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?]

No.

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

You-

Sorry, what?

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

I learn best by observing art..

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

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?

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

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.]

[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.

[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?

No one.

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

I was close, wasn't I?

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?

[Good luck with that, Tendi. Thrawn had to deal with fellow navy officers who pulled all their art from their offices to hinder him. It was a struggle, but doable]

I was not expecting your family's..tendencies for knowing the monetary value of art.

[How does he do that? It's as fascinating as it is unnerving.]

...would it help if I mention my family is kind of... filthy rich? [Something she looks more embarrassed about than anything. Of course that's not the only reason her family is fixated on the monetary value of art over the artistic value, but being invested in showing off their wealth and status is a good excuse. She's not sure she wants to get into the family business right now.]

You are ashamed of your wealth. Why?

[Trust Thrawn to mow down any sense of tact in conversation]

...a lot of reasons. It's complicated. [Which is very much a non-answer, but she wasn't prepared for things to get this personal, Thrawn.]

I assumed so.

My homeworld's kind of... a lot, Thrawn. And it's hard to talk about one part of it without getting into everything else, too.

[She rubs the back of her neck.]

Most planets in the Federation are cashless. With replicator technology and open communication and trade between so many different worlds, there's no real need to hoard wealth. Nobody there ever has to worry about starving, or getting too sick to work, or not being able to take care of their kids. Nobody's needs go unprovided for.

Orion... could do that, probably without even joining the Federation if they didn't want to. There's nothing about us that forces us to stay capitalists. But the people in charge like the position of power and superiority their status and wealth provide, so they won't. I guess that's a big part of the shame. [Just not all of it.]

You only feel shame because you know and value the alternatives.

Perhaps your family finds you a source of shame as well.

That's not the only-

[Tendi starts, before she falls silent at the second part of his comment. She knows he didn't do it deliberately - Thrawn doesn't have that much skill in social manipulation. But that doesn't make it feel less like a kick in the gut.

She looks away from the communicator.]

There's no real 'perhaps' about it. You, um, got what you needed?

[Ah - he's stumbled on something else. Thrawn can sense it, see it in her face. He also knows that he does not wish to upset this ally further.

He nods, allowing the escape]

Indeed. Thank you.

[She offers him a small smile, trying to show that she's not mad mad, just... not ready to get into something that complicated and emotionally charged when it's sprung on her like this.]

Good. I'll see you around, okay?

It is too small a ship to avoid any one person. So, yes. You will.

[a slight bow of his head goodbye]

[He does manage to get a little snort of laughter out of her with that line, and she gives him a wave as she disconnects. She just... needs a moment after that.]

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