Inboxs

[notthatkindoforion]

Welcome to Tendi's inbox! If I don't answer immediately, it's probably because I've got my hands full with something toxic, corrosive, or chemically unstable! Or bleeding. Or all of the above! I'll get back to you as soon as I can, byyyye!

Comments

[notthatkindoforion]

If he's willing to consider technology from my world while building it, he could make it programmable. Then, theoretically, anyone with enough comprehensive knowledge on how an object is constructed could program it to produce that object. It would... have to be something that inmates wouldn't have easy, unsupervised access to for obvious reasons.

[Being an inmate doesn't preclude someone from knowing how to program a weapon, for example.]

But even if it's only able to make simpler objects, it could certainly be useful! I'm thinking structural elements, casings, synthetic skins for prosthetics, that kind of thing!

[artistinexile]

I was planning on placing it in the Maintenance bay and allowing it to be accessible via warden key.

All very good ideas.

[notthatkindoforion]

Let me know if you need any details about replicators or anything like that? I'm sure I can dig up some technical documents.

You, um, said there was something personal, too?

[artistinexile]

Thank you. I will take whatever you can gather.

Yes.

[he hesitates. It's part of an assignment from Florian, but the whole idea of asking is frustratingly opaque and awful]

Do you find me odd?

[notthatkindoforion]

Um [Tendi's not sure what she'd expected the question to be, but it wasn't that.]

I... guess that depends on what you mean by "odd"? Keeping my eye that I don't know any other- [that awkward moment when she remembers she doesn't even know what Thrawn's race is called] -people from your culture, so I can't judge by that metric.

So, um, I guess I'd have to ask in what context?

[artistinexile]

My warden believes my graduation hinges on making me likable, sociable, and politically astute. He regularly assigns me tasks: asking others what they find strange or off-putting about me so I can course-correct is one of them.

[notthatkindoforion]

Thank you. That helps. [She's being genuine - knowing where this is coming from helps a lot in putting her thoughts in order in a way that might be useful.]

Well... let me start by saying all my favorite people are kind of odd, especially back home. I'm pretty odd. I don't think it's a bad thing to be different from what people expect? But when you don't experience the world the way the people around you do, it can make things... difficult.

[To say the least. She thinks for a moment longer.]

It worries and upsets me when you don't take care of yourself. I don't know whether you can't take care of yourself in those moments, or if you just don't think it's important, and don't understand that it's distressing for the people who care about you to see you sacrifice your health like that.

I... think sometimes you don't consider how other people think or feel at all. Which- I know that's not easy for everyone! It's okay to struggle with other people's perspectives. But I'd... I don't think it's a bad idea to try. Sometimes it feels like, um- [Please don't be mad?] Like you think your perspective is the correct one, simply because it's yours, and nothing will make you consider anything else in that moment.

[artistinexile]

Thank you. I was unaware that your feelings ran so deeply.

I have no wish to upset or worry you; I ask, in the future, that you are to refer back to this conversation when I do. I will not be angry.

[notthatkindoforion]

Wanna know a secret?

My feelings are deep, and a lot, like... all the time. It's part of what makes me odd. [That's... not really a secret to anybody slightly less oblivious than Thrawn, honestly.]

I'll remember that. I didn't think you were trying to upset me, for the record, but it... it matters a lot to me that my friends are looked after, especially when things are bad. Otherwise I can't really help but worry.

[artistinexile]

That sounds exhausting.

[he says, with some sympathy. Thrawn has no interest in feeling things as deeply as Tendi, let alone constantly]

I endeavor to look after myself in most ways. This conversation could lead to graduation, for example.

[notthatkindoforion]

I mean, I'm mostly used to it? But... sometimes, yeah. [Sometimes, like when it feels more like her emotions are driving and she's in the backseat. But that... almost never happens anymore. It's fine. She's fine.]

I'm glad you are. I don't actually like worrying, even if I do it a lot. [It's a joke, but only sort of.]

What are you going to do, once you graduate?

[artistinexile]

I will stay here, to procure a deal from the Admiral.

Then I will return and unite my fleets, as I had intended before all this.

[notthatkindoforion]

Mmm. So that's another good reason to try to learn how to understand people, and how they might think or feel differently than you. If you're going to be responsible for your own inmate some day, I mean.

[artistinexile]

And I will have their file, which will help set expectations and goals.

[notthatkindoforion]

Oh, sure, I bet files do help, but you can't learn everything about a person through paperwork, you know?

[...you do know that, right Thrawn?]

[artistinexile]

No.

Sometimes you must also supplement what you know via their art.

[notthatkindoforion]

You-

Sorry, what?

[Well that's completely derailed her. What the fuck are you talking about, Thrawn?]

[artistinexile]

I learn best by observing art..

If you wish for a demonstration, show me your cabin, please.

[notthatkindoforion]

Huh.

I mean, I only really use my cabin for projects, and there wasn't really any art in there to begin with? Or do you mean Lucy's cabin, since that's where I kind of actually live?

[artistinexile]

Whichever has art. If Lucy’s cabin does, then by all means.

[notthatkindoforion]

Well, okay. Give me a few.

[She shuts off comms on her end as she heads for the cabin. It's not super long - a nice thing about sleeping in her friend and roommate's Level 1 cabin is that it's a lot faster to get to from the parts of the Barge Tendi spends most of her time than Level 8.

When the video comes back on, it's of a couple hanging pieces - a painting of a Vulcan monastery from Steve with a hand-drawn holiday card featuring the Enterprise tucked behind it, and a shell mosaic shaped and painted like a lily from Justine. There's a shelf with an origami rabbit and Alien (from the movie Alien) next to them.]

This is what we've got!

[...art is clearly not a priority in their lives. Sad.]

[artistinexile]

[he leans forward at his desk, silently observing the pieces around them.

It takes a few minutes; obviously nothing is from Lucy's or Tendi's homeworlds. But the fact they've chosen to display these, plus what he knows of Tendi's music, makes him want to make some educated leaps of logic]

You are from a matrilineal, warrior's culture who is integrating into another, more peaceful one. You admire this second culture and have taken great pains to integrate yourself, but you have close ties to your first family. Perhaps a sibling or a close cousin who has your same values. And you have ties to a more violent group that you are attempting to hide. Likely due to biases against your family, culture, or heritage.

You have an extraordinarily positive outlook on life, almost to your detriment, as you will occasionally be forced to reconcile with grim realities. But you have strong ties of friendship and family that help you weather these occasional storms. Were I to defeat you in battle, I would be cautious about targeting them: your nature suggests you are a protector and guardian and would be vicious in battle if given a proper reason. My best chance would likely be to let you believe I was giving up or giving in, wounded or otherwise, and lure you closer for a more pronounced kill.

[notthatkindoforion]

[Tendi's just silent on the other end for a long moment, before turning the camera back to face her.]

Uh.

[Another pause.]

You- you didn't really get all that from a couple Christmas gifts. Did you? Who've you been talking to?

[artistinexile]

No one.

I've always been able to...see things, through art. Weaknesses, assets.

I was close, wasn't I?

[notthatkindoforion]

That's- I'd say unbelievable but I've known a lot of people with some pretty unbelievable talents. [That's Starfleet, for you.]

Pretty close, yeah.

[And now she's going to be forever self-conscious about what art she chooses to display and how she displays it, thanks.]

Anything you... weren't expecting?