Ask The Beansels

[pyrobeansels]

Frinie do you think you'd ever consider being a streamer? It seems like something you might enjoy.

There's a muted discussion between Frinie and Bee - which is quite obviously her asking about the term. Finally, she pulls away from Bee with a blink.

Frinie: I...hadn't considered that, actually. It's a good idea though - from the sounds of it you don't exactly need qualifications or papers to do it. And I do enjoy video games. I'll have to look into this!

[pyrobeansels]

What's everyone's favorite type of media (shows, books, movies, games, etc)? and what genres?

Skitch: 🖐️ I've gotten really attached to a few types of human television programs. I really enjoy cooking shows - and also those shows where humans go around trying to pick out a home. I'm not entirely sure why - but I guess I enjoy both getting to see snippets of human life, and also the curiosity of seeing new things. What sort of meals will they make? Who will win? What kind of home will they pick? It's all very interesting - but they're also shows I find calming to watch. Low stakes, simple, you know. 👍

Jamie: I can take responsibility for that, I think - these are my favorite shows to watch, too. I don't know if I'd say TV shows are my favorite media - but I'm also not entirely sure what I'd say /is/. TV is up there, and of course I like music too. So I guess I'd stick with a similar answer to Skitch. 

Trep: I have a difficult time with media in general. Sitting and focusing on things isn't so much my style - I prefer to be doing. Walking, hunting, active things. Puzzles aren't awful, I suppose - whether digital video games or otherwise. They have to be especially difficult, though - else they just won't hold my attention. Which has always been true - this isn't an issue specific to Earth or humans. 

Addison: I enjoy reading. 

Trep: Reading…? 

Addison: ...I enjoy reading romance novels. Frankly, the cheesier they are the better. It's just simple reading, makes it easy to unwind. I don't particularly care about the subgenre, though - I'll give most romance novels a try. 

Frinie: Bee introduced me to video games, and now we play them together a lot! I think they're really fun - I actually like playing online games. Especially the kind where you're fighting other people, you know? 

Bee: And I really like platformers and roleplayers - and also just watching Frinie play. She really gets into it and honestly it's kind of funny to see. 

Keet: I don't care for much. Music is alright, I guess - although I like our own kind. Difficult to put that into a genre you'd understand, I guess. There's also this computer on Polus - it has an old human game called Pong on it. I've got the high score - so I don't mind that so much. It's really simple, but fun. 

[pyrobeansels]

Can Skitch turn into a dragon? I wanna see Skitch turn into a dragon.

Skitch, clearly amused: 👍 I can, in fact. At least, I can look like a dragon. It's one of the first things Toby asked me to turn into - unfortunately, wings and such aren't functional for me. I'm far too dense. Still, Toby seemed to like it. 👐

Jamie: Beyond that, his 'real' form isn't all that far off, really. He's not scaly and he doesn't have wings, but his general form sort of reminds me of a dragon. More of a Toothless than Smaug but, still.

[pyrobeansels]

So Addison, helping look after a tiny shapeshifter (Trepper) must come with some unexpected surprises. How are you finding it?

Addison: It certainly does. Did you know baby Impostors shed their teeth? Because I certainly didn't - at least not until I stepped on one of them one day. There was also that day when he shifted into one of the barn cats...we spent hours looking for him, panicking as you can imagine - and when Trep finally sniffed him out, Trepper thought it was the funniest damn thing he'd ever done. So, needless to say, it's become a favorite pastime of his. At least we know to examine the animals, now. So, it's certainly been...interesting. Also challenging, of course. These are nuisances at worst, amusing at best - but we can't always just leave him home, you know, and there's been a close call or two when he's lost control of himself in public. We always just drop what we're doing and leave when a meltdown seems imminent - but it gets hairy, sometimes. Still, it's worth it. Wouldn't give that kid up for the world.

[pyrobeansels]

So to the imps living on earth: do you work any jobs? Or does mira sort of cover you for a good while?

Skitch: 👋 I believe Trep and I are similar - as far as MIRA knows, we're employees the same as anyone else. Jamie and I still work with MIRA, so that is plenty of funds to support us and Toby. And then some, honestly. So long as we are in their employee we receive bimonthly checks. When not flying or on recuperative leave, our jobs mostly consist of desk work and testing. When we are sent on flights, pay increases - and since we aren't using funds in space, our savings build up rather quickly. So there's no need for other work. 👍

Trep: MIRA pays in direct deposits - and not having a bank account would tip them off rather quickly that something about an applicant was amiss. So that's one of the things Infiltrators get set up with in joining MIRA's ranks. Also, yes, what Skitch says goes for Addison and I as well.

Frinie: Unfortunately, it turns out that all of the paperwork - things like Social Security numbers and IDs - are hacked into MIRA's systems for us. MIRA doesn't know better - but that means that I don't have any of this paperwork myself. Which means finding work outside of MIRA has been...difficult. Although I hope to find something eventually, if only to have something to do. In the meantime, though, Bee and I both have a decent saving from MIRA, and she is working as well - so we're not in any danger of funds running out anytime soon. I don't believe I add a lot of financial strain, anyway - the most expensive thing about me is buying enough meat.

[pyrobeansels]

(OOC: I see them questions, and will answer them soon I promise. 👀)

[pyrobeansels]

Daddison Daddison Daddison

Trepper pauses, thinks it over, then beams as he starts chanting 'Daddison' repeatedly.

Trep: I do have to say, it's got quite the ring to it.

Addison: ...It's infinitely better than some of the other terms they've been using for us around here.

[pyrobeansels]

Keet how does it feel to have the absolute most adorable name?

Keet looks entirely unamused at this.

Keet: It's not adorable - it's just my name! And while I'm lots of good things, adorable isn't on the list.

