tushanshu | VIDEO;

[ A woman in what can charitably called a working cat suit is leaning over a desk of some dark, varnished wood that makes her look halfway between a teenage fantasy, and an actual schoolmarm. Her elbow is half-engulfed in flames of one of the faux-heated lamp fixtures set on her desk; a hint she's somewhere out in her apartment in the Fire Sector, and that she's got the rules down pat that she has already worked out "fire bad, but not all the time." ]

The technology here is impressive for the what little resources an organic planetoid should, theoretical, be capable of culling. It's only been a few days and already the convinces of their equipment have mollified me enough that I don't need to worry about feeling cut off from what I'm accustomed to back on Earth, or something more spacefaring.

[ She taps her gloved fingers on some unseen surface. ]

What does raise an eyebrow is their complete disregard for the scientifically curious. They damn near ripped me to pieces when all I did was try to get a DNA sample from this turtle the general populace nothing short of venerates. I'm up to my ears in unanswered questions and barely passable resources, but the best this place has yet to give me in terms of a resolution is some dogmatic bullshit best suited for a church.

Also, hello. [ Standard human greeting: Complete afterthought. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Providing public access to their tech and basic amenities as a sign of good intentions? You must be the first on board with Stockholm Syndrome if your captors give you the bare minimum.

And I don't ask anyone below my pay grade when it comes to something like this.

Ma'am, there's no one here below your pay grade, and pointing out the obvious is hardly synonymous with accepting it for what it seems. There's not much point to being combative about it.

[ Lip sneer ]

You strike me as a military man, so I'm going to assume unsolicited opinions must be very new for you to try your hand in. That said; I'll do you the same courtesy of being equally as curt.

No one is here because the nebulous ruling authority doesn't want them to be -- nothing works like that. Red tape and canned assertions that everything isn't perfect, but a-ok? That is a job for those like you in the ugly green or blue uniforms. If I'm going to be here then you can be damned sure it won't be my capacity to indulge others I'll be utilizing.

This suit let's me walk out of an operating room and into a fight at the drop of a hat. Pick one if all you want to do is preach.

Edited 2012-09-09 21:27 (UTC)

[His smile is easy, almost warm.]

And here I thought scientists relied on facts to make judgements, rather than on appearances and assumptions. Ma'am, I don't doubt your intelligence or your capability - what I doubt is the value in alienating potential allies and trying to humiliate people in public. They won't let you utilize them if they have no reason to.

To be curt, you're overbearingly rude, and it will get you zero cooperation.

I wasn't built to lead, but I was made to survive. People who care to do the same with myself are more than welcome to if they don't get in my way. And if you want to play the "fact" snark with me then you should know scientists don't exactly get to those without prodding.

Not everything comes in a manila folder from top brass, sir.

We all want to survive, and we all want to get home. [The smile turns a little tired - he still hasn't figured out how he's going to get Bucky out of here.] You can try to do it alone, or you can do it as part of a team. All I'm saying is that if you isolate yourself now you'll have a hard time finding help later.

That's fine if you think you don't need it. But in the end almost all of us do.

You're as interested in our continued survival as I am; I'll nip this in the bud before you get too full of song you're singing to the choir. So, this is your judgement call you seem to think yourself so qualified to make after a friend of yours makes a stupid comment I didn't respond to with a kiss to the ass.

[ Lovely as they are; her eyes are all ice and resolve, bb ]

I've had any hesitance to take a bullet for someone I completely despise or had never even met thoroughly, and expensively, removed without the cost of being reckless. We meet? I'm great in a team environment, and my track records marks me as one of the best assets to be used in a crisis environment. We may even be part of an outstanding team in our mutual goal of seeing to the safety and eventual return of those here like us.

I don't care if you think anyone who responds coldly, or acts in a manner you deem out of comfort zone won't step on that wire. Because I know where I stand as a professional. You can point me in front of any weapon or wire and I'm your girl.

Until then? Don't be my friend, or my judge. I'll call you if I need something grabbed from a really tall shelf.

Edited 2012-09-10 08:17 (UTC)

[She could encrypt it more, but that might raise some suspicion at how some random teenager is so good with computers, so she sticks with a reasonable level of privacy.

And gives Steve a smile. Steph is not entirely sure what to do with people coming to her defence, but it's appreciated anyway.] Thanks for the back up, Steve.

It's nothing you need to thank me for. She didn't have any reason to talk to you that way. [And he doesn't like bullies. :T] But I mean - you are welcome.

Edited 2012-09-10 01:45 (UTC)

[Steph lifts one shoulder in a shrug] You didn't have to go out of your way to reply, so I appreciate the effort.

Don't worry about me too much, though. I'm resilient.

I wasn't worried. [+1 VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.] You'd have to be, to handle everything that's happened so well.

[help how does she respond to people having faith in her???]

Um, thanks? It's not that big of a deal.

[how to go from confident to awkward in .5 seconds]

[That reaction is so familiar it hurts.]

Nonsense. [Quiet and firm.] Maybe it doesn't feel like it, but not backing down when someone tries to push you to it is one of the bravest things you can do.

[It's one thing to get people like Nell saying she's a good Batgirl, but she's not sure what to do with someone who's practically a stranger being so nice.]

I think most people just call that being stubborn.

[no she's not going to just accept a compliment]

Most people are too scared to be stubborn.

I don't really know how to be anything else.

[she sighs, ducks her head.] But thanks, I guess.

[Well, she can't say she's surprised.]

I didn't actually say it was a sign of good intentions, but hey, go right ahead and assume what you want.

It also might be worth noting that until you get a job here, you don't have a pay grade for anyone to be below. You might want to look into an attitude adjustment regarding the kedan and their beliefs, 'cause they're the ones you're gonna be working for.

Edited 2012-09-10 01:59 (UTC)

I apologize if your less than inspired question was met with a response that didn't agree with you.

Working for? No. Cooperation until they prove themselves a liability. They are our captors.

What question? [headtilt]

You can call it what you want, but technically, if you get a job with a kedan - which is likely, not many of us foreigners are established enough to be hiring - then you're one of their employees, which means you're working for them.

VIDEO;

→ video

→ video; HEY THAT'S HIS ADOPTED SIBLINGTHING YOU'RE TALKING TO

→ video; private YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PARAGON POINTS TO TALK TO HER LIKE THAT

→ video; private

→ video; private

→ video; private

→ video; private

→ video; encrypted 70% steve you're a sweetie

→ video; encrypted 70% it's his superpower

→ video; encrypted 70% that is a good superpower

→ video; encrypted 70%

→ video; encrypted 70%

→ video; encrypted 70%

→ video; encrypted 70%

→ video; encrypted 70%

→ video; encrypted 70%

→ video

→ video

→ video