⮞ Oh, hey. I didn’t expect anyone else to be up.
[divebomb the other couch]
Oh, you’re definitely not wearing a shirt.
[Emerson]: “Hey, mornin’ Azeran. You’re up on the early side, huh? You want to come join me? I was just havin’ a bit of coffee. You want some?”
Uh, sure. [tentatively try to sip from her cup]
⮞ I’m good on the coffee, but I never say no to good company.
What?
[Emerson]: She scoots over to ensure there’s plenty of space, but there already was. As you take a seat, she flashes a smile. “You settlin’ in okay? It was nice hangin’ with you guys last night, seems like the others are all makin’ themselves at home. But are you findin’ it alright?”
Actually, I do have a complaint. Evan and Mena were up super late talking about the planets they’ve been to, it was really annoying.
⮞ It’s good so far! Boomer snores like a chainsaw, so having a bunk right next to hers isn’t the most ideal but hey. Everything else is great.
I think Pholy might have had his finger under my nose to see if I was breathing...
[Emerson]: She laughs at that, nodding. “Well I’m glad that, aside from the snorin’, it’s been good. Nice havin’ you here. ... all of you guys, I mean. It gets lonely in crew turnover. ‘Course, I love Ty and them, don’t get me wrong. Just... nice to have some new faces.”
⮞ You and Ty are pretty close, huh? Are you like... a couple?
Crew turnover, that’s pretty huge isn’t it?
I’ll bet it does get lonely up here. Bet it gets lonely all the time.
[Emerson]: “Oh, jeez, no. No, not at all. Not that I- he’s a good-lookin’ guy, you know, just... he’s like a brother to me. Not t’ mention he’s definitely gay. But we’re real close.”
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
How close is ‘really close’ exactly?
⮞ How long have you been working with him?
[Emerson]: “Uhh, Ty started here... two years ago? And we just hit it off. Like, instant best friends. But we’re the two youngest crew members, the others are all a lot older than we are. I mean, Riker’s in his, like... thirties.”
⮞ ... I’m in my thirties. But like, young hip thirties! Cool thirties.
This is a little bit awkward.
His thirties? Ancient. I’m nineteen!
[Emerson]: She flushes at the realization, laughing shortly after. Probably to relieve some embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that! It ain’t a bad thing, it’s just- it’s... I guess I really ain’t got anythin’ to say to dig myself outta this one. But you an’ him are nothin’ alike. Age don’t mean as much as personality, you know? And I like your personality.”
You don’t have to placate me.
No, it’s fine, I’m super old. You can say it.
⮞ Hey, thanks. That’s sweet of you. So, how did you end up here?
[Emerson]: “Well, I been on the Zenith for... fooouuur years now, I think? I got my license when I was nineteen to fly smaller aircrafts, and I wanted to go to school for the big rigs, but my ex-husband wasn’t really into it. But when we got divorced I said, y’know, fuck it.”
Wow, you got your flying license really young, huh?
⮞ Wait, you’ve been married before? How... don’t answer if it’s invasive, but... what?
Good for you! ‘Fuck it’ is my life motto!
[Emerson]: She sighs, tapping the rim of her mug. “Aw, it was nothin’. You know, grew up in a small town, we went to high school together. He was some big strappin’ football guy, his parents ran a wheat mill a few blocks down from my daddy’s farm. We went together all through school, got married at eighteen and- I mean, that was a mistake. I know that now. You don’t stay the same between eighteen and twenty-two. I don’t know if it was my fault, if I changed or he did, or if maybe we wasn’t ever the way we thought. But he got... real mean.”
That’s a lot of information.
Give me this guy’s holopad number. I just wanna talk, it’s cool.
⮞ I wasn’t there, I can only speak for the you I know. Nobody has a right to treat the Emerson I know poorly. I’m sorry that happened to you, Em.
[Emerson]: After a moment of appearing distant, she returns to the present with a smile. “That’s sweet of you, Azeran, but it was a good while ago. And anyway, that’s-- that’s a lot to dump on you. I’m sorry for gettin’ all...” She gestures, searching for a word she doesn’t ever find. It’s clear she’s embarrassed about how much she’s shared.
⮞ You don’t need to apologize to me. Honestly. Hey, if anything I owe you thanks for trusting me this much.
Yeah, it was a whole lot, but I’ll be okay.
Clearly it wasn’t all that long ago.
[Emerson]: There might be more to be said on the subject, but for now she seems eager to leave it behind. “That’s what friends do, right? So hey, what’re your plans for today? Up ta anythin’ fun?”
Nothing at all, actually. I’m looking forward to kicking back, maybe having a nap when Boomer’s up.
I thought I might go hang out with that tour bot some more, she was kinda hot in a weird way?
⮞ Actually, I was thinking I might play some Super Punch Twins. I want to try to get really good. Would you be into coaching me or something?
[Emerson]: She laughs warmly, clearly not at the idea but more at your sincerity. “I’m not anywhere near as good as Ty at it but... yeah. I could handle clockin’ a bit more time with you.”
Azeran Snyder has gained 2 ❤️ with Emerson!