Beatrice, with a straight face: You could expand on it. Call yourself Parakeet instead. That has a good ring to it.

Keet, narrowing his eyes: Is that...less 'adorable'?

Beatrice, now pressing her lips together firmly in a clear attempt not to laugh or even smile: Mhm. Definitely.

Keet: I'll...think about it.

[pyrobeansels]

so, Davis and Robin, have you learned your lesson about not going near imp holes by now?

Davis: Imp Holes?? Holy shit, that's hilarious. Imp holes...

Robin: Well, we were avoiding them...but now that you mention it, seems like someone ought to go and examine those imp holes closely.

Davis is now laughing so hard he's crying and completely unable to form words.

[pyrobeansels]

The missions that yall go on sound like they get real scary sometimes, what do you guys do to stay brave & keep going despite the circumstances?

And I am going to teleport keet back to where he was before because he has seen enough of dennys for now *poof*

All of these answers are happening while Keet is violently thrashing in the background, enraged by this teleportation thing because 'how the FUCK did that just happen AGAIN?'

Jamie: Well, for me - the mission with Skitch was the first experience I ever had with Impostors. And it was...absolutely petrifying. It all happened so quickly though that there wasn't a lot of time to do much. Pretty much all I could do was, you know, panic and worry in private and just keep moving on otherwise. The other option would have been to just...quit, you know? And none of us could do that. The ship needed us. We needed each other. And, you know, these days I have Skitch - we've been able to stay together on the two missions we've been on. We did have one...issue. But Skitch stopped it before anyone got hurt. I know I and the crew are safe so long as Skitch is there.

Addison: I'm not proud of it, but frankly the easiest way to deal with things in the thick of it is to just shut the fear out. I can't afford to fold under it - I have crew who need me, answers to find, and a ship to keep running. It really is a matter of steeling yourself against the negative feelings and just pushing through. Staying busy helps, too. And you know, at the end of the day, even knowing the risk - I love the stars too much not to go back. And while I try not to boast, I know I'm good at what I do. I know I might be able to help crews who otherwise would struggle. So I always go back.

Beatrice: The honest answer is...I don't. I think what Jamie said really hits home - there's not a lot of choice when you're face to face with the terror of this stuff. You either fold, or you just keep doing your day to day hoping things don't go wrong. But it's...it's really scary. Having Frinie was a big help, but even then... There were some nights all I could do was curl up under a blanket and try not to sob too loud.

Davis: See, what everyone needs is just a little more humor. Laughter is the best medicine, or whatever, you know? Keep the mood light, and that helps keep the morale high.

Robin: He's really good at that - and if gets too much for me, I just track Davis down. He'll always help me perk up, you know?

[pyrobeansels]

i cast teleportation spell *teleports keet in front of a dennys*

Keet: What the fuck, what the fuck - oh. That's a Denny's? Anyway. What the fuck just happened to me?

[pyrobeansels]

It feels a bit unfair everyone else is getting hugs and poor Keet's getting invited to fight in a Denny's parking lot of all places. ): C'mere and get your hug too, Keet.

Keet: You know what? I'm good. I think I'd prefer the Denny's thing.

Frinie: Oh stop it and come here. Anon wants a hug.

Keet: What're you -

Keet's cut off as Frinie pulls him and Anon close into a hug. For a brief second, Keet looks a bit embarrassed - then with a hiss he takes off, Frinie letting him go without further struggle.

Frinie: I'd say some part of him enjoyed that but...I'm not entirely sure that's true. At any rate, I appreciate you thinking of us all, Anon.

[pyrobeansels]

Are Frinie and Bee accepting hugs, because I would like to deliver

Frinie looks to Bee, who smiles after a few seconds and nods.

Frinie: Sure! I don't mind a nice hug sometimes!

It's Beatrice that moves first, though, and she pulls you into a nice, solid, cold-warm hug along with Frinie.

[pyrobeansels]

*leaves a note for keet that just says 'Meet me in the Denny's parking lot in 15 minutes for an ass kicking'*

Keet looks at the note for a long minute, face definitely going through a series of emotions including annoyance and even anger, but he settles in the end for confusion. With a gesture, he shrugs and drops the note.

Keet: I don't know what or where a 'Dennys' is. But if I did, this would not end well for you, Anon.

[pyrobeansels]

Trepper! I love you! My little sharp munchy baby!

Trepper giggles at this, and as if to show off starts gnashing his teeth - them elongating to ragged canines in his false visor-mouth.

Trepper: Munchy munchy munch! *He giggles again, thrilled with his new word as he toddles off.*

Addison: Oh thank god. Maybe he'll stop saying 'fuck' so much.

Trep: Well, maybe if you'd censor yourself a little better around him...

Addison: I didn't know he was there - and you're well aware he's picked up most of his cursing from you!

[pyrobeansels]

Cowboy and Catboy. What crimes will they commit.

Addison: Not long ago the answer would have been firmly 'none.' That being said, I'm starting to understand the urge a little more.

Trep grins at that.

Trep: Consider, we could just let Trepper go and look away while he does whatever he does. Wouldn't even have to get your own hands dirty.

Addison: It was a joke, don't get your hopes up. And please don't just 'let Trepper go' - consider the collateral damage.

[pyrobeansels]

Hey Addison, what are your favorite animals to handle on the ranch?

Addison: Honestly, it can be nice to spend time around just about any of them. Although there's this old goat - he bites. Just because he wants to. He gets as much care as any of them, but he's...happier when left alone. At any rate, I spend the most time around the horses. The other animals all have plenty of intelligence of their own, but horses are something special. Although my personal favorite is this little half-pony gelding that was born on the ranch a few years back. He's an idiot - and really, that's most of his charm. Also, as a side note, chickens are awfully fun as well. Lot of character in those little birds.