PSL--Explorer's Setting (New Crew arriving!)

[my_belfry_of_fun]

The Explorer's Craft was a smaller ship--maxed at 15 people. The Arethusa was nice for all of that, and still in the early stages of its Exploration. Only 1/3rd staffed, it had just brought on two new crew-members.

Current Crew consisted of Professor John Robinson as the Captain, Gune in Engineering, "Nurse" Joy in Medical, and general crew members Jayne Cobb and Turanga Leela. It seemed an easy going (mostly) ship, and the current crew was treated to an announcement on their Omni-band at the arrival of 2 new crew-members along with their vital-statistics (height, weight, age, place of origin, general skills). Professor Robinson seemed fairly hands off and willing to delegate things, as the Arethusa was currently en-route. Their 'mission' for this exploration was to visit a resort planet, and study it's economy and how it remained so Utopian. Gune was nice, if easily distractable, and the only 'obvious' alien although some suspected Leela. Jayne mostly spent his time verbally sparring with Leela or keeping to himself, while Nurse Joy simply seemed content and willing to help. Curious at times, and clearly intelligent, but she wasn't one to make waves if they weren't needed.

Information on the Omniband
Name:
Age:
Height/Weight:
Place of Origin:
Skills:

Each crew-member wakes up in their bunk, wearing the ship's uniform. They will have some possessions from home. (The uniform is generally black boots, blue BDU pants and Jacket with a name patch, and a black t-shirt or tank-top underneath.) Each crew-member also posesses an omni-band. A small ring-like device that is designed to be worn like a collar or a bracelet, and that can be expanded or contracted. It may act as a communicator and mini-computer.

Comments

[redarrowqueen]

"We're both acting like kids!" Thea giggled. "And I'm in agreement, its been rough lately." meaning the last few missions having taken its toll on every level. She goes for another splash strike as she speaks,"Don't think its the drinks, I only had one and it was pretty weak at that." since due to her past she was careful.

[light_of_willpower]

"That's one more than I had." Nope, still dodging the water just enough to be annoying--he has to be doing it on purpose. Especially since Trunks wasn't usually one to be a jerk.

Holding out a hand though, ki gathered again and a light blast followed. Enough to hit the water and splash Thea in the radius without hitting her. "NOW, I'm acting like a kid." Definitely a grin, and he's ready to do that again if she wants to keep up this war.

[redarrowqueen]

"So going to try and top it!" Thea was grinning as she used a rock to gain some leverage for a spin kick. This time it worked since she got a decent enough splash out of that to actually make a hit. But she's starting to see things: she could keep Trunks from slipping into all doom and gloom all the time via little things.

[light_of_willpower]

That brought perhaps a brief laugh, a hint. "Trust me, I could be a brat if I felt like it." IF he'd grown up with his Father's influence, he might be exactly that too.

"Gotta admit, I find your archery more impressive than your hand-to-hand. You have better aim when you have a bow in your hand." He was more pleased that she didn't slip, on the rock, considering the water and she was soaking wet.

[redarrowqueen]

"Just more at home with something in my hand, that extra bit of focus as you explained it." Thea confessed but she's still smiling. "But you have me beat when it comes to hand to hand, I have a lot of work ahead to improve."

[light_of_willpower]

On their ship? He had everyone beat in hand-to-hand. Starting to suspect that was part of why he'd been placed with the Arethusa. Those skills had been hard won and fought for though, and necessary for his survival. Trying hard to keep his brain from going back down that path though, when it was supposed to be a vacation.

Not that he knew how to have a vacation, really. Learning, slowly--and he'd had glimpses before. But even then, it'd usually gotten interrupted.

Letting ki gather again, warning as Trunks tilted his head. "Ready to concede defeat yet?" He's more than willing to fire another ki-blast to splash her again otherwise.

[redarrowqueen]

"One more attempt!" as Thea just threw caution to the wind and just went for a combo splash attack via a well timed spin kick along with using the heel of her boot to gain some extra ground. She also used a more risky move, one she had only used in battle since she spotted some driftwood and used it as a launching pad.

