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WHO: Yuuri Katsuki & You
WHERE: All around the ship
WHEN: After his arrival (Dec. 29)
WHAT: Exploring the ISC ELUVIO
WARNINGS: None. (Both prose or brackets work for me! Will match.)

A. Closed to Viktor

By the time Yuuri's done with the orientation, his protests have stopped and an odd sort of numbness has taken over. He takes the duffel bag they hand him and lets the crew members usher him into the main promenade, where he's promptly left to his own devices. His stomach churns.

It was an anomaly, they'd said. As Yuuri takes in the passerby (all strangers), the unfamiliar technology, everything, it really starts to sink in: he's stuck on some ship in space with no way to get home. He's never going to see his family again, or his friends. Or Viktor. With that last thought, Yuuri's hit with the realization that he's going to miss the Grand Prix Finals. That after all the work he's put into getting there, he's let Viktor and everyone else who supported him down--

Yuuri chokes, duffel bag dropping to the ground to sit there, forgotten. He sinks down to the floor beside it, back to the wall, hands pressed to his temples. Caught up in his panicked thoughts, all Yuuri can do is struggle to keep his breathing steady and wait for this to pass.

B. Residence Lounge

"Fine" still isn't the word to describe him later, after a few hours have passed. Even knowing that Viktor's here with him doesn't entirely take away the sting in his chest, not when he's still missing the Finals, and everyone else they know is still back home.

So Yuuri does what he does best: distract himself. Without a rink or ballet studio to turn to, Yuuri latches onto the shelves of books instead, brown eyes scanning the titles with curiosity. Though he pulls out a few to flip through idly, he ends up putting them back quickly, apparently having no luck finding what he's looking for.

Finally, he stands back with a sigh. There's no helping it. Yuuri turns, biting his lip as he walks up to whoever's closest. "E-excuse me," he says hesitantly. "Do you know where I can find books on space travel? Something like an introduction, if it's possible."

C. Atrium

There's something soothing about the atrium, Yuuri thinks as he wanders among the flowers. It's not what he would have expected to find on a spaceship of all places, but he's not going to complain. Having Makkachin trotting along beside him is a familiar and welcome sight, too.

Or it would be, if Makkachin actually stayed there. When the poodle suddenly perks up and dashes off, Yuuri breaks into a run after him. "Makkachin, wait up!" In his haste to catch up with his wayward companion, Yuuri almost runs right into someone when he makes a sharp turn down the path.

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Oh—well. [That... is more advanced than his Space Experience, so maybe that's not the kind of beginner he meant, but he can adjust on the fly. No one has to know!] That's fine!

But we're going to have to go for a bit of a walk to one of the other lounges.

[Not every lounge has Space Travel Tips for Dummies.]

Thank you. [This time, the words roll off his tongue more easily. Quiet as his voice is, the gratitude is there.]

I don't mind walking to the other lounge, if the book you're thinking of isn't here.

[The literary enthusiasm will continue, but maybe he'll dial it back just a little.]

Then, if you'll follow me- [He nods slightly and turns to head for the lift to the other floors. Let's go, let's go.] I believe the population of people who know about space travel is much higher than those who don't, so the book I'm thinking of should still be there...

[One short journey to the other lounge later, anyway.] Ah, is there anything else? I—well, they've put me to work selling books here, so if there's anything I can do, it's no problem.

[Falling into step beside Reim as they walk, Yuuri glances at him.] So there's a lot of catching up to do for those who aren't familiar. [He says, with a sigh.]

I...I just got here today. [Yuuri's gaze drops down to the floor as he bites his lip nervously.] Aside from the book, if there's any advice you might have for adjusting here... [He trails off.]

[Ah—he feels an instant pang of sympathy now. Even with guessing that Yuuri knows more about The Future(tm) than he does, he understands the overwhelming feeling of being in way over one's head. Hmm.]

Well... that would depend on how much of this technology is unfamiliar to you, I suppose. Do you know what a battery is?

[Somehow this became his default question, stay with him.]

[Yuuri gives a slow nod of confirmation.]

I'm familiar with batteries. It's the more advanced technology that I don't really know, like this ship. [Giving in to his urge to pace when they reach the lounge, Yuuri stops beside the bookshelf to scan the titles there for the book Reim had mentioned.] Getting into space is possible back home, but I don't think the ships we've sent out are anywhere near this size.

