12th Frontier [audio // common]

[ecopiracy]

As if things weren't already complicated enough...

[The irritable muttering trails off, then Phoenix speaks up.]

Right. if anyone has seen a pair of goggles - amber lenses, steel trim, leather straps - I'd appreciate their return. I... don't entirely remember when I took them off.

Comments

[farfairersoul]

They don't suit you, you know.

[ecopiracy]

They're useful in the air. And they keep my hair from getting in my face.

1/idk

[farfairersoul]

They look stupid. I fail to see how--

2/idk

[farfairersoul]

[...]

Give me a moment.

[nottheaveragekg]

[Before she replies, there's the sound of a running engine. She draws her comm in close, thinking before replying.]

Negative, Captain.

[She doesn't sound nearly as pissed as she did before.]

[ecopiracy]

[Which is more than he had any right to expect, but still. She's referring to him by his title and not by his name. Bad sign, Phoenix.]

...thank you.

[The pause after that is awkward. What else does he say?]

[nottheaveragekg]

If you feel like you need another pair because I'm sure lacking them renders you naked, Deck 12 probably has some. That's where I got mine.

[Oh, look at that. She's being helpful!]

[ecopiracy]

[Helpful with a sharp dash of a reminder that she knows what happened that night. Phoenix is grateful she can't see his flush.]

Ashelin, it wasn't-

[But it was. Damn it, he's notoriously bad about handling situations like these.]

I- Never mind. Thank you, I'll look into it.

[aswanbyday]

[Odette debated on whether or not to reply to this. But Phoenix has helped her so many times before. So she should at least attempt to return the favor.]

I haven't seen your goggles, but if you need anything else, just ask and I'll do what I can to help you.

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix has no idea if Odette heard that transmission, but it's probably best to assume that she did, and act as though she didn't.

That doesn't make this awkward at all.]

Thank you, Odette. I appreciate that. The only other thing that I need, though, is small and easily obtained. I wouldn't presume to ask you to help with something I can just as easily do myself.

[Yes. Really, really awkward.]

[aswanbyday]

[Yeah, she heard it. And she's feeling the awkward. Just listen to the awkward way she clears her throat.]

Very well.

[A soft sigh.]

Will you be all right?

[ecopiracy]

I'll manage, I'm sure.

[He quirks a wry smile.]

I'm used to making a mess of things.

[heavyweaponsbot]

... You all right there?

[ecopiracy]

Well enough, all things considered. Just dealing with the consequences of indulging in too much rum. Thankfully, the hangover itself is gone.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Never lost my things while overcharged... must have been some dance with the females.

[ecopiracy]

Something... like that.

[He's being vague on purpose, both for his own sake as well as for Ironhide's. After all, it wasn't while dancing that he'd lost his possessions, and considering Ironhide's reluctance to talk about sex...

And the fact that Phoenix himself did not wish to discuss it...

Yes, avoiding details was probably for the best.]

Let's just say that some partners can be very, very distracting.

[lilyground]

They don't match your clothes, though...

[ecopiracy]

What if I were to make the claim that they hold sentimental value? Would they be acceptable then?

[lilyground]

Yeah! Totally!

[Lily owns a giant white cowboy hat for this very reason.]

[ecopiracy]

[Perfect. Phoenix smiles.]

Then let me tell you how important those goggles are to me. They were given to me by Captain Talon, the man who was captain of my ship before I took command. They were his very own goggles, a beloved heirloom from his father, and he passed them onto me as the son he never had.

He's dead, now, and so I will wear them always in memory of him.

[And all of that? Is a whole lot of very stretched truth.]