01 | action + video

[stefanged]

Who: Stefan Salvatore and YOU!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Paisley
When: Following the shuffle!

[action]

[Instant teleportation sucks. Especially when it's too quick for him to process - and then bam! He's... somewhere. Somewhere that's throwing confetti into his face and playing loud, welcoming music?

He nearly stumbles back into the wall, instead regaining his bearings in time to take a look around the ship. Stefan's step is hesitant as he grips his messenger bag tight and explores various places. While he's not exactly stealthy, he's not trying to intrude on anyone either.

In the end, he's settled down in the med lab, inspecting the equipment and trying to discern what's different from the hospitals and labs he's worked in back home - it's not what he's expected, but he could get used to it.]

[video]

[Stefan had held off on announcing his presence via communicator - partially because it wasn't the Network, and partially because they're recording him 24/7 anyways. Does he really need to give the NSA (or whatever this universe's version of the NSA) more fuel for their potentially Islamophobic fire?

Once he's holed himself up in the med lab, he fiddles with the communicator until he's found the video function--]

The longer I'm here, the more I wonder about people's - various species? - taste in television. [He smiles, though it's thin.] Or our showrunners' definition of "informed consent." Doesn't seem like anyone here remembers signing those NDA's.

I... well, this is kind of a weird question, but does anyone know what direction the sun's in? Or how I'd find out what direction the sun's in? It's pretty important. [More than important - it's necessary for his prayers, though he knows better than to voice that out loud.]

Comments

[stefanged]

I wouldn't say that. Your world's different from mine, but it doesn't make you any less "fun."

[Though now that she mentions it, why would they bring him, anyways? Do they get a sadistic kick out of watching a vampire struggle with how his existence goes against his religious principles?

... Yeah, probably.] So, the more you play to the cameras, the more you get paid or something?

[hearsthesea]

Yes, or you earn more if your life gets very...dramatic. Everybody was attacked by other ships a few months ago, and ratings rose for everybody at the time.

[Definitely not at all the ideal, though.]

[stefanged]

[He wishes he could be remotely surprised.]

Of course. Because the more you fight off other ships, the more entertaining your life becomes.

Not my idea of a "good show," but I guess some sadist out there's into it.

[hearsthesea]

I don't understand it either, but with how little we know about the Atroma it's hard to understand much of what they do. At least they allow us a certain amount of freedom, even if it's limited.

[stefanged]

People can't be entertained if they feel guilty about our living conditions.

[He's willing to bet that's the real reason they haven't been smited or actually put in harm's way yet.] That depressing tangent aside, speculating's not gonna help us in the long run.

What do you do, normally? When your life isn't, uh, "dramatic?"

[hearsthesea]

I study a lot. I've been assigned a position in the lab, but I hadn't had a lot of medical experience before they took me here so I still have a lot to learn despite the augment's help. I also take jobs sometimes, to earn other money outside of ratings for my crew. It's not very exciting, but I feel strange trying to be exciting for the sake of it.

[stefanged]

Hm... I was assigned to lab support too, but I've got a decent amount of experience. [Slight exaggeration; he's spent his entire life in the medical industry but basic CPR training + hospital summer jobs + vampire blood can only get a guy so far, even with his augment.]

Since you've helped me out a lot, I figure it's only right I returned the favor.

[hearsthesea]

Oh!

[Hey, it's still more than she's got. One Cure spell doesn't fix everything except HP.]

That's very kind of you.

[stefanged]

[HP and probably surface-level wounds, lbr.] It's really nothing.

Consider it payback for the stuff you told me about. Besides, it'd help me brush up on the basics too.

[hearsthesea]

Then I would appreciate it very much. And if you need to brush up yourself, I can refer you to others with the same position who have more experience. I've gotten a lot of help from them as well.

[stefanged]

I'll keep that in mind. I don't think I need their words of wisdom right now, but it wouldn't hurt in the future.

[hearsthesea]

All right. Just let me know if you ever need it, then...although I hope we'll never have more need to put it all to use.

[Not likely, but one can dream.]