[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=4682b4]Ash Holloway[/color][/b][/i][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/92d5f43a-8b98-4f28-9d91-88707ca27ccf.gif[/img][/center][hr][center][color=steelblue][b]Location:[/b][/color] L5 (Mess Hall)
[color=4682b4][b]Skills:[/b][/color] N/A [/center][hr][hr]

	It took Ash a moment to realize that Thana was operating with the understanding that he had asked her to only introduce her to the one person. Perhaps it was something in his delivery that as off. So much as it might be a thing worth note to discuss the wondrous art of turning various recipes containing simple carbohydrates into that glorious, glorious C[sub]2[/sub]H[sub]5[/sub]OH within a liquid matrix by means of the appropriate applications of time, heat, and basic engineering, he already knew as much as anyone did anymore. Hell, he was born into the trade. It never left him. But so much as that, were it to get into the realm of a conversation of any depth, might be fulfilling in a professional sense, it wasn't really what he meant. 

	[color=4682b4]"Mmm-mm,"[/color] he grunted in an manner to express a misunderstanding discovered, then swallowing a bite to continue, [color=4682b4]"Meant all of them; Edna, Rosie, Eda."[/color] he motioned vaguely with his fork as he spoke each name, thought with a sense of subtlety. [color=4682b4]"Eventually."[/color] The last thing he wanted as the new guy was to start calling out the established personnel, especially while they were sitting down to supper. [i]Scratch that[/i], the last thing he wanted to do as the new guy was make Thana think he only wanted to speak to the younger woman with whom he had something in common. That was a ugly thought, and patently untrue. 

	Ash let his arm trail down a bit and slowly wrap around Thana's waist. It was a fairly subtle move, considering that they were already leaning against each others' shoulders. He was giving himself a second or two to phrase and answer Thana's question about anyone ever telling him that he talked too much. Obvious sarcasm. Taken literally, that would be preposterous. Not a man of extremely few words, it could be easily said by many who knew him that he was a little frugal with his verbiage. [color=4682b4]"I apologize, Thana. Processing a lot of stuff. Still just soaking up being here with you, besides. I'm being rude."[/color] He gave a touch of thought to what she was saying earlier, one point of which stood out in his mind. [color=4682b4]"Sorry, were you saying 'King of the Hill'? Like that 'Beavis and Butthead' guy, 'King of the Hill'? Love that show."[/color] He gave a quick assessment of the seating around the older people, clustered over that way. [color=4682b4]"Your, ah... your father doesn't seem like much of a talker, either. I didn't know any better, I'd say they were all actually telepathic."[/color] He nodded his head in the general direction of the group again, [color=4682b4]"Question for you: Which one do you think is Boomhauer?"[/color] Probably Wayne. Even odds, maybe. 	


[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=dc143c]Thalia Carmichael[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/8b4600e1-6763-448c-9e7e-43fde2400cdd.gif[/img][hr][b][color=crimson]Location:[/color][/b] L5 (Mess Hall) 
[b][color=dc143c]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A [hr][hr][/center]

	The way Thalia blasted through a meal, you'd think that she was starving. Not that it would matter if she was; experience taught one who might be studying the eating habits of the [i]semi-feral pixie-crested Mestiza[/i] that, when lacking in abundant or reliable sources of food, one of this genus and species actually had slight tendency to eat slower, thus maximizing the sating effect of said nourishment. Such actions could never be taken as definitive, however, as more often than not any food set in front of her for personal consumption would become a belch and an afterthought in a matter of short, frothing seconds. In any case, Thalia was not starving. She had eaten better in the last week than she had in the past year, one or two instances of finding a relatively untouched convenience store or previously unlooted house aside. Even then things had to be rationed. So yeah, most reliable food in a long time, she still attacked her plate like it owed her money. 

	Yet, despite her struggling to hold a fork properly with her left hand and throw the food into her mouth, Alexander looked like he wanted to get something off his chest. Maybe just get a few words out. Hey, no problem. She could sit and listen. Relating was a different story. Thalia was never a soldier. Not like he was. Or like Army Captain was, or Navy, or seemingly half the people that ran things in this place. Still, a single serving size packet of reassurance might not hurt. [color=dc143c]"I think we're all a little broken now. Just a question of how much. I'm definitely not what I used to be."[/color] She shrugged. It was true enough. Maybe the next generation, the one that grew up with this, would be more reasonably well adjusted. Alexander would be right in his assumption that this was not the kind of talk she was used to. Given the status of the world, maybe she should start trying to get used to it. The world had a lot of people like her and Alexander - scarred inside and damaged outside.