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(no subject)

Who: Simon Tam and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Bloodsport, the waystation, idk, you pick a place and we can make it work! This is a catchall for anyone who wants to get to know Simon, especially if you've threaded with River.
When: Through the rest of April

[Video]

[Simon smiles at the camera, before he clears his throat and addresses everyone.]

Ah- hello to members of the Drift Fleet, old and new. I'm Simon, the medical officer on the Bloodsport. It seems that my sister River has been going around and making lots of friends since she arrived here- I would like to speak to and get to know all of you in turn if you wish. I will be here on the Bloodsport and making housecalls elsewhere as needed.

[Action]

[Perhaps he's treating you on your ship. Maybe you visit him on the Bloodsport or run into him at the waystation the Fleet is currently docked in while he scrounges for food and medicine. No matter what, Simon wants to know the people his sister is bonding with. Why not say hello?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mmmm... [She picks up one of the leaves and studies it thoughtfully for a moment for putting it back down. She smiles, slightly apologetically.] Perhaps a little. If it's the telepathic part you're worried about, though, don't, at least with me. One of my best friends is an empath and her mother is a telepath.

[Simon stiffened a little at that, but then relaxed, nodding.]

Her gifts are... very uncommon in my world, so that isn't something I try to advertise about her. I am very glad there are others who share her same abilities, though. There are some things I know I cannot do for her, and helping her control her powers is one of them.

[She nods sympathetically.] It must be difficult, for both of you. I can tell how much she loves you, though.

[As River would say, they are two moons.]

To tell you the truth, talking to her was a bit of a relief. To not have to explain yourself to someone, for them to just know... I've missed that.

[Simon looked more and more relieved the more she spoke.] And I love her just as much... she and I have always been close. [He let out a hard breath.] I am glad to hear that, sincerely- most people I have met who are exposed to her powers tend to not like having their minds read so freely. Moreso because her control over it is so poor.

Admittedly, it takes some getting used to. [She shakes her head and laughs ruefully.] There were certainly times I hated that Deanna could always tell what I was feeling. There was no hiding from her, no matter what. But now that she's not here... I realize how important that was for me.

[Simon nodded.]

River certainly could be a brat about her own powers when we were growing up... she'd tease me about whichever girls I had a crush on or was dating. I have no secrets from her, but in a way, that doesn't matter, because she loves me all the same.

[Beverly chuckles.] Sounds like pretty normal sibling behavior to me.

[Tilting her head thoughtfully.]

It's interesting that you call her telepathy a power. Deanna always refers to hers as a sense, just like sight or smell or balance.

Indeed- no matter how close we are, she still liked to be the bratty little sister.

[Simon looks thoughtful at that.]

I never thought of it that way- perhaps River feels differently from me and would agree with that assessment.

I never really appreciated it myself until Deanna lost her empathic senses for a time and I saw how that loss affected her.

[A pause.]

If I may ask, was River born with telepathy?

Edited 2015-04-29 23:44 (UTC)

[Simon nodded.]

She was. Of course, we- being myself and my parents- did not recognize it for what it was until she got older and was able to better articulate what she was able to see and feel. Even then, they didn't tend to call it "psychic powers"- I always told people she was born with a metaphorical third eye.

It must have been difficult for her, growing up, if there weren't any other people around who shared her abilities.

It was. I wanted so badly to be able to help her, but I didn't really know how... but she seemed to be calmest when she was around me, so I did what I could.

[She gives him a comforting, if sad, smile.]

She is lucky to have you for a brother.

Thank you for saying so. I have been told as such- and I feel lucky to have her in return. She's incredibly intelligent, even more than I am, but she never held that or her ability to read minds and emotions over my head. Indeed, she hero-worshipped me.

Naturally. You're her big brother after all!

[Beverly rests her elbows on the lab table and looks at the plant specimens Simon has laid out.]

So have you found anything useful yet?

I suppose that is true.

[He then shrugged.]

I am afraid I am not familiar with any of these plants- I may have to ask the network. I do trust that anyone who befriended my sister would not bring anything harmful, but I would still rather not use them until I know what they are useful for. I am far more used to synthetic drugs...

Would you mind if I take a look? My grandmother was a traditional healer who used a lot of plants in her work. She taught me everything she knew.

[Simon inclined his head yes and grinned:]

Please do- I am not so proud that I will not accept help.

[Beverly studies the plants carefully, picking up one now and then, rubbing the leaves between her fingers or sniffing them.]

Most of these are unfamiliar to me, which isn't surprising. I'd have to do some detailed scans on them to get a better idea of their uses. This one however, [She holds up one long narrow leaf and snaps it in two. A thick liquid oozes out.] is aloe, or at least a close relative. I'm willing to bet we could use this to treat burns or rashes.

Excellent. I will have to thank Cole if I see him again... he rather abruptly disappeared during our conversation. He and my sister seem to have hit it off very well, though, which makes me happy. We both need more friends.

[You say you need a friend Simon? Please observe exhibit A: Beverly's smiling face. She was already inclined to like him, of course, but now she definitely will want to reach out.]

I've found most people here have been friendly. Odd perhaps, but friendly.

[Which was a good thing. Simon wanted to make friends, but he couldn't shake his tendency to be guarded... to not share with others. Keeping his head down and his mouth shut had meant survival back home, and it was difficult to switch that off.

Not that he would say so, of course.]

Then I will have to reach out more, I think. My sister being happy should be enough for me, but... having friends of my own couldn't hurt. Especially ones who take the time to come over and say hello, hmm?

[Her smile gets wider.] It only seemed natural to stop by, seeing as we have a lot in common.

You shouldn't feel like you can't have a life outside of River. Like you said, she's happy and she's safe [Or at least, as safe as any of them can be under Atroma's "care"]. You have to take care of yourself too... it's something I had to learn the hard way when my son was growing up.

[Simon smiled back, but then his expression fell and he turned serious.]

Intellectually, I know that... but it is difficult for me to want to consider myself. Back home, we were hunted, on the run... keeping to ourselves was a way of staying as safe as possible under the circumstances. And I had to be stable and strong so she could find her way back to stability.

[Her expression becomes serious as well. Coming here must be a blessing in disguise for them, then.]

I'm not going to act like I know what that was like for you, because I don't. But I hope you'll both be able to find a little respite here, despite everything.

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