Newbie Meet N' Greet

[cityship]

Meet n' Greet, smell my feet, gimme something good to eat! Unfortunately, the newbie meet and greet takes place the same time the command staff is congregating, so they might be a little late to the party.

But the crew is there to welcome the newcomers and explain their situation. At the end of the milling and spilling about, the command staff is going to start a general meeting to apprise everyone of their situation and discuss their next course of action:

Getting off the damn ship.

Comments

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

Stopping in his tracks, the skeleton turned back to regard Buffy. Rather, his head did. His body remained perfectly stationary, until he glanced down and noticed. "My apologies! I ofttimes forget what it means to have tendons. Or ligaments. My name is Khel no'Gran, though an unfortunate moniker I was given back home seems to have carried over here as well, at least with the strange crusader known as Batman. If thou hath trouble pronouncing my name, as some aboard this ship do, then thou may simply refer to me as the Bone Lord."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

"....Batman?" Okay. Superboy. Robin. Batman.

...was there a Power Girl in the house anywhere?

"I can...try for Khel. And don't worry about the head-twisty. I've had substitute teachers do it too. It's much less awkward without the skin and the flesh. Uh...no offense, of course."

Because Bone Lord brings up too many awkward - if hilarious - mental images.

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"There is no offense to be taken," Khel replied, the rictus smile returning. "I have spent well over fifty centuries without flesh or sensation. It is an easy thing to grow accustomed to, however difficult touch is to forget."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

"Without sensa...you- you can't feel? Like, anything? Physically?"

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"I feel naught. I feel no pain, no discomfort. No pleasure touches these bones of mine. I do not hunger, do not sleep. Cold does not touch me, and fire, even magical fire, does little to actually damage me. I am a Death Knight, milady, and am considered a kind of undead equaled only by liches. Even dread demon lord and pit fiends tread fearfully in my domain. They approach me with much trepidation, for I am ... unique ... amongst my brethren Death Knights."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

Buffy watches him, studying him, and listens to his words carefully. "Unique in the sense that you were maybe chosen for a duty far greater than the other...Death Knights?"

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps so. It is my belief that Tyr has given this opportunity to me, that I might at last find redemption ... atonement.

"That I might finally be allowed to die. My tale is not long. If thou wouldst like, I can tell it to thee. I find that having people know of me as once a man to be far preferable to my state in my own world. There, my name is forgotten, my kingdom is ruin, my people dust, and I am but a fearful legend, a target for adventurers who be long on bravery and short on brain."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiled reassuringly at Khel. He sounded like he'd lost a lot, and while Buffy still had the Scoobies and Giles and Dawn in her life...she could relate.

A lot.

"I'm all ears," Buffy said to him. "Really."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"Very well. Hear then, milady, my tale." The following tale (http://forced-unlife.livejournal.com/profile) wasn't as long as some might believe. Despite the length of time he had existed, being trapped on the island had limited his experience with the outside world, forcing him to mark the time by how many attacked him and when.

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

No, it wasn't that long at all...but the fact was that it was a sad tale. Buffy's eyes are a little wet at the story, and she wipes one tear away. "I'm sorry. That's...god, and I complain about how joyfully craptastic my life is. I'm sorry. I really am."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"What have thee to be sorry for, milady? My state is in no way thy fault. I have faith. Faith that Tyr has found way that I might at last attain redemption, and true death."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

"I had Faith too, and the only thing that caused was trouble," Buffy said offhandedly. "Except that Faith was a person. Named Faith. Who caused trouble."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

A clacking noise came from the skull as its lower jaw twisted to the side. The wry grin of the Death Knight was obvious, even without flesh or lips. "In mine own time, such a name was considered a blessing."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiled back. "She had a lot of issues that I couldn't really fault her for. In another time...we could have been really good friends. Maybe even sisters. It just...never quite worked out that way for us. Too much baggage."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"Thy relationship failed due to luggage?"

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

"Of the emotional kind," Buffy quickly explained. "She had more issues than the periodical section at the library."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"Thy words are strange still, but I believe I am coming to understand the message thou seekest to convey."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiled. "Sorry. And yay for the getting used to of me."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"It is not terribly difficult to become accustomed to, milady. Still, thy words are alien to me, and it shall take me time to understand them."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

"Well, if you ever need me to translate into, well, regular English, just ask. I promise not to get all offended about. And, you know, you can totally call me Buffy."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"Such familiarity is inappropriate with a lady, even a lady-at-arms."

[i-died-twice.livejournal.com]

"Not exactly used to being called a lady here," Buffy replied. "But I...uh. Thank you."

[forced-unlife.livejournal.com]

"Thou ... art welcome."