Text; UN: NavySpear

[charlieoscar]

There were people here before, right? So where's all their stuff? Even if they all got chest-bursted their belongings should still be here, but I didn't find so much as a toothbrush in my cabin.

Has anybody found anything useful?

Comments

[donkeyballs]

Someone found a book, if I'm recalling correctly.

Like a proper printed-on-paper one, which blew my mind a bit.

[charlieoscar]

I'd say that's something, but it really depends.

[Then Alex blows Mike's mind a bit. Again.]

Right. Mister From the Future.

[donkeyballs]

Depends on the book? I wasn't a reference manual, I'd remember that much.

Ain't a lot of trees on mars, partner. Far as I know even Earth don't print many paper books these days.

[charlieoscar]

Doesn't have to be, if it helps keep you from going stir crazy.

No, I get it. It's mostly tablets and ereaders for us too, especially for those us living and working in a 9000ton tin-can. Space is a premium. I just wouldn't be surprised to find one.

I'd hope to find one or two on this tub.

[donkeyballs]

[ Tablets and ereaders? Alex decides not to tell him that neither of those words mean much to him. ]

Well it was a surprise to me, that's for sure.

You're you holdin' up otherwise?

[charlieoscar]

Is there another option?

[donkeyballs]

Sure. Cracking. And it happens. Best to get it off your chest and let people help out before a crack becomes a break.

[charlieoscar]

I should have specified - is there a useful option?

[But as he guess that's not going to fly, another message follows shortly after.]

Look, this is shit so far gone I don't even have a word to appropriately describe it. But I'm not big on pity parties. So I'm gonna do what I do best and deal with it, so I can get to fixin it.

[...]

Besides, there's still money on this being drugs again.

[donkeyballs]

Sorry, sailor. This ain't drugs. Wish I could say it were.

But alright. You say you're okay, I'll take your word on it.

[charlieoscar]

Which is what the drugs would want me to believe.

I'm dealing. If that changes, I'll send word. I know the last thing any china shop needs is a bull.

[donkeyballs]

I've had too many hangovers since gettin' here to have any faith in this bein' anythin' short of reality.

Alright. We're all in this together, and we'll get out of it together. Somehow.

[charlieoscar]

You actually drank that mystery swill?

[It isn't that he doesn't see the other message; he does. And he actually takes it to heart, probably with more sentiment than it was even really meant, but there's little more that could be said or done about it in that moment.

And humor was the best medicine right?]

[donkeyballs]

It stops tastin' like piss by the fourth glass, even.

[charlieoscar]

Now that's an endorsement.

[donkeyballs]

Partner, I ain't gonna butter it up for you. It's swill. But it still takes the edge off.

[charlieoscar]

So long as you don't wake up blind.

[...]

Any cigars?

Bastards took mine.

[donkeyballs]

Haven't yet but that don't mean much.

You mean to smoke?

You don't want to do that in a space station, hoss. We all gotta share this air.

Haven't seen a one, anyway.

[charlieoscar]

That's really going to be a concern, huh?

[donkeyballs]

Lemme put it this way. We don't have access to life support readout. Everythin' we breath is recycled, but we ain't got a clue in hell how old the filters are or how efficient or whether or not they're gonna crap out on us any time soon.

Filters go down, we start not bein' able to breathe.

An' I've already tried hypoxia once, I ain't keen on a repeat experience.

[charlieoscar]

This place gets better and better every minute.

[But he doesn't argue, as much as he'd like to. He knows what it's like.]

[donkeyballs]

Sorry, hoss. I know Earther's are used to a certain sort of livin', but the rest of us ain't had that luxury.

[charlieoscar]

[There were a lot of ways he could respond to that, especially the tone he imagines came with it. He settles on sarcasm.]

Life or Death Space Checklist: smoking, no - getting hammered, yes. Got it.

[donkeyballs]

[ Alex snorts when he reads it. ]

Trust me, there's a lot of space-friendly vices out there. You'll do fine.

[charlieoscar]

Can't wait.