driftfleet | ✩ video (backdated) ; action (on different days)

Who: Kaname Buccaneer & Various!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Also yes!
When: Broadcast, the 10th; action, from 6th until they leave the system

[VIDEO; Public]

[The network's greeting with a smiling redhead, waving a little at the camera. From the looks of it, she's sitting at a desk aboard one of the ships, but not the sad excuse of one in their quarters. Heck yeah, personnel office.

As always, her tone is friendly, offering an easy approach should someone need it.]

When I think about it sometimes, the fact some people here don't have regular space travel back home is still hard for me to wrap my head around. For me, it's as normal as waking up in the morning. Going from planet to planet or system to system, for performances or otherwise, is so routine, I never bat an eye. It makes me wonder how close other worlds are from achieving the same thing. Or maybe you're already there.

[Only now does a striped mercat start shuffling across the desk in front of the camrea. Kaname chuckles a little, tucking some hair behind her ear before lifting him off and placing him in her lap.] I guess I want to know about that. Or maybe what's common for you but strange to others? Like back home, everyone knows the term Protoculture, but here... I think I'd be surprised if someone else did. If anyone wants to share, I'd love to hear it.

[She reaches forward, aware of the mercat's interest in the device, and turns off the feed.]

[SKATING-- anytime]
[Before the planet, Kaname never went ice skating, but she wanted to learn. Here, thanks to a lot of help from Freyja, she's beginning to get the hang of it. Someone might think that the grace and poise needed to dance and move as much as she does would translate well into this. For her, there's no such luck. Every so often she'll wobble and have to reach the edge of the lake or rink (she uses both) to steady herself. But she's determined. Skate with her, laugh at her, offer her a helping hand or hot drink.]

[SHOPPING-- anytime]
[The little attack concert Kaname and Freyja pulled in the previous system netted them a good amount of credits in ratings, so what else is there to do but spend some of it? Despite receiving her performance equipment complete with fold carbon outfit changes, someone is wanting an expanded wardrobe, as well as decorations for her office and room. Clothes, decor, and more practical supplies are all on her list.]

[SINGING-- most days]
[One thing a singer should never do is not practice. Whether she's in the dance studio, the gym, or even out for a run on the Iskaulit, she can often be heard singing a few different songs. Some are more common than others, but there's a variety. Only rarely is she quiet or simply humming. Her job requires her to project, so she does just that.]

[OTHER-- ???]
[Something not here? Create your own!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

['Eclectic' might be the most generous description he's ever gotten for the mask.]

Q-Lulu. [His voice is a bit flat as he takes in the name. Not that he's one to judge, but 'Q'?] Earthling indeed. Manned missions seem to be limited to experiments these days. The effects of zero gravity and prolonged exposure to space; that kind of thing.

[To each their own or something.

She nods, chuckling a little] Someone else named him.

Where I'm from, technology's definitely evolved past that being a primary concern. Traveling between planet light years apart is pretty standard.

[Normalcy is very overrated.]

It fits him. I would have a hard time deciding on a name for...whatever his species is called. [He lets out a breathy laugh.] Has it advanced that much? I'd never live to see it where I come from. Being on the Bishop has been enlightening.

He's a mercat.

[Said creature is seen poking around her desk in the peripherals of the camera feed.]

In a way, yes. The source of most of the technologies was an alien starship that landed on Earth, but humans were quick to adapt and make use of what it offered. Unfortunately, the specifics aren't something I specialize in-- I'm only aware of the basic history.

A very accurate species name. He even acts like a cat.

[He smiles a little seeing Q-Lulu roaming about.]

Reverse engineering is a common practice when faced with technology that hasn't been seen before. Were these aliens at least the friendly kind? A lot of movies tend to suppose otherwise about extraterrestrials that wind up on Earth.

[She reaches over to idly pet him.]

The ship crash landed with the occupants already deceased, but it was almost ten years before they made contact with living ones. Unfortunately, a war did follow. [She gives a soft smile.] It ended peacefully, however, and it allowed exploration to expand even further.

[He sighs, nodding.]

Sounds about right... At least the war ended. There never seems to be an end to them where I come from. [A pause.] What do you make of all these different planets and their inhabitants? I've found it easy enough to acclimate to the wide shifts in planetary cultures, but you sound like someone who's more familiar with going between worlds.

You're right, I am. It's familiar enough, but I'm used to much more control over when and where I travel.

[She pauses, thinking over his question.] The mixture of species is actually comforting-- that part reminds me of home. Different colors and sizes and shapes are normally everywhere.

Sentient species, too. At first everyone looked odd and now I feel desensitized to the whole thing except when meeting a new people.

Home seems so...ordinary compared to all these different worlds. Like nothing really ever changes much between planets and their people.

I don't think you have to be desensitized at all. Each one is still a different person than the last.

[That's met with a small smile.] As long as ordinary doesn't mean dull or boring, it's not a bad way to look at it.

Edited 2018-01-28 03:24 (UTC)

You can only spare so much surprise over appearances. I still feel it on occasion, but that's more to do with how we never stay for very long on a given planet.

[He tilts his head slightly.] Hardly boring. It's more how everything I considered normal gets put into perspective.

Who knows, some might be glad to be greeted without the surprise.

[Kaname nods in understanding.] It definitely has that effect. The bigger picture only grows.

[His shoulders shake at the thought.] Usually I'm the surprise back home.

The red planet definitely kicked around a few emotions. I came back feeling something approaching relaxed.

Is it because of... [Well, she gestures, unsure of how to even ask that outright.]

[The most succinct and polite way he's ever seen it phrased thus far. Mantis relaxes, leaning back in his seat.]

I got up to a violent profession at home. It's very hard sometimes to be peaceful between the cabin fever and a lack of outlets for some of my instincts.

Edited 2018-02-01 23:08 (UTC)

[She tries not to show it, but her demeanor's a little warier now.]

Instincts?

People are sensitive about having their thoughts laid bare, so my usual means of keeping one of my skills sharp would be rude at best and get me labeled as a pariah at worst. Regardless, I still need to keep my abilities where I want them to be.

Have you tried asking to see if anyone else has similar skills? Maybe practicing together would fix some of that.

Thus far, I only met two people on the ships who had abilities similar to mine, and I believe both were allowed to go home. [Sigh.] It might be that I need to directly announce my powers and see if I can find willing subjects.

It might be taken as a good will gesture if you do that, which can't be a bad thing.

People are generally more accepting of strange things when they announce themselves politely. [He nods.] Decisions are easier to make when they're fielded among other minds. Thank you.

[Kaname nods slowly, accepting the gratitude.]

You're welcome. If you decide to do so, I'll wish you luck.

You don't need luck when you can bend the world to your will, but I appreciate the sentiment.

[......]

A good start would be not doing that.

[He laughs quickly.] I won't. That kind of dream belongs to other people I've known. It's enough to just be able to keep my powers honed going between planets like this.

video

axi - 2018-02-21 21:31 (UTC) - Expand

ginger_firebird - 2018-02-21 23:06 (UTC) - Expand