Video/Action

[bigvessel]

Who: FDR and OPEN
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: A bar somewhere
When: Now

[He’s dressed in a sleek suit, folded collar, black tie, slicked back hair, the whole fancy ensemble. It’s new and it makes him feel somewhat normal again. Hence, the very late, but first public introduction.

He’s sitting on the edge of his bed with his hands clasped together between his knees.]

Hey there, other...captives. TV stars. Whatever we’re being called. And I guess. Anyone else watching. My name is FDR. Yeah, it’s letters. And yeah, like the president. No, I’m not a president, but you know, I don’t mind pretending if anyone wants to be my Marilyn. [And he grins cheekily.] But, really, being named after the guy who came up with that whole “The only thing to fear is fear itself” crap isn’t bad. I mean, a lot of people buy that. It’s not true, by the way. There’s a shitload of stuff to be scared of. Like WMDs. ...My boss. ...Being on an alien’s version of The Real World.

[And he shakes his head, still a little disgusted at the prospect of reality TV. Those were dark days.]

So, back home I was the cruise ship captain of a [smirk] very large vessel. And you know, being in the business of pleasure cruises, I have to say, this one seriously lacks. I mean, people can’t be watching us just to see us busting our asses earning some money, so where’s all the drama, violence, and sex happening? That’s how MTV got their ratings. Or murder...has that happened at all? I mean, not on MTV-I don’t think- on the ships...obviously.[So smooth.]

And I’ve seen some people talking about people they know up and disappearing, anyone know for sure what happens to them? Not enough popularity? Do they get demoted to the alien version of Fear Factor? Star in their own snuff films?

[And he looks like he’s done with his questions for now, he even leans forward to shut off the video, but then pauses, a small smirk gracing his features.]

Oh. And just out of pure curiosity, has anyone tried racing the shuttles?


Action: A bar. Any bar.

[Bars aren’t his favorite scene, there’s just not enough energy. It’s a bunch of depressed and tired people sitting at tables and on barstools nursing their emotions and their booze. He usually prefers clubs, there’s an energy to be found in the loud music and lights and swaying bodies. But this feels more appropriate after working all day at a job he really doesn’t like. He’s not interested in the game so much as he’s interested in the end result right now. And that’s to get drunk.

He’s sitting at the bar, a couple of empty shot glasses in front of him, and the latest in his fingers. The only thing that’s giving him a reason to pause is the woman that moves over next to him to order a drink.]

You. [And he points the pinky finger of his shot-holding hand at her, smiles when the single word catches her attention.] Are shining like a bright light.

[She rolls her eyes and moves away from him and he chuckles lightly at his failure.] Well, guess it’s more of a club line than a bar line.

[And he slams back his shot before setting the glass back on the bar with a clank.] Top it off.

Comments

video

[bigvessel]

[Hello, squinter mcsquinter. He arches a curious brow, not exactly sure what she's trying to see here.

He never would have guessed he was being inspected for...twinness.]

Um. [A confused pause.] No. I can't say that I have. Mostly because I...don't. Single child, with the whole syndrome and everything, right here.

[percolates]

Well, then there's a man here that can easily pass as your brother--or you, in fact. [Her green eyes take in the image on her screen. The hair's a little different, and the expressions in a way, but he really could pass as Kirk.] You could swap clothes and no one would be the wiser.

[bigvessel]

[He's about to scoff at her, because that whole twin thing is just dumb-but then he remembers his own crew mate that's more or less a spitting image of a friend back home and his expression falls into a thoughtful frown.]

Oh come on, there's gotta be some differences. [He'll even lean a little closer for her.] Anything?

[percolates]

[She stares at him thoughtfully.]

Not that I can tell. Do you like trying to charm women as well?

[bigvessel]

Well, so much for being unique, hm?

[Still, what else can he do but shrug at the moment.

But that gets a soft chuckle.]

Did he try to charm you? That dog. Though, I can understand the appeal.

[percolates]

He waited a little longer than this. [How terrifying.]

[bigvessel]

[He holds up a hand innocently.] There's a difference between charming someone for whatever nefarious reasons he might have had, and making an honest observation.

[percolates]

You're quick to judge a man who shares your appearance.

[Perhaps there can only be one.]

[bigvessel]

And if you met someone with your own? Would you automatically give them the good twin benefit of the doubt?

[percolates]

[Her father may have married a young lady that could pass as her twin, but we don't talk about that.]

Perhaps. He's a nice fellow, though I don't know him well enough to know how he'd react to you.

[bigvessel]

[That's not healthy.]

Is he? Well, good to hear. I wouldn't want people wanting to punch my face before they even met me.

[Still, he brings a hand up to his face and rubs it idly at the thought.]

Can't imagine it's something anyone would appreciate. Talk about a bit of an identity crisis. [But he's still in a good humor.] Different name at least, right?

[percolates]

Different name. What did you say yours was, again? I was distracted.

[She just knows it's not something-something Kirk.]

[bigvessel]

[Aww come on Ciri, he had a whole joke about it and everything.]

FDR. And it's alright, I'll forgive you, if only because I don't think I've gotten yours yet.

[percolates]

[What is a president and what does it have to do with someone named Marilyn.]

Eff-dee-arr? Your parents named you that?

And my name is Ciri.

[bigvessel]

...Why does it sound wrong when you say it? FDR. Like the letters. F. D. R. It's...it's like initials. And yeah, well, they named me...with words. But those are the initials for it.

[And suddenly three letters seems complicated.]

Ciri. That's cute.

[percolates]

F-D-R. Better? [It's weird, okay.] Ciri's a shortening of a name, too. Makes you wonder why they didn't name us something simpler to begin with.

[bigvessel]

Yeah, better. [And he shrugs casually at that, even if the subject of his parents is never a casual one for him.] Well, to be fair, my parents never called me FDR.

What's it short for?

[percolates]

What's the F stand for? I assume that's what they called you, then.

[Ciri very much doesn't like her full name, but she's not about to let anyone know about that lest they tease her by using it.]

Guess. What could Ciri be short for?

[bigvessel]

Well, now. If you're going to make me play the guessing game, it seems a little cheap for me to just give you my name, doesn't it?

[And he leans in a little further into the camera.] How about we make a game of it? First one to guess right gets a free meal, on the losing party, of course.

[percolates]

[Now he's talking. Ciri grins.]

Very well. You do have money, don't you?

[bigvessel]

[He chuckles lightly. He likes confidence.]

Don't worry. I've got it covered. Unless you pick some five-star restaurant. You might have to wait a week.

Alright. It's a deal then. So. Ladies start.

[percolates]

Forkunnr. [Get ready for a lot of Nordic-sounding names. Ciri's been to a lot of places, enough to know what accents come from where in her world, but she has no clue at all what FDR's name might be. It's probably outside of her pool of knowledge and she knows it.]

Each time I get it wrong, you should give me the next letter of your name. It's only fair, since you know four of mine.

[bigvessel]

N-nooo. [Was that a name? It didn't even sound like a word. That made this game that much more hilarious, but it probably also meant that she didn't have anything close to a normal sounding name.

This might take a while.

Until she adds that little bit to the game after they've already started. But in the sake of someone winning, well.] Alright. R.

Cirina.

[percolates]

[She scrunches her nose. Ew. What kind of name is that? But she laughs, clearly enjoying this game.]

No! Not that.

[F and R. Hmm.]

Fr... Fridolph.

[bigvessel]

[He snickers lightly if only because that face. Come on, it's kind of pretty. And because laughter is always a little infectious.]

Oh god no. That sounds like Santa's reject reindeer. A.

cirinda.