driftfleet | [video]

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[video]

Who: Ravi Chakrabarti and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: HS Marsiva
When: Pre-shuffle!

[When Ravi wakes up in a completely unfamiliar bunk, his first thought is that he's been whisked back to the zombie camp with the unmentionable name and is about to have a bevy of overenthusiastic, purple gorilla nurses descend upon him. But as the minutes tick by uneventfully, he decides to brave the unknown to explore his surroundings and - despite the perplexities of his current situation - is visibly delighted by everything he sees. When he finally gets the hang of the communicator, his hands are actually shaking from the excitement of it all, making his image a little blurry onscreen.]

Apparently I'm in space! Which is actually pretty bloody brilliant! It's a definite upgrade from my previous zombie camp escapade, let me tell you, but I have so many questions!

[He looks like he's about to start rambling for hours on end, but manages to visibly reel himself in first. It's probably best to start with the basics.]

I'm Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti and I suppose this makes me a new member of this fleet, if there is a fleet. Which I'm pretty sure there is since I'm just about one hundred percent certain I could see other ships from the viewing area.

[A huge grin breaks out over his face as he mentally processes this again.]

I'm part of a fleet and I'm broadcasting in space! I mean, look, I'm obviously not thrilled about being displaced from home again, but if it has to happen, at least I'm on an actual, honest-to-God spaceship! And if anyone can provide some information on why exactly I'm in space, I'd be much obliged. Don't get me wrong, I could only have ever dreamed about all this robotic medical equipment in the last place, but at least the gorilla nursing staff was a bit more communicative.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There is no putting a damper on your mood, is there? Not that I'm actually trying. Just...

You are awful excited.

And optimistic.

When it wears off I'll make certain that you're the first to know about it.

That's not exactly where I was going with that.

Good! Because you might have been waiting a long time. Probably forever, if I'm being honest.

Let's try this again.

[Congratulations. It's fairly rare that Natasha meets someone who she's not really sure what to do with.]

I'm Natasha. And I have to say, I'm curious about how someone can be so cheerful about their own kidnapping—but it sounds like you've had some experience with this before.

And a professional interest?

[Natasha. Something clicks in Ravi's brain, and suddenly his new goal in life is to try not to piss off the person he's pretty sure can maim him in more ways than he can imagine. And he can imagine a lot, given his line of work.]

The thing is, I don't know nearly enough about the intricacies of space travel or reality television shows to have anything even approaching any level of professional interest. This is just bald curiosity! I'm a scientist! It's kind of what we do! And besides, I've already survived one interdimensional kidnapping and was returned home with no ill effects, so it's natural - if maybe a bit naive - to assume that the same will be true in this situation, seeing as I've had no indication otherwise!

[She definitely maim him in innumerable ways. Luckily it would take a lot more than getting off on the wrong foot to inspire that kind of reaction.]

So you're a scientist, but not that kind. Considering your excitement, I assumed this would have been your area of study.

On the other hand, MRIs... medicine?

That's the one! You're looking at the proud owner of a fancy piece of paper that grants him the right to practice medicine, should he choose to do so!

[Does this mean he's passed the "TOTALLY NOT WORTH MAIMING" test? He's going to assume it means he passed.]

[It does, indeed, seem that he'll avoid maiming another day.]

Fair enough. So let's call space an amateur interest.

I'd say that's an accurate assessment.

Whatever keeps you busy, I guess. It's not worse than panicking.

[Ringing endorsement there.]

Lucky you, there are a lot of scientists around. Probably they'll even get excited with you.

Cisco was very excited to talk about the whole multiverse situation.

Yeah? Did he have any particular favourite theories? I know black holes are supposed to be a popular one, but I have to admit I haven't brushed up on my quantum physics since, oh... my undergraduate years?

I can't say I followed all the details that well. I don't remember any black holes, though. More alternate possible universes, something about vibrations.

Ah well, I'll just have to look forward to hearing his theories in person someday!

So what about you? What do you make of all this?

You might not have noticed, but I'm a little optimistic about all this.

On the other hand, it's my first time.

[She takes the weight out of the words with a wry smile.]

Yeah, that was coming through loud and clear. Totally got the message!

[He laughs a little, shaking his head as if he's enjoying a private joke.]

Take it from a "seasoned professional", it could always be worse!

Not all the veterans are as encouraging as you are.

But I'll try to keep that in mind.

Not that having my head played with is all that more appealing than the other possibilities.

I can't say I've had any experience with that, personally. Obviously the ethics behind that are completely lacking.

Oh, that's putting it lightly.

[Natasha isn't exactly unused to questionable ethics.]

You see why I might not be optimistic.

I can see, but I'm still choosing to try and look on the bright side. It's a lot of work, living in the doom and gloom! All we can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best, yeah?

I wouldn't call it all doom and gloom. The situation definitely is, but we do make the best of it we can.

Including me.

Seems like most people have taken things in stride pretty well! So what do you do for fun around here?

Cultivating lowkey functional alcoholism seems to be common. But there's a gym. We stop in on different planets... moons... things like that. Those have a lot of opportunities.

And there's always new people to meet.

So let me get this straight - apparently we can't any decent food around here, but alcohol is readily available?

There are a couple of bars on the Iskaulit.

And people tend to stock up when we make a planet.