Bruised egos hurt the worst.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

After a series of vicious ego-bruising arguments, Asuka had slipped away from the observation deck to go sulk. Well, she wouldn't call it sulking, but really, that's what it was. She already hated this place and, by extension, most of the people on board. No one cared about what she'd managed to accomplish. No one cared that she was a prodigy, that she was intelligent, that she was the best Eva pilot in the world. They just wanted her to be quiet. The fact that this was partly (if not mostly) her own fault seemed to not register to her (or if it did, she was ignoring it very effectively).

She found herself just... wandering. She didn't know this place and she hated it, anyway. She didn't have anywhere to go - all she knew was that she wasn't going back so she could just be humiliated again. She found a quiet corner, away from everyone (she hoped) and buried her head in her arms. She wasn't crying - she was never going to cry again - she was just thinking, away from everyone. That was all.

Comments

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

More new arrivals? Brainiac 5 glances around, noting the array of new faces about the place during one of the rare moments he's ventured away from his work. It seems his break has coincided with another batch of newcomers (though he doesn't pick up any Legionnaires, unfortunately), and he has to wonder how often Stacy plans on adding to their crew, not to mention how long he'd been holed up working in the first place.

His plan is to pick up one or two minor supplies for the next round of tests he's working on, but he pauses when he notices someone curled up in a corner along the way.

She looks like she's crying and there's no one else in sight. He hesitates for a moment, but in the end ventures closer until he's certain she should have noticed him.

"Is everything alright?"

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka stiffens, body tightening up as she senses someone else approaching. She looks up a moment later, eyes dry. She clenches her jaw. it looked liked that Brainiac person. What did he want? To rub it in?

Well, that wasn't one hundred per cent correct. He was different. She could tell that much. Still, she shot a glare at him, defenses slamming back into place, "I'm fine. What do you want?"

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Apparently the girl hadn't been crying after all, but her defensiveness over what was a simple question was odd.

"I was simply passing through the area when I saw you there," he states. "I thought I'd see if you needed help with anything, since you appear to be new to the ship."

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka picks herself up, trying to act nonchalant, her tone dismissive, "Why would I need help? How hard could finding my way around this ship be?"

She eyes him with distaste for a moment, "...you're not related to that Braniac jerk, are you?"

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Brainiac 5 blinks at her, and a slightly smug smile tugs at his lips. "You haven't seen how big the ship is yet?"

But the smile's gone as soon as she asks the next question. 'That Brainiac jerk' is all he needs to hear to know exactly why she was so defensive to start with. "I see you've met my counterpart," he sighs. "We're both technically Brainiac 5, but from different realities. Aside from the name and some basic details, there aren't many differences. Thankfully."

[telekinetic_badass]

Julian was bored, and was mostly mindlessly milling about the ship. Spotting the girl who was kind of cute and alone, he figured he'd at least say hi.

"So what are you doing out here all by your lonesome?"

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka scrambled to her feet, arms folded across her chest, "Nothing! I'm just... exploring this stupid ship."

[telekinetic_badass]

"And not crying at all," he stated, faux cheerfully.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"I don't cry!" Asuka snapped, "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

[telekinetic_badass]

"Wandering aimlessly," he answered with a shrug. "I really haven't had much of a chance to look around the ship.

"Wanna join me?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Hello, there," Picard commented, coming upon the redheaded girl in the hallway. "Can I help you?" He didn't comment on the way she looked, didn't say a word about her possibly crying or not crying. He only offered his help to her. He'd learned some things about dealing with teenagers, and had learned even more while serving as captain aboard Stacy.

This ship really needs a name, he thought to himself, before shelving the sudden thought for later. "My name is Jean-Luc Picard. I'm the captain of the crew aboard this vessel. Who are you?"

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka quickly clambered to her feet, small bundle of personal possessions tucked under one arm. She shot a glare at Picard and straightened herself out, trying to act dignified and "adult", "Of course not! I don't need help!"

She cocked her head, then stepped forward, leveling a finger at Picard's chest, "So you're the one in charge of this stupid thing?"

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"If by 'this stupid thing', you mean the crew, then yes," Picard replied. He raised one arm slowly, nudging Asuka's finger away from his chest with the back of his hand. He wasn't about to be spoken down to by someone who, by all appearances, was nearly half a century his junior. He did not, however, that the girl's anger and ego seemed to come naturally to her. She was used to being the best, the brightest. Obviously, she was going to be some work.

