driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Sayid Jarrah
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Bishop
When: Post-Shuffle

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[He'd only had a short time aboard the Marsiva before he found himself transported yet again, this time onto the bridge of a much smaller, less immaculate ship. Not long enough to figure out what was going on, not even long enough to browse the network.

Sayid's new shipmates will therefore find their newest member seated at the comm station, pretty much ignoring his celebratory pudding. (Someone else can eat it, if they want.) Perhaps somewhat notably, he's dressed in clothing that could reasonably be described as archaic - leather armor over simple clothing - and yet he doesn't seem awed or confused by the technology. Even with the augment, he seems pretty damn sure about what he's doing.]

network - video
[So yeah, there's this guy in fancy leather armor on screen. His arms are crossed over his chest, the look on his face is faintly annoyed, but he's calm and collected.]

I'm starting to worry that these kidnapping situations are going to become routine for me.

[Okay, but no that frustration isn't helpful, and he needs answers more than he needs to gripe.]

I'd like to know if there's anything expected of us here - other than to be amusing - or if we're otherwise allowed to live our lives unbothered. Our lives such as they are, anyway.

[Because, you know, the last time he was unexpectedly yanked from one place to another, there were games and dying and a lot of trauma. It'd be nice if that weren't repeated.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...Ah. By the time Looma is on the bridge, Sayid is already alert, looking in the direction of the entryway. She's entirely different from whatever he was expecting, but it's not like he's not trained to read body language. He can tell that she's trying not to come off as too intimidating.]

Unfortunately, this is not my first time being forced to adapt to improbable circumstances. I've learned that panicking does very little.

[Also the soldier thing. Grace under fire.]

If only everyone shared that understanding. The galaxy would be better for it.

[Her default approach was pretty much "go down swinging" whenever something unexpectedly awful happened, so it's really no surprise she doesn't like people who do the other thing. The panicky, try-to-run-away thing.]

Have you made yourself familiar with the ship?

It's not really an instinctive outlook, though.

[That is to say, he's not going to look down on people who don't have it. Some people might have that personality, but it's much more likely to be present in people who have been in tough circumstances. Or those with military training.]

I haven't been off the bridge yet, but I think I mostly understand the communication equipment.

For many of them, no. But it can be learned.

[And terrifying situations usually have a way of dealing with those who can't learn that lesson. It's a bit of a heartless observation on her part, but the lack of empathy doesn't make it any less accurate.]

If you think you can bear to leave your console, it would be best for you to be shown your way around as soon as possible. I have been told that our journey is not always without incident.

You're right, it would probably be wise.

[Sayid stands up, the look on his face becoming wry when he realizes that even standing, he still doesn't quite reach her height.]

Have you been on this ship long? How many other people live here?

I would not say it has been long. But long enough to know who it is shared with.

[And to privately gripe over the fact she wasn't in charge, but that's something she'd keep to herself. Instead she'll just motion for him to follow her as she leaves the bridge, even if she does have to turn a bit to slip through the doorway.]

At the moment, there are three others. All human, or human enough. Cersei Lannister is the captain, the ship's engineer prefers to be addressed as Fitz, and we have another who enjoys shapeshifting. From what I can gather, she is responsible for the ship's security.

[Another in a growing list of personal slights, as far as Looma's concerned. She's the actual warrior aboard, after all. And that meant the ship and everyone aboard was under her protection anyway.]

None have given me reason to bear a grudge against them, which means you should tolerate them well enough.

[He digests her information as he follows her away from the bridge. 5 people is a small crew, but then maybe it's a small ship. Possibly they don't need a large crew anyway.

Her last comment makes him curious.]

Does that mean you hold grudges easily?

[The tone of his question is non-judgmental, as if he's making conversation. He is, actually, somewhat interested in the answer. There might be other interpretations to what Looma said, but he's going to rule this one out first.]

I do not believe so, but I am unaware of how it compares to how you humans do things.

[Easier. Definitely easier. But she's also more flexible about it, in her own weird way. In the interest of not alienating herself from the rest of the crew any more than she naturally will, she at least offers an explanation.]

On Khoros, an individual is judged by their actions as well as their skill. Specifically, whether those are beneficial to the rest of the group, or detrimental. I believe that system has merit. So I observe you, and everyone else, and apply that judgment as needed.

I will be most unforgiving if I notice someone has become a burden. But it is unlikely any would be foolish enough to cause me such offense that my disapproval would lead to violence.

[That last part was pretty much thrown in there as an olive branch of sorts- she knows it'd take some real failures in self-preservation skills on the part of one of the crew for her to destroy them, but experience has told her that usually needs to be spelled out to anyone not used to dealing with her.]

You expect everyone to contribute. To be useful.

[Though it's not posed strictly as a question, it's clear that he's trying to gauge whether he understands her correctly.

It doesn't sound like a bad system of judgement, though Sayid isn't completely sure its one that everyone will appreciate. There are just some people who aren't going to be comfortable or willing to comply. He's not as sure as she is that it wouldn't happen.]