Chapter Text
“Do you want to be friends?” is all the planning it takes for Red to flip-flop their way to the only other crewmate who looks just as lost as Red is. The first group meeting is over. Everyone else knows where to go, what to do, and among the dispersed moving crew Purple is still, aimless. And Red does like to take their chances.
Purple has a duck-bill cap that has browned with age and wear. The cap moves along with their gaze, curious and cautious.
“S-sure?” They say.
Red grins from ear to ear, even though they were pretty sure they would say yes — it doesn’t seem like they knew anyone and Purple has kind eyes. Kind eyes that are on Red. But Red grins from ear to ear to show Purple how happy they are to be their friend.
Wonderful first move, Red, they think to themselves to calm the nerves. But then they become unsure of where to go next. They look to Purple, but under the duckbill they seem even more lost than Red is.
“I’m Red, by the way. But you can call me Redsie. What’s your name?”
“I’m Purple.”
“Purps?”
“Alright.”
And even though Red is embarrassed to say it, it comes out anyways, because they figure that while it hurts their dignity a little, it couldn’t hurt their chances to be direct and appreciative. “Thank you for being my friend, Purps.” Red hopes that they weren’t blushing when they said it.
Something akin to amusement crosses Purple’s visor. Red is okay with being the funny one.
“Okay. Um, well I’m happy to be friends too.”
They talk aimlessly while the two follow the paths laid-out with string lights back to their assigned outpost dormitories. Planeteria is far from suns, so space and stars trail behind the duo as they amble on the crunchy lavender pebbles. Red asks about the most important questions, like what their favourite colours are, if they have any siblings, what kind of hobbies Purple likes to do in their free time, or what Purple thinks about their first day. They happen to both be unpaid interns. By the time they reach the area lined with string lights and portapacks, they’ve combed through their life courses since birth.
Red sees their own portapack first. It’s placed near the entrance to the area, but they pretend to not have seen it. They follow Purple for new directions. Acting comes naturally to them, especially acting dumb.
“That over there is my portapack,” Purple stops and points.
“That’s a really nice location,” Red stops and compliments. They know this location. It’s a location they almost chose, when HR had let Red have a pick of the available portapacks in this area. That’s good. It would be easier to memorize the location.
“Are you… is your portapack further along?”
“Nope,” Red points to where they had came from, “My portapack is that way. Near the entrance of the dormitories, like a two minute walk.” They under-report the distance and don’t mention why they followed Purple all the way. Because honestly? Red doesn’t know.
“Oh. Well, do you…?” Purple glances towards their own dormitory, situated a few steps away.
Ah, hospitality. Red knows the rules too well, and they do not want to intrude. They step back with a wave-goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow Purps! It was nice to meet ya!”
Purple looks wildly between the portapack and Red, then deciding an immediate response is needed:“It was nice meeting you too!”
Red grins as they leave, looking back every couple of steps. Oh? Still there. Purple is still there, watching them leave. Stepping below the hanging string lights, Red internally cheers. Not only have they successfully made a new friend on their first day, that new friend is also doleful to see them go. Red is pretty sure they are blushing as they wave their last goodbye to Purple.
By the time Red disappears around the corner of the portapacks, a dumbfounded Purple starts laughing. Out there, they huff, in the inky atmosphere, in the crisp gray air.
They do want to become friends.