video, 01

[unbridles]

Who: John Laurens
Broadcast: Fleetwide video
Action: Aboard the Marsiva
When: Right the heck now.

[He wasn't expecting a bed. More to the point, he wasn't expecting to wake up at all; did someone wake up when they were dead? He's not sure. Well. At least he doesn't hurt after dying, though John can't remember it hurting much before, either. He sits up anyway, still clad in his continental uniform, now with a mysterious lack of bulletholes. In doing so, he jars the communicator nearby, and it falls to the floor with a clatter.]

Shit, what -- [Oh. Okay. There's a thing on the floor, he's surrounded by mysterious silvery walls, and he's trying not to panic. This is great. Maybe the thing will have some answers. So he picks up the comm and pokes at it, tentatively. That manages to activate the video, and behold, there's one seriously perplexed lieutenant colonel onscreen.]

--Um. Can anyone maybe tell me what the hell is goin' on? Is anyone there?

Comments

[spacebro]

Really? It's that unusual where you're from?

[unbridles]

I mean, there're women in camps and stuff, but we don't have any enlisted.

[spacebro]

Well, I'm sure you're in good hands. [Because he has no idea who Cersei is.] Although captains can be surprising here. Mine is a child.

[unbridles]

[HAH. Well, thankfully, John hasn't met her yet either.]

....Really? That's real strange.

[spacebro]

I was surprised too. This is a surprising place.

[unbridles]

Yeah, I kinda noticed that when I wasn't dead.

[spacebro]

You're supposed to be dead? [Definitely sounding surprised even though he has heard this happens here, but no one has ever talked to him about it before as a personal experience.]

[unbridles]

Yeah, did ya think these bulletholes were just 'cause I'm lazy? [There's a quick, teasing grin.] I mean, there's a lot of 'em, but I ain't that lazy.

[spacebro]

[Awkward pause.] I just haven't met a lot of dead people. [And he does know someone who can get shot a lot without dying.] Are you okay now?

[unbridles]

[Well, John's gotten shot a lot and not died. Until he did, of course, but he's also prone to running into dangerous situations on the battlefield.]

Yeah, I'm fine. Ain't even bleedin' or anything.

[spacebro]

[For Kara they just bounce off. Hard on her non-uniform clothes though!]

That's something. [He's not sure what to make of it!] I'm sorry about the dying part. Who shot you?

[unbridles]

The British. We were fightin' a war.

[spacebro]

What was the war about?

[unbridles]

Freedom, taxes, a lotta things. Mostly freedom, though.

[spacebro]

It's one of the better things to fight over. You were slaves to the British?

[unbridles]

No, we were colonists from there. I'd've liked to end slavery too, if I could have, but a lot of folks from where I was didn't much like my opinions on that.

[spacebro]

Yeah... [Looking thoughtful.] It's hard to make people change their ways especially when they don't want to change and don't have a lot of respect for your opinion. [Someone might not be talking about Laurens now.] Um, not that they didn't respect yours.

[unbridles]

[He raises his eyebrows a little.] 'Cept you're right, they didn't. I'm from the South, where a lot of people keep slaves. It's not right at all, but they do it anyway.

[spacebro]

I'm from a place where there are slaves too. [Not looking at all proud of that.]

[unbridles]

I'm sorry to hear that. We're workin' on getting rid of it, my friends an' I; but I'm clearly not gonna be much help in that respect.

[spacebro]

I...stood by and did nothing. [Not entirely true. He drank a lot to numb himself from the things it felt like he couldn't change. Also, not actually helpful to anyone.]

Your world was lucky to have you.

[unbridles]

[There's a little shrug, but he gives the other a small smile.] Thanks, I guess.

[spacebro]

You're welcome, and I'm sure. [He smiles.] I should probably let you get settled in, but I'm sure I'll see you around.

[unbridles]

Yeah, I'll keep an eye out for ya. Thanks for the welcome.