[color=silver][center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190713/7f7340615e11c92098353c41aa73586c.png [/img][/center]
[right][hr][color=white][b][b]Smith's Rest | HQ Tram Station[/b][/b][/color]
January 16th, 2677[hr][/right]
[indent][indent][indent][i]One two-three, one two-three.[/i]

Eli tapped her fingers on the table, entirely absent. Even her own thoughts keeping time in her head sounded distant, or so engrained that they were nearly unreal. She sat at a small table by the tram station, eyes transfixed upon the rails like she was waiting for them to rattle with the incoming transport. Her coffee, untouched since she’d sat down, was cold now. Most things at the station were cold, given the open ends. Between the wind and chill, there weren’t many people around who weren’t explicitly paid to be there. She wasn’t sure if that same motivation applied to her. It wasn’t why she was here, sitting alone at a table, waiting for a trolley full of new-blood, but it was perhaps a justification. 

A particularly harsh breeze flooded through the station. She adjusted her scarf—the only not-strictly-in-code addition she’d made to her uniform—and sat up straight, legs crossed, fingers trilling, staring. 

Her data-tool beeped. It beeped three times before she blinked herself out of her trance and answered the call without checking the ID. It would have been a bad habit, if anyone but her sister ever called her. 

[color=662d91]“Lizzy?”[/color] Vera asked. [color=662d91]“Where are you? Did you hear the announcement?”[/color]

She sounded strained, Eli guessed she’d been running simulations all morning. Vera was the…proactive sort. Ever since she was tested, even before the surgery, she’d accompanied Eli to the facility’s gym, and started each morning with a run through the hangar so she could marvel at the NC’s. As soon as she could hook up to the simulation pods, that had taken a priority spot in her routine. 

It would have made Eli proud, if it didn’t disturb her so deeply. 

[color=662d91]“Lizzy?”[/color] Vera asked again.

Eli cleared her throat. [color=6ecff6]“I did, yes. I heard it.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“So where are you? Graham said he wanted us to look busy. Guess he wants to make a good impression on the new guys.”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“It ought to be [i]them[/i] concerned with making impressions,”[/color] Eli said lowly.

Vera was quiet for a moment. 

[color=662d91]“Are you waiting at the tram station? You’re gonna stare at them, aren’t you?”[/color]

Eli’s fingers stopped tapping, her lips pursed. [color=6ecff6]“I’m [i]observing[/i] the band of wasters and mercenaries Commander Graham has seen fit to invite into our home, and trust with the safety of our people.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“God—hold on…”[/color] there was rustling on the other end of the line. [color=662d91]“I’m on my way down there.”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“I do not need [i]chaperoning[/i], Vera.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“You’re gonna look like some kinda goblin, I’m coming down. I wanna see’em too, anyway. Maybe try and get’em in a good mood before Graham, y’know, ruins their day. See you soon!”[/color]

Vera cut the call. Eli pinched the bridge of her nose, and tried to go back to watching the tracks. But it was no use now, Vera had a knack for making Eli feel entirely aware of herself. It was the sort of social awareness she lacked on her own. So, instead of doing anything useful, she sat there, feeling awkward, trilling her fingers off-time, until Vera appeared in the tram station. 

She’d thrown on a uniform jacket and shorts over her pilot suit, and that seemed to be enough for her to deal with the cold. That, and the ushanka perpetually snug atop her head. 

[color=662d91]“Heya,”[/color] she said, taking the seat opposite Eli. She looked out at the tracks either direction. [color=662d91]“Not here yet, huh?”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“Not yet. Soon, I imagine.”[/color]

Vera nodded. [color=662d91] “I’m excited. Not that you all aren’t great, but, man, I can’t wait to meet some new pilots. I bet they’re gonna have so many stories.”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“Don’t get too attached,”[/color] Eli said. [color=6ecff6]“Even if they all manage to stay, they still have to survive.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“I think someone’s afraid they might make a friend.”[/color]

Eli shot her a scowl, but it was weak. Vera giggled and sat back, taking the cup from the table and peering down into it. 

[color=662d91]“This is…coffee.”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“People drink coffee,”[/color] Eli said, certain of it. 

[color=662d91]“It’s cold. And you hate coffee.”[/color]

Eli rolled her eyes. [color=6ecff6]“By all means, take it.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“No thanks,”[/color] Vera said, setting it back down. [color=662d91]“I don’t need to be this short forever.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent][/color]