Fifth Stripe; Audio

[sandpaperbreath]

Puttin' out a request for a sparring partner, preferably humanoid, under six feet.

That don't apply t'you, I've still got a question; what floor's your room on, and are any of your buddies from home on it with ya? It seems, more often than not, the Captain likes to t'put us in groups.

Comments

[floreatetona]

Unfortunately not. Were any of my crew here, I would have had a new hook by now.

[sandpaperbreath]

Real hung up over that thing, ain'tcha?

We already talked about your crew and your hook last time, y'know.

[nottheaveragekg]

You get bored, so you resort to sparring.

[It's an observation.]

[sandpaperbreath]

She's observant.

[It's sarcasm.]

[nottheaveragekg]

Someone's in a good mood.

[sandpaperbreath]

Nope.

Jus' making conversation.

What's been keeping you occupied, Red?

[thenotmagician]

Deck 11. My friend Jere showed up a while ago and he got stuck in the room across from me.

[sandpaperbreath]

Huh. Zeke, right?

You got anyone else from your world with you? Strangers, maybe?

[thenotmagician]

Zeke I am.

Not that I'm aware of. So, nope.

[sandpaperbreath]

Huh.

Why am I not surprised.

[ecopiracy]

Under six feet, hmm? At least now you're being honest about declining to spar with me.

[sandpaperbreath]

What the hell are you on about now?

[Seriously, he doesn't even remember you offering to spar. He just remembers being a bone-head and picking a fight with a goddamn metalhead wannabe.]

[ecopiracy]

Denial becomes you even less than losing your nerve, Torn.

[He still thinks Torn deliberately stood him up.]

[sandpaperbreath]

Yeah, real cute, you're quite the smart-ass and we're all impressed. You've really got me pegged.

Serves me right, tryin' to ask you a question and expectin' an answer that didn't come caked in preppy yakkowshit.

[conquistasal]

Can't help ya on th'under six foot front, sorry. Anyhow, can't be gettin' int'scraps anyway--girl made me promise.

As fer yer inq'ry, m'on th'same floor as m'buddy, Herz! Think th'cap'n did it on purpose?

[sandpaperbreath]

I'm startin' to wonder. Got my partner on the same deck as me, and five others, all from our world.

All a'us know each other, or at least share an acquaintance. Strikes me as odd, considerin' we're all comin' from different times, different cities.

You and Herz are humans, right? From 'Earth'.

[His stalker is showing.]

[conquistasal]

Yeah, Earth. You ain't? One'a those... uh, not-from-Earth folks?

[Oh, yay, stalker...]

[sandpaperbreath]

Y'could say that. I sure as hell ain't human by your standards.

That partner I mentioned? Name's Ashelin.

[And he knows you're friends because he is a stalker.]