lastvoyages | AUDIO (PUBLIC) - UN: Shroud.I.3B28

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AUDIO (PUBLIC) - UN: Shroud.I.3B28

Hey, um. So.

I know I’m not one to really chat up you guys here, even after all this time I still keep to myself. Rehabilitation’s not gonna turn an introvert into an extrovert or even an ambivert.

But I lurk enough to see a bunch of you seem decent enough and probably won’t make fun of me for asking, so…

[He takes a deep breath, lets it out as a sigh.]

Um. A—any of you got good date ideas for introverts in this place? Like stuff a couple of Inmates can do? A lot of the fun stuff’s locked off unless a Warden opens it up.

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My husband and I like to read to each other or even just curl up together in a blanket and read on our own.

Oh yeah, you got married. Heh, congrats. Does it feel different, doing that kind of commitment? Like do you feel… I dunno, more alive? Happier? I’m not teasing, I really wanna know. IRL relationships are… brand new to me.

Me too. I'm much happier. But. You have to choose someone that makes you happy. Someone that sees you and wants you because of what they see rather than in spite of it.

What they see… yeah, I think that’s what we have. It’s something when you’re a mess and somebody still cares about you, huh? And then you find out it goes both ways? They’re a mess, too, but somehow you make them want to heal?

It’s wild. A story branch I didn’t see coming. I’m always gonna be kinda pessimistic, it’s a literal curse, but it’s quieter these days? I’m not used to being happy.

I wasn’t either, but I’m getting used to it lately. Also, um. If you want access to something like the Enclosure for a quiet date, I’m happy to let you in. Just give me a call.

… you’d do that? I mean, you’re not my Warden and I was a jerk to you when I first got here….

I…

… thank you.

You weren't a jerk; you were lost and upset, like a lot of inmates when they arrive. I'm glad you've found something to anchor you. I'm happy to do anything I can to help.

Wasn't expecting to find somebody like that, not after what happened the first time. Didn't think I'd ever get over that particular setback, but here I am. It's a weird feeling, and kinda scary, but... scary like going on your first thrill ride, maybe?

If you want anything techy in return for helping me out, just ask. Not like it's putting me out at all, it's a fun way to repay you and an excuse to do mechanical work.

Yeah? ...Well, I'll have to think about that. Thank you.

Board games, card games, video games.

All of which are open access in the library and the dining hall.

Edited 2025-01-21 01:41 (UTC)

Wait, really? OMG, did I actually miss out on all that because I’ve been holed up in my cabin…?!

I mean, I usually avoid those places because I have bad social anxiety and they can get kinda people-y. It’s better than it used to be but I can still panic if there’s too many strangers.

Yes. There's a table with a few games in the dining hall, and board games in the library. Video games are in the 'other media' section of the library as well.

Dude, thanks! I’ve been programming my own games on the computer I built so I know them by heart already. It’d be nice to try new stuff, and I guess I can share what I’ve made.

Maybe we could go during slower hours so there aren’t as many people around. Me and my... partner, I mean. He’s more social but we both try to be chill and keep to ourselves.

Three to four am is your best bet.

I say as someone who's relatively nocturnal.

Yeah I’m a night owl, too. Easier to focus when it’s quiet and nobody’s barging in on you. It sucks when people start yelling at you to go to bed at a normal hour.

You a gamer, since you knew about where the games are?

I used to work in that section of the library and I made a point to learn about each of them. I also started programming and the games there let me examine code to learn more after my teacher left.

[ Sort of. Quietly. ]

If you’re interested in learning more, I could provide some lessons. Not usually the teacher type but I’ll take any reason to get more tech time.

Always.

Live instruction is always best.

For me, live instruction meant watching videos. Getting firsthand instruction from anybody but my parents made me anxious. I'm getting better, though. Showing you stuff could be good practice.

I'd be happy to be a guinea pig, in that case.

Alas that the option of instructional videos was not possible in my own world.

You could try on different clothes at the wardrobe, dress each other up differently than you usually are.

I've done that with a friend. It's not normally too crowded in there, and I've heard the recent shenanigans have died down.

And of course there is always lying out on deck and looking up at the stars...

Fwee hee hee… omg playing dress-up with him would be funny AF. He’s into cute stuff and bright colors. Imagine if we had a photo booth here, we could have a picture wall next to it. See how crazy people can get.

And I like stargazing on the deck. Some of the Breach worlds had nice night skies, too. Quiets the brain bees.

Cameras would require access to the art gazebo, sadly. Well, the communicators can take pictures too, but they are stuck on the device.

I am not normally one to admire scenery, but with the right person... It's nice to feel alone with the universe. Multiverse. Or whatever it is.

Are either of you afraid of heights?

Too many limits, meh.

Heights? Not sure about him, but I’m usually okay with them depending on circumstances. Like flying vehicles, fine. Flying on a broom? Ehhhh. And those daredevils who hang off the sides of buildings are nuts.

Guess that would depend on what kind of date you're looking for and what the goal is at the end of the night.

And how serious you are with your paramour. Even if you're a couple of inmates.

