Snippet #2475293

Out of all the assembled adventurers gathered at the stall, Morgan and Lysandra were probably the most normal-looking. As Hugo finished his speech, the crowd surged forwards to sign up for the expedition. There were all kinds of people here, most notably two Seraphs. Morgan would've been surprised enough to see just one in her lifetime. As those in front started signing their respective contracts, Morgan took the time to finish off her ginger. It wasn't the cheapest stuff, so she hadn't bought that much of it. Shortly after she'd thrown away the paper bag, the engineer was almost knocked off balance by the sudden arrival of a certain cat jumping on her shoulder. Returning the grin, Morgan recognised the message being tapped onto her forehead as none other than Morse code.

"Cheeky git. You're wearing more red than I am," she said, reaching up to give Felix a scratch behind the ears. "So how have you and Hugo been doing?"

Lysandra looked understandably confused. It was one thing to have a cat use you as a stepping stone, but watching said cat start a conversation with your friend was another matter entirely.

"Is this...?" It bewildered the navigator that she was even going to ask such a stupid question. "Who you were talking about?" She eyed the cat, watching it touch Morgan's forehead in a series of taps.

"Hmm? Oh, this is Hugo's cat, Felix. As for what we were talking about, well, it's an in-joke between us. Felix here thinks my scarf makes me look like a communist," explained Morgan.

"So," Lysandra began. Trying hard not to ask her friend if she just stepped out of a mental ward. "Talking cats are a regular thing now, huh?" She added jovially, though the navigator was well aware that the tapping could've been morse code.

"Who's this Hugo person, anyway?" She asked, her thoughts still fixated on what the connection between Morgan's scarf and communism was.

"That guy at the stall, handing out the contracts. We used to hang out together back in Holbrook, years ago. I wondered what he'd been doing while I was at Strelanka..."

"Never thought you'd be into crazy." Lysandra glanced at the man handing out the contracts. "Mad crazy, that is."

"Heh. Yeah, the man's an absolute fruitcake, but he's a reliable fruitcake when the going gets tough. Anyway, let's go and -" Morgan's words were cut off as a girl pushed past them and went for Hugo's stall. "Oi, we were next!" the engineer yelled, making her way closer to the front. Could've been a better situation for a reunion after so long, but Morgan gave Hugo a nod of recognition all the same.