driftfleet | loud and clear

[it's been a while since you've heard this jazzy little jingle, hasn't it? but with the planet now far behind them, the music comes in crisp and clear. the voice of your mysterious host, Diamond, is as chipper as always.]

Good morning, passengers! [despite it distinctly not being morning.] We have certainly had an interesting couple of weeks here, haven't we? Remember, change is good. Predictability doesn't make for a very interesting program, now does it?

[she giggles sweetly, along with some mild canned laughter.]

We've had quite a few passengers leave us since our last little chat. An unusual number of them have had names that start with the letter K! If your name starts with a letter K... Perhaps it's a good time to consider a name change. I adore names that start with D, myself!

[some heartier canned laughter plays in the background.]

Congratulations to the new commanding officer, Captain Young, and a belated welcome to both Captain Maladicta and Captain... Ah... Zeta, I believe! It is wonderful to see new faces on the Marsiva again--we hope you have a stunning time here on our lovely little program.

Lastly, if you happen to pick up any strange readings over the next few days, don't worry. There's nothing to be alarmed about. Radiation bounces around these asteroids all the time; it really speaks for the marvels of Atroma's engineering that you can see anything at all!

Have a lovely week, passengers, and remember... The worlds are watching!

[the broadcast channel remains open, for anyone to respond...]

ooc post: → here

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, I know. I wasn't thinking.

[He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, exhaling. ]

Sorry.

[There's a pause, then he seems to exhale and slump his shoulders a little, easing up]

...I suppose I can't be too hard on you. I've lost my head a number of times.

[Seriously compared to how he was at 16, you're downright rational and level headed sokka]

Yeah, but you're not in charge of a crew. I should know better.

[And he hates that he let himself be tricked into an outburst. How Diamond must be laughing now.]

Right. Because the job of a First Mate is to sit and take naps.

[Sass out of the way, he pauses. There's a glance around the area, as if making sure they are alone]

I'm not coddling you, Sokka. You made a mistake, one that you should have known better about. And I don't know if there's going to be consequences from it. It's hard to tell with Atroma.

[he shakes his head]

But I'm not going to sit and berate you for things you already know you did wrong. You're human and, sorry, but you're a young one at that. You're going to make mistakes, no matter how much you should know. Sometimes stupid ones, sometimes even more than once. Being a leader doesn't exempt you from that.

I feel it's a much better use of our time if we accept you're human and work on mistakes as they inevitably come so they don't happen again, instead of me screaming that you're an idiot every time you screw up. Because I know from experience that tactic doesn't work, and you're probably berating yourself as it is.

Alright?

[Sokka listens, quietly. A part of him wants to interrupt, to dispute his youth, that it shouldn't be an excuse. He hasn't had a chance to be 'young' since he was seven. Since the Fire Nation took his mother away and changed his family forever. He forgets himself, often, how young he is compared to everyone else in the Fleet. One the ship.

He knows what Allen is getting at though. The strive for perfection, to keep everyone safe and protected has backfired on him back home. He struggles, accepting his own mistakes, accepting that he can't do everything. Maybe it's past time that he does.]

Yeah. I get it.

[He offers a smile. ]

Thanks. I'll...work on that.

[Sorry Sokka. He knows the age thing is always a sore point. Still!]

[But...good. That's exactly the point Allen was trying to get at. He's seen perfectionists. People who could never forgive themselves for their own flawed humanity. It never ended well.]

I'm glad to hear that.

Now, can you think of any way to help avoid giving into Diamond's little jabs?

I don't know, maybe plastering what we think her face looks like on the punching bag?

[He's only half joking. ]

[That gets a snicker out of him]

That'll work. Maybe she's has a lazy eye.

Well, I'm sure picturing her with one now. [That at least cheers him up a little. ]

loud and clear

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