The… goal? I guess it’s just to have fun, enjoy the time together. Not like we’re trying to reenact an H-game scenario, we already did that a bunch.

… I— I mean, not that much! Or at all! Nope, nothing kinky going on here!

[Can you hear the blush coming through his voice, because it’s painfully obvious.]

...wow.

I was talking emotionally, not physically.

Good for you, kid.

... o--oh...

OMG I'm a noob. An actual noob.

Ah... w-- we're trying to ease into whatever's normal for relationships, I guess? We're both here because of connection issues and trauma but we're both doing a lot better. And we're from the same world so we'll get to go home together when it's time, keep things going.

Normal is subjective, don't worry about that.

What's better is something that doesn't push either of your issue buttons.

So, you don't have to go all out to get to know one another. Either of you like to learn new things, like arts and crafts? Or enjoy movies or music?

Go with what you like and want to try, and work from there.

Plenty of us wardens wouldn't mind opening something up and then leaving, but I guess that's not always that ideal if you want to have a date...

[...not that she's... really been on a date... in a long time, but. Some things are probably universal.]

The common rooms are pretty comfortable, and they're quiet towards the end of the day? So you could always sit together and watch some kind of video. That can take up a few hours without you needing to do too much.

Simple. I kinda like that. Grab some candy and popcorn, unwind with meme videos. Movies are classic date stuff for a reason, right?

Lots of new faces on here, at least to me. Guess that’s what I get for hiding in my room so much. But yeah, it’s cool that some of you Wardens don’t mind helping out even when it’s not your usual Inmate.

That's what I was thinking. It's definitely a classic kind of thing to do on a date...

Just because I'm not your warden doesn't mean it's not my job to help? That's what we're here for. Besides, I'm not my inmate's chaperone. [SIGH.]

A bunch of you are offering to help and it's... really nice. I didn't trust anybody before, honestly. Thought all you Wardens were in it for your own selfish reasons.

Guess I was wrong about people in general. Trauma does nasty stuff to you, though.

I don't exactly speak for every warden on this ship, you know. ...Ugh, some of them could stand to stop screwing around for once in their lives...

But I'm in a situation a lot like an inmate's when I'm not here, so I get it, right? It's a rough voyage to go on, and you've got to be the one at the wheel. A warden can help you get on course, but they probably know just about as much as you do, when it comes to a lot of things.

If you need a warden to open somewhere up, I don't mind doing that and then leaving you two to whatever.

So many people wanting to help, what did I do to deserve this?

Th-- thanks, I appreciate it. I know Wardens don't expect anything in return, but if you need anything technical done, I'm your guy. It's fun for me, so don't feel like you're taking advantage, okay?

I'll keep it in mind. And hey, just let me know where you were looking to get into.

The common rooms are open to everyone, and there's movies in the library! Hanging out and watching stuff is pretty fun. There's a lot of media here that doesn't even exist in my universe, or if it did it's long lost, so that's pretty cool to experience.

I also used to build model kits with my bestie all the time, but I guess you'd need to get the kit from somewhere first. [Nerd alert!]

Yeah, you'd think I'd know more about the common rooms and stuff since I've been here a while, but I spent my first several months mostly holed up in my cabin. Definitely need to check if there's anime I've never heard of in the collection.

And you build models?? I haven't done kits since like a month before I got here. I'm gonna have a ton of stuff to catch up on whenever I get home.

Several months? Gosh, I think I'd go kind of crazy if I tried that. [She's not judging, though. More impressed than anything.] I don't really know what anime is, but they've sure got a lot!

Oh, yeah! Mostly starship models. I started doing them together with my friend Rutherford back when we were Ensigns? You don't get a lot of privacy without your own quarters, so we'd use it as a way to be able to hang out without anyone bothering us.

The greenhouse is always a winner! Or, are you completely opposed to asking a warden to open things up for you two...?

I’m not opposed or anything like that. It’s… I guess I’m looking for whatever independence we can get as inmates? Plus we’re trying to be kinda down-low about our relationship.

[(Please, Idia. Anybody who’s been paying attention knows you and Cater are together now.)]

Understood! My lips are sealed.

[Because, yes, neither of them have ever admitted anything to her directly, but she still can put two and two together.]

Then, well, I'll reiterate the greenhouse! It may not be as versatile as the Enclosure, but you can still find corners that don't smell like the chicken coop.

I’m not a nature-loving type, but it might be nice.

[His voice lowers to a murmur despite the private connection Misty switched to.] Um, has he… talked to you? About us?

Not in so many words, but I can read between the lines. Is that a problem?

N—no… no, I…

[He audibly gulps.]

It’s not… setting him back, is it? I want him to get better and graduate. I don’t want to hold him back.

[Misty hmmmms, asking thoughtfully:]

Why do you think you might be holding him back? Do you worry about him holding you back?

No, I know I’d be way worse off without him. The self-doubt… it’s something I’ve fought against my whole life. I care about him, if I didn’t then I wouldn’t worry so much.

Well! Then there's your answer. You're not holding him back, your self-doubt is holding you back.

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AUDIO (PUBLIC) - UN: Shroud.I.3B28

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