I'm from the nineteenth century, so you're already doing much better than me! [Yay... He just shares this cheerfully, now that he's had time to get used to it a little bit. A very, very little bit.]

Ah, it's this one—Space Travel: A History. I found it very informative.

[But he also thinks batteries are amazing, so this might be... basic.]

The...nineteenth century. [Blinking at Reim owlishly is the only thing Yuuri can do for a few seconds as he tries to absorb that interesting tidbit.]

Wow. [He shakes his head, half amazed, half incredulous. Even so, he'll reach for the book Reim's pointing at almost absently.] I know they said said something about anomalies and different worlds, but it's different hearing it in person like this.

You know, I've been getting that a lot. [But he's recovered from panicking all over everyone who talked to him on his first day, so that's fine... He'll be getting this a lot for the next while, he's come to terms with that.]

I've found a healthy suspension of disbelief goes a long way. For instance, "computers" sound like absolute nonsense, but they're quite handy, so never mind how this might actually be a very acute mental collapse.

[He's mostly recovered from the shock.]

[By the end of it, Yuuri's a bit fascinated--if he's feeling out of his depth, then he can't imagine what it would be like for Reim.]

Acute mental collapse? From computers?

[He's not entirely convinced he won't wake up from this and find it was all a clever illusion, really. It hasn't been long enough.]

Nineteenth century. [helpful reminder,] How much do you think I understand about this place, on my own...?

Good point. [Chewing on his lip for a second as he considers something, and then blurts out--]

Um! If you're having trouble with the computers, I can do my best to help you. I might not understand space or how the ship works, but I think I know enough about the smaller technology.

You're helping me find books, after all...

[Ooh, computer lessons. People are offering him technology charity left and right because he's, uh, incompetent. How nice.]

Would you? How much do you know about these things, then?

I'm not exactly a computer expert, but that kind of technology is everywhere back home.

[He shrugs, just a tad awkwardly.] So... I could definitely help you learn enough to get by.

Hmm, well, any start is a good one! I've learned a few things about taking pictures, but I'm not sure they're very practical...

[Selfies. Because, you know, Victor is here.]

Pictures? [Yuuri looks at him, just a bit confused.]

There's a lot of uses for pictures. What part do you think is impractical?

Taking a very tiny self portrait...? What on earth would I need so many of those for?

[Is this "innovation"?? The future is so weird.]

A tiny self portrait...?

[And then it hits him. Yuuri's caught between groaning in exasperation and laughing.]

Um, did whoever taught you that call them "selfies"?

[Ah, he knows the secret. Reim blinks, then looks relieved he doesn't have to try to explain this concept in full.]

Possibly...? Have you also been learning how to take pictures?

Not exactly. We have selfies back home--it's...a pretty new trend, I think. That's how a lot of people share what they're doing with their friends. [and their many followers...] I never really got into the habit, though.

[Yuuri pauses, trying not to get his hopes up, but it's hard not to when the first person he thinks of when he hears "selfies" is someone he would like to see again.] Was...the person who taught you that called Phichit, by any chance?

[Reim shakes his head.] No, Victor. He has a dog.

[How else does one describe Victor... This will have to do.]

[Admittedly, he's disappointed that Phichit isn't here after all, but Reim's rather short description of Viktor has him outright grinning.]

Makkachin, you mean. It figures Viktor would be the one teaching people how to take selfies.

[Say no more, Reim, Yuuri gets it.]

Oh—you've met? [This is good enough common ground to talk about, rather than how much he plain doesn't know about computers, so- nice!! Yuuri seems pleased to talk about him...]

He's quite the force of personality, isn't he?

I know him. He's my...um. Coach. From home. [He still can't help the little pause right there.

Still, Reim's absolutely right; talking about Viktor keeps the smile on his face.]

He's really something, isn't he? He took a lot of selfies when were back home, too.

Coach...? [Of what?? Accessories? Selfies?? Tell him.]

He certainly has a... unique lease on life, I suppose. He's been helpful with, you know, [a gesture mostly at himself] the "nineteenth century" issue.

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yokunaru - 2017-01-12 04:47 (UTC) - Expand

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