This time it somehow worked since she somehow got Trunks into the water with her. "Tie?" but she's still smiling,"Because I don't think I could pull off another attack like that without some decent leverage."

[light_of_willpower]

One of these days, he'd have to show her the weakness of spin-kicks. It'd be another time though as Trunks moved to dodge. He hadn't expected Thea to just launch herself at him though as part of the gambit. Ki gathered in his hand faded as he sort of reflexively caught her as she tackled him.

The splash was larger, since they were both in the water, and he's pretty sure he kept her from feeling most of the impact. A bit of a tangle of limbs though, as she's smiling down at him and speaking. "Nope. I still scored more hits." Bit of determination there, as he shook his head to get some of the water out, and leaned back on his arms.

[redarrowqueen]

"This time at least." but Thea's trying to not burst into a fit of giggles at what had happened. She's really smiling and it was staring to happen on the inside, could they be more than mere allies and friends?

[light_of_willpower]

"Every time, Thea." A hint of cockiness in the upwards tilt of his nose and chin, but he's grinning.

[redarrowqueen]

"You may have won this battle but the war has just started! Thea's playing of course but she's grinning. She could not explain what she was feeling however, something was blooming but what?

[light_of_willpower]

Oh that just brought a smirk, playful cockiness still present. "You do know battle is in my blood, right? Saiyans were a warrior race after all."

Of course, then it starts to dawn on him that they're still in the water. Their legs are tangled, and they're closer than normal. Except for when they spar--but that was a hazard of sparring. Maybe it was because a breeze picked up, and stirred the water around them, chilling things.

Maybe it was long dormant hormones finally reacting. Honestly, Trunks wasn't sure--the cockiness is suddenly replaced by a hint of red in his face, and his head turning. Eyes looking down, as shyness kicked in. "Sure you're alright? Can't have been fun to tackle me like that." Considering his build, he couldn't have been very fun to crash into.

[redarrowqueen]

"I'm fine, a rough landing can't hurt all that much." Thea was keeping things light of course. "If anything its only bruises, nothing worse than a typical sparring." she offered.

[light_of_willpower]

"I tried to take most of the impact." Still red, and not looking at her. There's a heartbeat, two--and it felt like it was louder than normal to Trunks anyways. The beating of his heart... "We should probably move. Get out of the water, at least."

So why wasn't he moving? They'd been this close plenty of times while sparring. He knew how much Thea weighed, how graceful and agile she could be, quick and slim and lithe... Yet somehow it seemed as if it was more right then.

[redarrowqueen]

"We should." Thea was in agreement as she got off Trunks. Her jeans and tee however were more clinging than usual from the landing and showed off her curves. But she did sneak a few peeks, more than usual than a sparring session. What was going on?

[light_of_willpower]

Waiting well until she was steady, then getting to his own feet. For all Trunks was slim, he was made of muscle. His own clothing clinging a bit, pulling off the sweater from around his waist and wringing it out. Still not quite looking at her, except out of the corner of his eyes. "I..I can try and dry us off, once we're on the shore again."

Because it would do no good to dry them off, while they were still likely to get wet. Considering the breeze was picking up, the possibility of getting chilled was likely. "I think." Trunks amended, although he was fairly sure he could, by flaring his ki. Starting to wade to the shore.

[redarrowqueen]

"Dry land and getting dry, in total agreement." Thea nodded as she let Trunks take over. She knew something was there but what she could not explain. But whatever it was felt pretty good so she's taking a let's see what lies ahead for now.

[light_of_willpower]

It didn't take them long to get on the beach and far enough inland from the tide washing up. It wasn't quite an awkward silence as they moved, even if it felt a bit so. Mostly because it was dawning on Trunks--and he had no clue how to react.

Yes, he knew Thea was a girl. So what? Why did it matter now, and he was more aware, that Thea was a girl. A playful, stubborn, smart, and skilled girl his age. Whom he trusted a lot, worked with. And was cute.

