Today is the today.

[aspacepirate]

I don't really get why you're always so worried when you pull me out. Honestly, you're doing a good job and I'm glad you're feeling a little more confident after today.

You're not hopeless. Come on. Cheer up, Buttercup.  You might not be ready for Mars survival, but most people aren't. 

But, you know what... other than the fact that reminded me how much I miss those guys and all...

I'm really just thankful that you totally agree with me about disco.

Comments

[declan_m]

Mars survival? Yeah, I think that may be tough for most to accomplish.

That's cool you're encouraging your Mun. Maybe yours will help you out in return.

[Trust and forming a bond with other people are a two way street after all. Declan knows this from his personal experiences.]

[aspacepirate]

Well, we weren't actually talking about that, but well...she's doing well with everything else she needs to know about me.

No complaints, anyway.

I want to stick around. Hopefully find the rest of my crew, stick around my new friend in the game I'm at. Can't exactly do that if she has a crisis and gives up entirely, she seems to want to do that when she gets stuck and panics...

[declan_m]

Are you from the future? My time is 2006. NASA's not even close to landing over there, where I came from.

You probably will, if your Mun is willing man. I got really lucky to run into one of my friends so fast. It surprised me, and excited my Mun.

It also takes good timing, I think.

[He offers his open hand, and smiles.] I'm Declan McDonough. I've never talked with an astronaut before, let alone one from the future. [Dude, this is cool.]

[aspacepirate]

2006? I was like 12 then. (There's your answer, Declan.) So, yeah, it's way later than that where I'm from.

I have to question my luck some right now. I mean I think I used it all up on Mars with not dying after being impaled with an antenna and not blowing myself up twice, okay I did blow myself up twice but I didn't die either time. But yeah, I might have some left. Who knows?

(Mark gives a slight grin and takes his hand shaking it.) Mark Watney. King of Mars, Space Pirate, Badass Botanist. Nice to meet you.

[declan_m]

[In listening to all of that, you get a silent surprised reaction at first. However, it doesn't last. Within the next split second, he becomes super impressed.]

Bro, you are the man! King of Mars? Space Pirate? How did all this happen?

And that had to be terrifying, getting hurt like that! It's a freaking miracle you're still standing.

[aspacepirate]

(Declan, don't inflate Mark's ego anymore. You will never hear the end of it, if you do.)

The man? Well, yeah. (But, the King of Mars and Space Pirate roles were self awarded.) That's just the tip of the iceberg when your the only man and the first to colonize Mars. The rest of it is all technicalities.

A miracle? Sure, if you want to call it that.

[declan_m]

[He stops with the sci-fi geekgasms when he's surprised by some of what Mark says next.]

The only guy? No one else...? Was that really a one-man job NASA planned?

[There's so many questions Declan would have, but perhaps it's best to not know too much about what it will be like in the future.]