suddenlycaptain | CONTACT ;; ataraxion

If you'd like.

[ It won't necessarily mean anything, considering how far forward in the future Carolyn is from. ]

I can meet you down in the shuttle bay.

[If you'd like is as good as a negative response. She wouldn't waste her future S.O.'s time with it, if the information's not good for anything.]

How soon?

As far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better.

Now?

[It's a short reply, but not without respect. She knows where she's headed, already en route.]

Yes.

[ Carolyn doesn't leave the shuttle bay for much; it's a safe bet to assume she's there at least 80% of the time. ]

[She knows what Carolyn looks like, so it's not as though identification is a long process after entering the shuttle bay. May's wearing her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform, which is obvious as a uniform, if it isn't recognizable in any other way. She falls into an automatic hard-lined posture, somewhere between at ease and attention. She's not approaching this with enthusiasm, only determination. In her experience, that's better. She's a solid presence, even if her greeting's just a short acknowledging nod.]

[ May gets a nod back, Carolyn wiping her hands on a rag before approaching. Not everyone gets an offered hand for a handshake, but Melinda does. ]

I'll show you around.

[She'll take it. Her handshake is firmer than some people anticipate, but she knows her strength and there's no challenge behind it.]

It's appreciated, ma'am.

[On that note, Carolyn gets a look that amounts to Melinda placidly asking whether "ma'am" is a step too far.]

[ Better than "miss". ]

Carolyn's fine. Fry, if that fits better.

[ It's what most people called her, before the ship. 'Carolyn'... well, people here are less formal and they don't think she's saved their lives. It changes things. ]

[Never much danger of a "miss". She doesn't consider Carolyn a civilian.]

Fry fits. [Over a gentle shrug:] I get May.

[She's been around the ship long enough to notice the general informality, so this isn't strong discouragement from using her first name. It's a flat statement about what she's used to, nothing more or less.]

The work's mostly maintenance and repairs?

[That's her assessment, but the questioning intonation's there for a reason.]

[ It's taken in, assessed, and put away for later -- it doesn't matter as much, not right now. ]

Yes. Not enough fuel, and all attempts at creating more in any way have mysteriously failed.

[ Her tone makes no secret of the fact that she finds it both incredibly frustrating and complete bullshit. ]

[As far as facts go, that one makes a complete bullshit first impression, too. May breathes a short sigh.]

Sure.

[She doesn't doubt it for a second. She's not frustrated personally, at least not yet, just unsurprised. She isn't so new that she hasn't noticed a cheap pattern. This ship shrugs off most efforts at innovation.

No other immediate questions.]

It's entirely likely that any evacuation will be unsuccessful. But on the off chance it isn't... we keep them running. And sometimes we stop places.

[ Usually absolutely horrible places. ]

CONTACT ;; ataraxion

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