file 003

[proudlywehailed]

Who: Commander
Broadcast: Fleetwide video!
Action: SS Golden!
When: 6/6


[lo and behold, we have video!

[commander is, for once, not in his gear. though he's in a simple t-shirt, he's holding the camera with his metal arm, making it hard to see it. you might be able to catch a glimpse of shine where his shoulder closest to the camera almost comes into view, but that's it.]

So I've talked to a few of you about doing some physical training and learning how to defend yourself. If you wanna come test it out, head on over to the Golden. I'll meet you in the cargo hold, and we can see what you're made of.

Comments

[proudlywehailed]

How come you have a human name, then?

[tell me your backstory, kid]

[realhumanbeing]

[GLADLY]

My dad's human! He and my mom met a while after she came to Earth, and fell in love, and had me! Only . . . gems don't usually do that kind of thing, so when she had me, she had to give up physical form. But my dad's still around! And that's where I got my name-- Steven Quartz Universe! Pearl says I'm the only one of my kind-- nobody else ever reproduced before my mom!

[proudlywehailed]

[...]

Wow. Your mother must have loved you more than anything.

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah.

[He smiles softly.]

I wish I could have met her.

[proudlywehailed]

[he doesn't say anything, just reaches out and settles a hand on his shoulder. his smile is genuinely understanding, and says everything commander can't put into words himself.]

I bought some weights for this. You wanna see how it feels to lift them?

[realhumanbeing]

[He smiles back up at him, grateful for the touch, pleased that this man seems to understand without needing explanations. But then he suggests that, and Steven bounces back as if nothing had been said.]

Yeah! How much are they?

[proudlywehailed]

I've got tens, twenties, and fifties.

[he points.]

Nothing huge, but definitely enough to work with for you guys.

[realhumanbeing]

Awesome!

[He's not foolish enough to head for the larger weights-- he goes to the tens, and grunts as he lifts one.]

[proudlywehailed]

Little heavy?

[they aren't the beginner weights, of course, but commander didn't really think anyone would need fives.]

[realhumanbeing]

No! I got it!

[He grunts it out, though, his eyes narrowed as he keeps trying to lift them.]

[proudlywehailed]

Hey, hey--if you overdo it right away, you're gonna end up hurt. Why don't we start with exercises you don't need tools for? Jumping jacks, push-ups, crunches, that kind of thing.

And stretch first, for the love of God.

[realhumanbeing]

Oh-- okay!

[It's with a grunt of relief that he lets them drop and stares up at him.]

What first?

[proudlywehailed]

Do what I do.

[he's going to just go through his stretch routine, make sure he's totally good and limber. safety first!]

[realhumanbeing]

[To his credit, Steven follows along as best he can: stretching his arms and legs, doing toe-touches and squats as best he can. He's not the most flexible kid, but what he lacks in finesse he makes up for in enthusiasm.]

[proudlywehailed]

[to be honest, that is the most endearing thing to him.

[once he has them ready, he's gonna shake himself out a bit, moving back toward the center of the room.]

Alright. You do push-ups?

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah!

[Well, one.

Well, once.

Well, no, not really, but he still gets on the floor anyway, hands spread apart, knees still touching the floor, and waits for the Commander to join him. He might be humming a little.]

[proudlywehailed]

Song stuck in your head?

[he gets down on the floor next to him, and raises himself into position.]

You can sing if you think it'll help you.

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah? Oh, great!

[And so he does-- cheerfully, without any sense of self-consciousness. It's a workout song, about getting buff and strong in the real way.

It also goes noticeably labored as he begins his first push-up.]

[proudlywehailed]

[he almost has to stop because he starts laughing. it's obviously not at him so much as it is because of him. he's something else, and there's nothing mocking in the laughter.]

[realhumanbeing]

[He glances over, pausing mid-song. Luckily, he's not offended-- though there is a bit of a blush to his cheeks now. He's not used to people paying his songs much mind.]

[proudlywehailed]

S-sorry, I didn't mean to stop you. You're just so... earnest. It's kind of refreshing.

[realhumanbeing]

Oh! Yeah. I gotta give it my all!

[He grins over at him before resuming. Which is . . . difficult, really, and the Commander will be able to hear his grunts of effort as he slowly goes down.]