"Plenty of room for everyone 'round here--every war needs its casualties."<br/><br/>It was sort of true, though admittedly she probably shouldn't have said it. What really weirded her out about the whole thing was how everyone else was taking it, though--it was like someone had spit in their soup or something. She knew some of them had fought before--Thomas sure played the soldier boy, and the ladies around here all seemed to like to wear their ovaries on the outside--but it was like none of them had really got it until it happened. All of a sudden it was real and horrible and everybody lost their wood about the whole thing.<br/><br/>Except maybe Seravi. It was funny, in plenty of ways Seravi reminded Michelle of herself--there was that willingness to harm, that look in her eyes that said she almost wanted the fight. If Michelle didn't know better, she might think there was a challenge in the little bitch, but it was hard to feel anything other than an amused, almost maternal warmth for the girl. Go get 'em, Tiger--call me when there's something real to play with.<br/><br/>She'd never actually seen any of them fight except for the one time, and that was too reactive to judge anything by. Sure, they could push back when they were cornered, but that did fuck-all when it came down to planning an assault, or, more importantly, just going out and fucking someone up. Maybe they'd had enough collective angsting that they could pull it off, but she had her doubts. When it came down to it, all most of them had on their side was heartbreak.<br/><br/>Briefly, she thought about training them. Really teaching a few of them how to fight, stepping up and actually doing what she was good at for a change. She sidelined the idea, though, as Aiden slid down next to her and started ribbing, surprisingly pleasantly. They weren't, to the best of her knowledge, particularly close, but then again maybe it was one of those pack things. Part of the ship, part of the crew and all that. Still, it was pleasant, and she didn't mind the chance to be social. It was always easier one on one--in a group she was too used to getting her way come hook or crook. Less temptation face to face.<br/><br/>"One of my many tricks." She snorted with a flourish of her wrists and a mystical waggle of her fingers, winking before cracking her neck with two swift jerks--left, right--and letting it sink luxuriously back against the stump. She'd always wondered at how comfortable inherently uncomfortable things could be. "Keep an eye on me and I'll show you a few more."<br/><br/>The new kid, for his part, seemed to want to be helpful--or at least he learned already that sucking up to Mommy Aidan was probably the easiest way to get a decent role in the whole mix. Michelle would liked to have said that she didn't bother, but in truth she was helpful enough when whatever task it was didn't require much skill. She still couldn't quite take him seriously--he was endearing in the way that a fuck-up with a good heart was always endearing. Not his fault if he couldn't fit in with the cool kids right away.<br/><br/>"You can do whatever your little ass feels like as long as it's not moping." Michelle said pointedly after she caught Alan padding his way off to the cave. The man didn't even change forms--how could he look so much like a kicked puppy? "Too much fucking moping going on in this damn camp. Speaking of--Yo! Bowie boy! Alan!" She shouted towards the cave, brushing off her pants and jerking her head towards the campfire. "Get over here and let's see if we can't make a man out of you!"