Maybe the night air and lack of light would hide his blush enough. Pulling the damp sweater on, he paused, then reached up to rub the back of his neck in nerves. "I'm pretty sure I can dry us off, but it means you need to be close."

Which didn't bother him--they'd been close plenty of times while sparring and training. He is determinedly not looking at her though, given her jeans and her shirt were hugging her frame. Petite curves that were slim and lithe--reminding him of her bow, honestly. Archery suited her.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea was in the same boat to borrow the expression. She was away more that Trunks was a guy: a fun, stubborn, smart and badasss guy her age. Thankfully the night was hiding her own near blush. He was the brawn to her bow but she knew she could feel it and was trying to not drool.

[light_of_willpower]

Well, she'd stepped closer, and even without trying Trunks could feel a 'pressure' of sorts. A tension of some kind, in the air--and he wasn't sure he liked it. Why did this have to happen now?

There's a sigh, and he raked a hand through his bangs before resting it against his neck again. "SO...I know we get close during sparring. It needs to be that kind of close. Not unless you want me to blast you, and I really don't wanna do that."

Focus on getting them dry--focus. You can do that Trunks. Never mind he'd have a very cute and attractive girl he liked held close--it was just practical. Drying them both off.

[redarrowqueen]

"That ki bit comes in handy right about now right?" Thea was going for humor but outside of sparring this was closem even for them. But she was dryer and not at risk of catching cold or worse,"But in a really odd way its like we've needed this." meaning being silly and having fun.

[light_of_willpower]

It had been awkward, about as close as they'd been in the water with only the barest space between their bodies. Trunks had closed his eyes (which had helped in some ways, but not in others) and focused. Calling up his ki, powering it up to shine in an aura round him--hair fluttering slightly as if in a breeze.

Then he had to add Thea--an arm moving around her waist and he'd never been more aware before of her body next to his own. The aura extended around her with her hair fluttering too, and sand and debris starting to swirl around them from the energy and force Trunks was calling up. It was likely a weird sensation for Thea; vaguely ticklish, and warm, and a hint of pressure around her like a blanket on top of her.

For Trunks, he was bright red again, and had opened his eyes as having them closed only made it worse. Aware of the scent of sea-salt and damp fabric, of her curves so close to him, and how close her face was to his own as he tilted his head up slightly.

Holding it for a few seconds, several heartbeats which seemed louder to them both, before letting it fade once more and he removed his arm. "It...has its moments. You have the potential to learn that much, at least." Looking away slightly, and arm going up to his neck in nerves. "Well, enough to learn to dry yourself anyways, not sure about the aura."

They had needed it, and it had been fun. He wouldn't mind doing it again. It was a different kind of game than their skeet-shooting.

[redarrowqueen]

Thea was able to focus and remember some of what Trunks has been teaching her over the last few week. It was a slight tickle meets blanket vibe at least to her. "You gave me a quick and dirty on the auras but tell me more?" she finally asked as she got the last bit of water out of her hair. But she's smiling and trying to not blush as well.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks finally took a step-back; distance. Distance was good right then, from how close they had been. Turning, ready to start walking back up the beach towards the village again. "Well, it kind of requires you to know more about ki too. Auras are visible manifestations of a lot of ki. So,"

Yes, good. Focus on the technical. Not on what had happened. Or how cute her smile was, darnit. "Most people don't really do much except exist, and so their ki is at a base level. With training, they can increase this limit, and thus increase their reserves. Also, no matter how much reserves you have--if you don't increase that limit, it's meaningless." Making sure she was following so far, before he'd continue.

[redarrowqueen]

On a sheer leap of faith Thea took the risk and simply slid her hand into Trunks's. She would pull back if needed but she figured it was a good first step,"You mentioned early on how my Ki was shaky and now its getting stronger with each session. That's good right?" going for more questions in order to learn and understand things.