calling all nosy comms officers

[catamite]

Who: Nelkeila Tarid
Broadcast: Open! And then encrypted!
Action: Three Twins
When: Before the Shuffle

[the elf is half-dressed at his comms station as usual, wrapped in a sheet that he has dragged from his bunk, like a slob. he's settled in there, with a snack and an idea. and this idea sprouted its way into his head while paging through the frequencies, listening in on conversations--both public and encrypted--like any good, nosy comms officer.

it makes him wonder if there's anyone else out there doing the same thing. so, he starts out with a normal, bland, video broadcast. just some smiley elven guy derping around on the network.]

So... you ever wonder why they pick certain people to bring here? Like, what it is about them that makes them think "hey, this guy would be perfect for our show?"

There are so many people now, and... I don't know... everybody's really different, I think. It just makes me wonder.

[and then, with a few taps of the keyboard, he quietly sets up an encryption, so that only curious folks with a comms augment can break in and see the rest of the broadcast--]

→ encrypted
[and he can't help but laugh and let his eyes go dramatically wide, shaking his head.]

Because, wow... some of these people are weird.

[he's not really expecting much of a response, honestly. he is perhaps underestimating how many comms folks there might be poking around in the encrypted corners of the network.]

Comments

encrypted; video

[serpentis]

A sentiment I do have to agree with.

[Okay, he's mostly amused at this being encrypted. A chance for gossip? Sign him up.]

encrypted; video

[catamite]

[oh man, and Nel is immediately beaming because--dang, someone actually answered! and even though Dorian could be just over in another room on the ship somewhere, Nel leans closer to the screen and gets all hushed.]

Yeah? Oh man. I bet you know, like... everyone now, huh?

encrypted; video

[serpentis]

I'm not certain what you're implying.

[He almost purrs it. And then chuckles.]

encrypted video

[devilsinthedetails]

[Cole just laughs in amusement. Because yeah, he's a weird one himself, but that doesn't stop him from thinking everyone else is worse.]

Oh, you have no idea.

encrypted video

[catamite]

[yeah, Nel is also kind of a big hypocrite here, but man. have you seen some of the other passengers?]

What? Really? ...Like what?

encrypted video

[devilsinthedetails]

[Why do you think he's perfectly okay to talk shit about other people.]

Like the pilot of my current ship was watching a guy sleep for an entire month without barely leaving his side the entire time.

encrypted; video

[noctiphile]

[He's leaning forward into the comm, eyes wide and speaking in a hushed voice. Occasionally glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one's around.]

Weird? My captain is tiny! It's ridiculous! She's—[He creates a scale with his hands.]—this big!

encrypted; video

[catamite]

[dude, his eyes widen to match Mattias' before he's even heard a thing--kicking his feet off of whatever console they'd been propped on so he can lean forward near the screen.]

Like... really short?

[because he can't possibly mean that literally, can he?]

encrypted; video

[noctiphile]

I believe nine inches is beyond "really short".

encrypted; video

[kyasdaughter]

You should've seen what the people were like in the last place I was stuck.

encrypted; video

[catamite]

[oh yes, a girl! they always have the best stories and know all the good secrets. he sits forward as soon as she pops onto the screen.]

Oh, you've done something like this before, too? Was it worse?

encrypted; video

[kyasdaughter]

It was... different. I don't know if I can really say better or worse.

[ but she leans forward a little as he does, smiling. ]

It's Katara, by the way.

video

[everydayhero]

I've been wondering the same thing. Some of us are just normal human beings, we don't really fit in with the superpowered members of the fleet.

video

[catamite]

[oh, hey... there's a bit of a pause while he squints a little, checking to see if the replying broadcast is encrypted or not. and then he nods!]

Yeah, and it's not even just that. There are really, really dangerous people here, and then there are also just kids.

Like. In wheelchairs.

[...he probably should have encrypted this anyway. hopefully Nunnally doesn't see this sometime and get upset. oops.]

video

[everydayhero]

I know. It's just not safe, but that's probably why they're doing it. Every new member causes some kind of splash.

Video; encrypted

[onlyanapple]

Well, you know what they say. Weirdness sells.

That and sex.

Video; encrypted

[catamite]

Oh.

[he says this with wide eyes because Crowley may have just solved the whole mystery.

good job. pieces have suddenly clicked together in his head.]



...So, they're hoping for really weird sex.

Video; encrypted

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley does this. He's good at figuring out omnipresent...things. ]

Wouldn't be surprised. Of course, these are all aliens, so their idea of weird might be a lot ...more out there than we realise.

encrypted; video

[faithfulwisdom]

[A laugh]

I would agree, if I were not so certain that others would say precisely the same of me.

encrypted; video

[catamite]

[oh hey. Nel immediately straightens up in his seat, smiling bright and praying that his hair isn't a mess when he sees this face appear on his screen.]

Ha, why would you say that?

[faithfulwisdom]

Oh, come now. You think I do not realize when I am the odd man out? [He doesn't seem bothered by it, though.] I am the lone representative of my world; much of what I say must, by necessity, sound strange. To say nothing of my manner of speech. [Yeah, he's at least that self aware.]

video; encrypted

[got_it_memorized]

Ah, weird is relative, if you ask me. So far I think I have yet to see anything stranger than a talking duck wearing a hat. And a shirt. But no pants.

video; encrypted

[catamite]

[he blinks a little, missing most of the context in trying to... picture this...]

...There's a talking duck?

video; encrypted

[wordmiser]

[her face appears on the screen, and her long hair sways with how vigorously she's nodding. These people be cray.

But like she's one to talk.

There's a monster she wants to obey in a shuttle, after all. This even deserves words.]

They work.

[Dude. Who does that? Willingly?]

video; encrypted

[catamite]

[he blinks slowly, because... she can't just be talking about work. like a job.]

Work? ...What do you mean?