"Everyone needs help sometimes," he said, not actually stating that she needed help right at that moment, "but I'll trust you can find your way with little difficulty. Still, I wouldn't be losing my temper at everything that moves or speaks to you if I were you, Miss..." He paused to check the report Wednesday had given him-- "...Soryu. Perhaps you'd like to accompany me? I'm just making rounds around the ship, and it would help you get the feel of the place."

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"Then maybe you can explain what the Hell is going on here, aside from the whole 'kidnapped by aliens for a mysterious purpose' line that I've been getting!" She folds her arms, watching him expectantly, "And no, I don't need your help. I'm fine on my own, all right? Besides, it's hardly my fault that everyone on board this stupid ship seem to be total morons."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"That's exactly what's gone on, Miss Soryu," Picard replied. "We've all been brought here by the ship's AI, Stacy. The mysterious purpose is becoming more clear as we continue, but we all have to work together if we're going to learn the truth of the matter." Picard didn't bother glaring at Asuka for the moron line, though he did explain otherwise to her. He wasn't about to have someone badmouthing the crew and causing any more problems between everyone than there had to be.

"This crew is quite capable, Miss Soryu, filled with some of the foremost experts of their respective fields. We have an excellent engineering and science crew, and I've little doubts that our medical staff is among the best in any reality." Well, maybe a little glare. "Everyone here has their own unique abilities or skillsets that make them valued members of this crew, even if they're not obvious to you, Miss Soryu. I would spend a little less time judging and a lot more time observing if I were you."

[venominsilicon.livejournal.com]

Gauron hadn't even really stopped by the meet and greet earlier - more like glanced in; when he'd caught sight of Khel, his shoot it in the eye reflexes had begun itching, and he figured it'd be better to duck right back out - but nonetheless, he remembered seeing Asuka there. She'd looked in somewhat higher spirits at the time.

His movements are almost silent as he pads over to sit down next to her. "Rough first day?"

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka jumped up, startled, "Where did you- No! It was fine! I don't need your help!"

[venominsilicon.livejournal.com]

He knew there was a reason why he'd zeroed in on her - could she be any easier to read? Nonetheless, he fakes obliviousness to the wounded pride. "God, is it really that cloying in there? No wonder you left."

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka folded her arms, grumbling. At least he didn't seem to want to berate her. Or offer her help.

"They're all idiots, anyway. What do they know?"

[venominsilicon.livejournal.com]

"Harsh words." He stands up, chuckling. "I'm not gonna disagree with you - but you might want to consider being a little more charitable, since you're going to be stuck with these people for god only knows how long."

[aworldnevermade.livejournal.com]

"I'd offer you a tissue, but I don't have any."

Meluly's arms are folded across her chest (the way the red wrap she wears instead of a plantsuit shows off her collarbone calls a little attention thataways just by itself), but her tone is friendly. Mildly worried, even.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka looks up with a slight glare, "I'm not crying!"

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Lafiel has come across a strange sight while going from point A to point B. Here in the hallways is Meluly, bent over a lander girl seemingly having just finished her first growth period (though she never could really tell with them even after all this time). The girl has an expression of disdain holding back sadness. It's a peculiar tension she's seen plenty of times in the mirror.

Abriels are not allowed to cry. If you must cry, do it where noone can see you.

Luly obviously means well, but Lafiel thinks she might do both of them more harm than good if she tries to be that compassionate to this girl. Call it a hunch.

"Clearly she isn't, lieutenant. Your eyes might be perfect for night vision but here perhaps you should look a little closer?" Lafiel flashes her an almost imperceptible look. Trust me. it seems to say.

[aworldnevermade.livejournal.com]

"But—" Luly catches Lafiel's look. "—sorry," she continues smoothly, smiling sheepishly at Asuka. "I, ah, guessed, you know?" The makeshift sentiment sounds more genuine than it really should be, for coming up with it so awkwardly...

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka spares Lafiel a glance - just another weird looking person on an even weirder ship, at this point. She turns back to Luly, snapping out a reply, "Well, don't guess. I don't need your pity and I don't need your help."

She scrambles to her feet anyway, glancing between the two (older) women warily, "What do you want, anyway?"