This is the reason why no one on the Red Fish should have hobbies outside of punching people...

[blindoptimism]

Who: The motley crew of the SS Redfish
Broadcast: None
Action: Boarding area of the Red Fish
When: Backdated to Part 1 of the June Bug plot

[On tonight's episode, Coil and Zhas return to the Red Fish with a squirmy live bug in tow. Coil intends to perform untold experiments on the living specimen. But it seems like trouble is brewing on the once peaceful ship... Will the other crew members be okay with these morally questionable experiments taking place on board? Tune in tonight to find out!]

Comments

[blindoptimism]

Of course, I won't keep you long. [She glances her up and down, the tension in her shoulders is obvious. She puts her hands in her lap, one on top of another, and sits up straight to look up at Cassanda]

Thank you for taking care of Syeira. And I apologize that situation occurred at all. I want to be clear, I will talk to Zhas and Coil and they will know that such actions will not be tolerated on this ship.

[but...] But I also wanted to say, I think that some of your comments towards Zhas went too far. I understand that you were angry, and what they wanted to do was reprehensible, but they were cruel words.

[openhands]

[It is a comfort to know that Nunnally at least sides with Cassandra on the larger ethical issue, but she still bristles. She's half-expecting Nunnally to follow up with something along the lines of needing to apologize.]

Do not speak to me as though I were a child, Nunnally.

I spoke with honesty, not anger. He acted without honor today. That he wanted to do this in the first place was bad enough, but that he thought he had any justification for it... [She shakes her head, scoffing.] He needed to hear it. Maker only knows what he would have done otherwise.

[And no, Cassandra does not think "stand around and argue about it" would have remained on the agenda for long.]

[blindoptimism]

[she bites her tongue and doesn't respond to the first comment, but keeps a straight face throughout and lets Cassandra speak her peace]

I understand. I think you're right, it is something they need to be told. But you must know there is a way to speak honestly without escalating conflict. [Cassandra is a blunt, honestly woman. Perhaps not mincing words is the best way to respond] Coil already views those around him with tentative cooperation at best, if we make enemies out of one another it could create a rift that cannot heal. He might view the rest of us as enemies, and he would not change his ways... He might attempt to leave altogether, and I think Zhas might want to follow. They have a bond deeper than any of us on this ship.

I worry about both of them. I only know bits and pieces about their world, but it is clearly a dangerous place that taught them to act the way they do. [she hopes it doesn't seem too sentimental, too soft-hearted... But it's her dream] I want to provide them a home where they might feel safe. And perhaps we can show them a new way, a better way.

[openhands]

[A direct approach is a much better approach to take with Cassandra. If there is one thing she has little love or patience for, it's bureaucrats and politicians. Both do little else but speak honeyed words and conceal their meanings rather than speaking directly to the point. She stays silent while Nunnally speaks and truly makes an attempt to listen. There is a point, however, where she disagrees because to Cassandra, it is too soft-hearted and sentimental.]

Ten years ago, my world suffered a Blight. A horde of twisted creatures known as darkspawn poured out from the ground with an Archdemon, seeking to destroy all life within Thedas. We had barely begun to recover when the Chantry was torn asunder from within. Templars and even the Seekers abandoned the Chantry as the mages rebelled, sending Thedas once more into war. A darkspawn known as Corypheus exploited the chaos to rip a hole in the sky, tearing down the Veil between our reality and the Fade. Now we must rebuild once more.

And yet, not once has it ever crossed my mind to even contemplate the cruelty they would have inflicted upon that creature.

All worlds are dangerous places, but danger is not an excuse for abandoning order or morality. Sometimes change is required, but never into something like that.

[Cassandra sighs. She's still angry, but it is a slightly softer expression that crosses her face now as she sighs. An iota of tension has left, which is both as minuscule as implied and quite large.]

I will treat them with civility, offer patience and forgiveness when they stumble, and pray to the Maker that they find a light to guide them on their path, but do not ask me to trust them or to coddle them, Nunnally. I can do neither. I won't do either.

And do not ask for any of it from me right away. You speak of it as though it is already in the past and we are to move on, but I am angry. I am angry at their betrayal of my trust, angry for how they have hurt Syeira, and angry that it had to come to this for them to see to reason. I will do my best and I will not act rashly, but that is all I can do for now.

[blindoptimism]

[Nunnally is stone faced, serious as Cassandra describes her homeland. It... sounds terrible, beyond what she could dream up. And it is a sobering reminder of how little she knows about the wide worlds out there. She wants to comment, offer sympathy and know more of her life. But time is short, and there will be other times to speak of such things. So for now, she sees that anger begin to trickle away, and she feels a slight wave of relief in her chest. As Cassandra lists her terms, Nunnally's face softens somewhat and she nods]

Thank you. I wouldn't ask anything more of you. [she almost wants to say something along the line of "I know that must take a lot of work and I appreciate that" but she doesn't want to seem like she's coddling Cassandra. So instead,] Please take all the time you need, I will keep peace here.

[and with that she rolls her chair aside, so that whenever she wants Cassandra can pass by and go about her business. Their conversation was short... but significant. But before it ends, Nunnally wants to say one more thing, something dear to her heart]

When you spoke of your world, it made me think... My world has always been ruled by emperors that spoke of strength-- they taught their people that only the powerful may survive, and and the weak who could not protect themselves deserved their inevitable death. It was once my dream to see my home turned into a kind and gentle world. I don't know if I'll be able to return there, so this ship... I intend to pursue my dream here too, until the very end.

[openhands]

[She does begin to pass once Nunnally has moved out of the way. They have reached an understanding and an agreement. Cassandra will not let go of her anger just yet. She doesn't want to and isn't ready to. Nunnally is willing to accept that for now, and it seems as though that's all there needs to be said. But she does stop and look to her young captain when Nunnally beings to speak again.]

[Cassandra looks away for a moment once she's done speaking, her head bowed a little in contemplation. Nunnally's thoughts and desires are not childish ambitions, but true ideals that Cassandra would support. But the ideal is a tall place to reach. It is a difficult climb and many fall before they even come close to reaching it in reality. It's something she must remember always whenever her thoughts turn to the Seekers as Cassandra is not without her own hopes and aspirations for her people. And yet she would not relinquish her hopes for the ideal either. It's a difficult balance to strike and it's fallen on the shoulders of this young girl to manage it within this crew at the very least.]

[There are two options, Cassandra can either obstruct or she can aid. The former truly is not an option. Cassandra could not allow it to be. She looks slightly over her shoulder at Nunnally again, meeting her eyes.]

You have my support, Nunnally. Always.

[blindoptimism]

[Ah... she opens her mouth slightly, but then closes it again. A little bit of the tension that she was carrying in her shoulders feels lighter for some reason, and she can't help the slight smile that tugs at her mouth. But now isn't a time for gushing or burying Cassandra in words. So instead she bows her head slightly.]

Thank you. [she thinks that she said something similar the last time they spoke, but it bears repeating... and is something she thinks anyone who tries to lead should always keep in their heart] I will not take the responsibility lightly.

[the responsibility of her support. it is a valuable, weighty thing, and from a woman as honorable and true as Cassandra, she is honored to have it.]

[openhands]

[That is all that Cassandra needs to hear right now and so she does not simply nod, but bows her head a little further as a sign of respect. She does not linger any longer than that with the conversation behind her. While she is not really any less angry deep down over what happened, she does have trust in Nunnally that things can and will be managed. That will go quite a long way in helping Cassandra put this behind her.]