text | calling across the cosmos

[genice]

There's quite a few of us who are new arrivals, yeah? I'm told we should make ourselves comfortable and get to know our neighbors. It's been eight months since I last really moved anywhere, so hello! My name is Victor Nikiforov. If any one of you feels like discussing our new location or occupations or anything else, please join me for a drink!

[ He even includes a ping for the bar he's at. Conversations up to this point have been anything but promising. So here he is. In space. Surrounded by space people. Talking to other "we did not want to end up in space, probably" people. ]

Also, three questions! Who is fond of dogs, is there anything like Instagram on these, and who knows anything about figure skating?

Comments

[genice]

[ travel internationally as a teenager and learn how to cope on the fly and be open to new experiences everywhere you are. Victor's not perfect at it, but he's a lot more open (as long as it's not supposed to hinge on him correctly reading emotions in a given situation where he's involved, whoops). ]

Wow! You don't normally consume things through a mouth? I hate to ask what, but I'm asking what you usually consume things through.

You're right, though. Variety in flavours is amazing! There are so many tasty things, drinks are just a part of that! It's my favourite part of visiting any country other than my home country, getting to explore all those different foods and drink.

[canadese]

yes the multitude of different foods is by far the best thing about your planet in my natural form i feed through my hooves i dont understand why more species havent adopted this more sensible evolutionary feature

[genice]

[ hold the presses this alien eats with their what ]

Wow! I'll remember to keep dishes at a reasonable height if we ever dine together. Is it rude to ask what you look like in your natural form? Wait. "Natural form?"

[ do they also have unnatural forms?! he's not sure what that means. he's... probably missing something in translation here. ]

[canadese]

[Waaaait a second. He was too excited about the food conversation to realize earlier, not to mention too used to recent relative openness with humans back home, but it's really weird that most people here are humans and yet have no idea what an Andalite is. He still doesn't know what's going on and whether what he's been told about the situation is the truth, and with that uncertainty his old commitment to secrecy comes flaring back up. He's arguably already revealed too much about himself. Even if Victor isn't trying to trick him, who knows what harm telling people about Andalites before they're ready could cause?

And if Victor is trying to trick him? There's no way for Ax to tell at this point, which means he needs to be way more cautious.]

my natural form is a human. i was just kidding about all of that. :-)

[Nailed it. Look, he even used punctuation and a symbolic representation of a smiling face that he's seen humans use! Flawless.]

just stalking

[brightline]

[Very smooth.]

1/2

[genice]

[ Aximili... your sincerity is very much in doubt. Particularly when shifting text to something more structured, though Victor's general response is fairly straightforward: ]

2/2

[genice]

Okay, okay! If you ever change your mind about telling me, you know how to reach me. I'd be glad to listen.

[ Patience is a virtue, and he's got no invested stakes in worrying over what Aximili is or isn't telling him at this point. People will be people! They can share or withhold as they please. ]

Anyway, you like trying different kinds of food, yes? Have you ever had katsudon before? It's a kind of Japanese dish made with pork.

[canadese]

[Ax isn't sure how well that went over, but he's glad for the change of subject anyway. Except now he's pretending to be actually a human, so he has to type like one, ugh.]

iI haven't but I would like to. I always like trying new food. Do they have some on this ship/? Have you had cinnamon buns?

[genice]

I haven't found it on any menu yet, but I'm thinking of trying to make it myself as a personal challenge. I could share my efforts in that area! If you want.

( Victor versus the kitchenette: that's the real challenge here. )

Cinnamon buns? Yes, I have. I feel they're best hot out of the oven. Why? Are they a favourite of yours?

this is a disaster in the making

[canadese]

[For a moment Ax just stares at his communicator in shock. How had it never occurred to him... to make food of his own? Then he could have it whenever he wanted. This is a total game changer. This ship is unprepared for what this means.]

Yes please teach me how to make food can you make cinnamon buns ?????

im so happy

[genice]

We can learn together!

( what a beautiful blossoming friendship right, Victor is pretty sure this is how you do friends when you're not in competitive circles, right )

Cinnamon buns are great for breakfast, so how about we try making those in a few day-cycles from now?

[canadese]

[This is the best day of his life.]

yes i will gladly make delicious cinnamon buns with you where is the best place to do so ?

[genice]

I feel we can make one of the kitchens in our studio's work.

( As they all clearly live in studio apartments, only... spaceship style. )

They're tiny, but serviceable!

[canadese]

if you think there will be enough room then yes. it will be better if I go to your dwelling

[genice]

( His room can likely handle two humans (YOU DID INSIST, AX) and a dog, he thinks. Or knows. Why is everything so relatively cramped compared to what he's used to. (Because Space, Victor.) (I know, self.) )

That will be fine! I'll investigate what we'll need to be ready beforehand. You're good with dogs, right?

[canadese]

Yes I have encountered them before.

[genice]

Good! Makkachin will be with us the whole time, but he's a god dog. He'll stay out of the kitchen area and on my bed.