video/action

[candothat]

Who: Pavel Chekov and anyone!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Tourist and/or Iskaulit
When: From the Great Shuffle through July


[video]

It was kind of our hosts to give us gifts after keeping us on the Marsiva and making us share far, far too much with each other, but...

[The Russian pulls his lovely gift basket into view. In addition to the candies and fudge and pickled herring (he is grateful for all of these things, thank you space hosts), there are a few additional items that he is less amused by.]

Did anyone else find their choice in gifts, er... slightly insulting?

Although it was thoughtful of them, I admit, to provide a shirt [it says "I <3 bad boys," for the Russian speakers out there] for my girlfriend to wear once I grow her.

[Sarcasm. That was definitely sarcasm.]


[action]

[If Pavel isn't poking around his quarters on the Tourist, then he's going for a run on the Iskaulit. In either case, he is making no real effort to be sociable. It's not that he doesn't want to talk to people, it's just that there are a lot of things that he doesn't want to talk about. Everyone knows that the only sure way to avoid certain topics of conversation is to avoid talking entirely.

Any attempts on his part to keep quiet will fail miserably if he's approached. Being a person who likes other people is so hard sometimes.]


[ooc: If you, like me, wanted to do ALL of the Calibration things but grossly overestimated your ability to do so, you're welcome to browse Chekov's memories and handwave your character seeing any of the unmarked ones.]

Comments

[passingthrough]

It's okay. I don't think either of us are offended. [She smiles at Chekov.] Mmm...meeting new friends on the Tourist?

[candothat]

Are you certain? Seeker looks very offended. [He doesn't. He's just a cute widdle puppy and of course Chekov wants to meet him.] I'm not certain how many people here are available, but I have nothing better to do than make friends with wolves.

[passingthrough]

You know him so well already. [She looks amused.] Mmm,well, we were hoping for the others, but I guess we'll slum it with you. [She'd only meant him of course.] When are you free? I hate paying those high Pavel service charges.

[candothat]

We are kindred spirits, Seeker and I. I can tell. [This is where he should play it cool and not act eager to hang out.] I'm free now. Or whenever you are, and your direwolf.

[passingthrough]

I knew I recognized a connection. [Why would you ever need to act cool with her?]

We're already on our way. That only sounds like a lie because you can see us sitting here. But we'll be over soon. That is if your new girlfriend doesn't mind. [She's probably the last person who should tease, isn't she?]

[candothat]

[It could be a cool thing to try? You know, for science.]

My new girlfriend will need to accept our friendship for what it is. [Teasing is a fine and honorable way to minimize the unpleasant.] I'll see both of you soon.

[passingthrough]

That's exactly what I was telling Seeker. We'll be there soon. [She waves before she shuts off the feed so she can get the direwolf over the the shuttle and off to the Tourist. She'll head to Chekov's room if he doesn't meet them in the cargo bay. She knows her way around this ship quite well though. It's bittersweet for her now. She tries to focus on the sweet. There's no leash involved here. She didn't find one and she can't remember Robb ever having such, but Seeker follows dutifully at her side.]

[candothat]

[Chekov meets them about halfway and immediately kneels so he can greet the direwolf properly.]

Seeker, hello. [He holds out a hand for sniffing.] And hello to you too, Kitty, of course.

[passingthrough]

I'm glad I still get a pity welcome at least. [Looking amused as the direwolf sniffs him and apparently deems him worthy, appearing comfortable with Chekov.] I'm going to be the least popular member of my couple again. [She's teasing. Though she does believe Winn was beloved by people who aren't Chekov.]

[candothat]

It's only polite to greet the newest friend first. [He pets the top of Seeker's head, exercising some caution since direwolf.] You will always be my favorite, Kitty. [To Seeker, solemnly:] I'm very sorry.

[passingthrough]

[Seeker seems fine with this showing of affection despite his innate direness. Perhaps it's just his nature or maybe it's something the Atroma or the tree that gave him up planned into him to make him a better fleet passenger.]

That seems fair. [And she might have left their greeting at that, but feels wrong so even though stepping in to hug him feels a little awkward too if only because he's trying to pet the wolf, she does does it anyway.] How are you doing?

[candothat]

[Whatever it is, Chekov is quite pleased that the direwolf seems friendly. He would much rather pet a wolf-dog than he mauled by it.

Because Kitty is his favorite, he stops the petting to hug Kitty back. Awkward, what.] Honestly? There are things that I did not want to share... and things that I didn't want to see. [She gets an honest answer.] ...And you?

[passingthrough]

[You can really depend on Chekov for an honest answer instead of socially polite or evasive one, can't you? It's not a bad thing.] Mmm... [Might as well respond in kind.] Like I had an unfair advantage somehow? Like my time in the prison, knowing telepaths, and my general over sharing made that easier on me than most people. So calibration survivor's guilt? [And she misses Winn. But that's just been true every day since he left. No reason to keep saying it, right? Especially to Chekov.]

[candothat]

[Social politeness and evasiveness are saved for acquaintances and people who expect him to be okay all the time. Kitty is part of a very exclusive club.] I think that gaining the experience to have that advantage is punishment enough. You don't need to feel guilty for not feeling badly.

[passingthrough]

I know I don't have to. I guess I can go a step further and try not to. But the point is I'm more worried about everyone else. And it's good to be back to what feels strangely like a version of home.

[candothat]

I see. You're only an overachiever to a point at which it starts benefiting you instead of others. [Teasing, but is he wrong?] You were unlike yourself in that version of your home. Do you remember what happened well?

[passingthrough]

You're on to me. [She says it in a joking way, but he's right. He earns a nod too.]

All of it I think. At least all of the dreams. Something else happened that I can't remember. I only know it happened because I left myself notes and have these vague flashes sometimes. It was while we were awake though.

[candothat]

While we were awake...? [He frowns. The possibility that he doesn't remember some time spent awake hadn't occurred to him, but now that she mentions it.] What notes did you leave yourself?

[passingthrough]

[She rolls up her sleeve where she still has her writing that she keeps refreshing. There's a six digit number and "Three Twins: NO? ?? ???????, Windrose: NO? ?? ???????, Cycle 12, Engineer, Winn Schott: inactive. You found this on the Marsiva. Vash has information too."]

I have it memorized now, but just in case. I have it written down in more convenient ways too, but at this point I trust this more.

[candothat]

Some of this is very cryptic, Kitty. Do you know what it means? Aside from the last two, those are self-explanatory.

[passingthrough]

Not really. I don't know if this was all the information I saw or all I had time to write down. I wrote the part about finding it on the Marsiva later when I realized where the words came from. I don't think I expected to forget it. I probably just wanted to get this information down perfectly.

[candothat]

Maybe you will find the context for these things and then they will make sense. It's more than I have, at least. Almost all that I remember are the dreams.

[He has, by now, resumed the Seeker-petting.]

[passingthrough]

Maybe. You remember the general being on the Marsiva-ness of it while being awake too, right?

[candothat]

Generally, yes. [Specifically, not really. It's a bit late to worry about that, though, so he won't.] Why were we there, do you think? Why did any of this happen?

[passingthrough]

I don't know. I only know that it happened once before I got here too. I also know you have a very nice mind and while that doesn't mean you should have to share it when you don't want to you it's also a good one to share if you have to.