain careless.

[Ordinarily he might not suggest that, but the captain seems careless, generally.]

I also plan to start patrolling at night. [rip to data getting to sleep I guess]

[She nods.] Will you be alright, doing that? I wouldn't want you to overclock yourself for our sakes. [Can he overheat?]

Of course. For me, sleep is only a preference, not a requirement.

[Adeline nods.] And...you'll also be careful...that an accident like this one doesn't happy again?

I do not experience fear.

[remember his whole no-feelings robot thing he went on towards the end of that]

[She kind of doubts the lack-of-emotions thing, but she has less evidence for fear specifically.]

That's good. And if someone actually tries to attack you, they'll probably just break their weapon... [Data is very sturdy, isn't he?]

That is quite likely. I am far more difficult to kill than anyone else on this ship.

[Sure, a lot of people are probably fighters, but he's sort of excluding that and just focusing on physical realities right now. He's probably the most difficult victim still standing, with Shard gone.]

[Speaking in pure endurance terms, he's quite right.] Yeah...though we might want other patrollers too, since there's a lot of ship to cover. We probably need another meeting to work that out...

I agree that the ship is too large for a single patrol to be effective...but that could prove dangerous for others.

[what so it's fine when it's him?]

We're all at risk here already, in some way, and a group patrolling would be safer than an individual. [Her tail curls around her legs as she thinks.] But of course it's best not to increase that risk. [A slight sigh.] I suppose it's not the best time to discuss this.

Perhaps not. We can revisit the subject later, with the group.

[Right now is like, probably too soon. Even he gets that.]

[She nods, looking down and noticing that he also has a cup of tea.] ...Flayn gave you one too, huh?

She did. She seemed to think that I might find the warmth comforting.

[Which, jury's out on that one, but he's still holding it like he's supposed to!]

She's really a thoughtful girl. Is it helping?

It is difficult to say.

[Headtilt down at the cup!]

I suppose I was not truly upset to begin with.

[Mmmm. She's not 100% sure about that but it seems rude to object right now.]

Well...thanks for putting up with us upset people. I'm sure a lot of what we do must seem odd to you.

Not at all. I have spent most of my life around organic beings. It is only natural for you to be upset after such a traumatic series of events.

[Adeline nods slowly.] We...mostly don't have the death penalty, anymore. And we at least have a proper judge and jury.

The same is true of our society. The death penalty has long since been considered outdated. Much less...trials such as that.

[.....]

I would rather not have participated in it. It went against my morality programming.

Well, I'm...not...glad you did, but relieved, I suppose. That you didn't end up also being punished for not going along with it.

I concluded that it would not be...worth it. Shard would still have died; I would simply have done so as well.

Though, disregarding my morality sub-routine is still...uncomfortable.

(no subject)

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