Inbox

[artistinexile]

You have reached the inbox of the former Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and the Seventh Fleet, also formerly known as Senior Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Springhawk.

I will return your message promptly.

[The message repeats in six different languages]

Comments

One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

Good day, Thrawn.

I'm sure you've seen the announcement?

Would you be willing to meet with me to discuss how this will proceed?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

Good day, Florian.

I have, and I will. Do you prefer one of our cabins or a more public setting?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

We hardly need a public setting.

If you feel up to it, I'd prefer to go to your cabin. Would that be acceptable?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

A reasonable request. I am in Level 8, Cabin 8.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

I'll be there shortly.

[ It takes him about ten minutes, mostly because he'd wanted to powder his nose a bit and look his best. He's also bringing a notebook with him.

He knocks twice. ]

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

Enter.

[Thrawn calls, as the door slides up to reveal...rather the opposite of Florian's own cabin, at least in part.

The walls, the floor, and the ceiling are charcoal grey, durasteel plating in the sort of rigid hegemony typical of mid-stage Empire starships. Very little furniture has been designed for comfort, instead taking on a utilitarian, almost brutalist architecture with sharp lines and white neon backlighting, in a way to make everything feel sterile and inhuman. This is a part of a ship that was one of many, a standardized look probably designed by someone who hated their officers feeling any sort of comfort, even the one to whom the cabin belongs.

But there are, strangely, parts that Thrawn has made his own. He sits at his desk, an enormous half-circle with him at the center of it, several chairs positioned around it, but behind him is a large indentation: a piece of art, bronze, of two four-eyed lizards in profile standing on angled triangles, using long fingers to grip the top-most edge. They stand guard over a bronze circle.

There's one large, tilted window which is shuttered, giving the room an eerie, incandescent quality with the low neon lighting and the glowing hologram table Thrawn sits at. A small door likely leads to his bedchambers; this is his office aboard the Chimaera, and as such houses some of his physical art pieces, including a featureless grid of display cases with small statues and relics of his times in other places.

Thrawn stands as Florian enters out of respect, hands at his back.]

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

[ Florian will offer a bow from the door before stepping in, and he'll look around thoughtfully before he looks to Thrawn. ]

I realize that you don't have a bath or shower of any sort, but you do have a facility for exiting waste, yes?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[such an eyebrow raise. Thrawn waits a beat before asking;]

Is that really what you want your first question to be?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

Having been trapped in a limited space for an extended period, I find basic bodily necessities to be deeply important to be addressed first and foremost.

[ He turns a hand. ]

There will be periods where it is wisest to stay within one's room, as rooms do hold a certain amount of protection. I would also be willing to provide further protection given that I would guess you to come from a world largely lacking in magic and more than a few inmates have made a point of learning such skills or had them to start.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

While I welcome your offer of protection, two of your assumptions are wrong. Shall I tell you which, or would you like to revise on your own?

[Thrawn gestures to a chair in front of him, inviting Florian to sit as he too sits down at his desk opposite]

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

You'd have to tell me which assumptions I've made, as I believe I've only made a few observations and one guess, which I will happily revise on new information.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

You assume that I am from a 'world' - a more accurate assertion would be that I come from a galaxy, or a star system. I understand some here use 'world' to mean 'dimension' but this would be needlessly confusing when dealing with those from places where space travel is more mundane.

And though I realize space travel and 'magic' tend to be repelling poles, I assure you I have seen both, though practically speaking, I believe magic is merely science that hasn't quite caught up yet.

And you've assumed that I expel waste at all - I have met several species that do not do so in conventional ways, or live in closed bio systems.

...Incidentally, yes. There is a refresher station behind that door to your right.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

I could have been using 'world' in the context of 'version of reality outside of this boat' and I would posit in return that utilizing 'dimension' is similarly problematic for those who come from a version of reality where multiple dimensions or timelines are to be found and can be traversed as you mention traversing through space. In short: no one term will fit everyone, unfortunately.

In this case, however, I was speaking of 'world' in the sense of 'the social and political circles which you inhabit', as having magic in one's version of reality does not mean that one has the ability to use it, that it is practiced openly, or that it is politically advantageous to admit interest in such things. That was a guess, but that guess did come from some observation.

For what it's worth, as I told you, I tend to treat magic as a science in practice.

As for assuming that you expel waste, I did not: one does not know when one will be caught trapped in one's cabin with another. And if that is the case, then being caught without such a facility would be even more upsetting, I should think.

...but I'm glad to see you've been taken care of.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[the sliiiightest quirk of Thrawn's mouth indicating either pleasure or amusement. He might have been a little snotty out of the gate - the lavatory question surprised him with its almost too personal practicality - but Florian's more than made up for it with his own wordy bullshit to match Thrawn's]

Indeed.

What else did you wish to discuss?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

Primarily, I'd like to set expectations between the two of us, in regards to responsibilities, goals, behavior, communication, emergency situations, the utilization of violence, and intentions, such that we do a minimum of wasting one another's time or making our currently prescribed pairing unpleasant slash frustrating.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[yeah, his eyes are practically glowing. Thrawn looks frankly malevolent, but he's feeling deep satisfaction. This is a warden who respects his efforts, who he can respect in turn]

An ideal use of our brief time together.

Please continue.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

[ He looks to one of the chairs in front of the desk and gestures; may he? ]

Intentions first, then: inmates have a variety of opinions on the usefulness of a temporary warden. I would like to know if you have the intention to work towards graduation with me or if you merely see me as a placeholder until you are permanently paired with someone?

[ A pause. ]

There is no wrong answer, and if you happen to believe so, that does not discount any of the other topics we'll be discussing. But it will frame them differently.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[A nod; please, sit. Thrawn will do the same]

As we have spoken before about a lack of standardization when it comes to inmate graduations, I am forced to assume that my own path towards that goal will not resemble anyone else's. Given that, while we are at a disadvantage until the Admiral sees fit to release my file, I believe there is still some insight to be gained from each warden here. Certain ones more so than others.

So no, Florian; you are not, nor ever will be, a placeholder to me.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

[ A rare, pretty, genuine smile. He nods and writes down a note. Then he continues. ]

Responsibilities: mine towards you include to answer or seek answers to any questions you may have which pertain to your progress, to provide anything you might need within reason for your comfort, safety, enrichment, and potentially to assist in your progress, to shield you from the meddling of other wardens (only one cook per pot, so to speak), to provide emotional/mental/social/and/or defensive support as is required, to represent your interests in the case of a dispute or issue, to ensure that your work assignment is appropriate to your interests, and provide a sounding board for any potential emotional, mental, or spiritual growth you might require.

Can you think of anything I have not covered which you feel would be appropriate?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[All very good things on paper, though whether Florian will live up to these standards remains to be seen. Thrawn's extremely satisfied with the list; he couldn't have written a better one, and allows his impressed feeling to come forth in his tone of voice]

Succinctly put. I would be...content with those parameters, for the most part.

You mentioned support and growth of emotional and mental natures. I do wonder if you would be interested in sparring: I find that when one's emotions are confused or muddled, physical exercise frees up the mind considerably.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

[ He considers that. ]

I would, though you would need to provide some instruction first and foremost. My constitution, due to a plague which ran through my homeland, is not as great as it might have been, though I have since learned skills to bolster myself.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[and another piece of Florian's puzzle clicks into place; he had wondered about the comment regarding being stuck in one place for an extended period. Doubtless that isn't an impression that goes away easily]

It would be my honor.

What would you have me do in exchange for your numerous gifts?

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

[ A dip of his head in acceptance of such an honor. Though after a moment, he frowns at his notebook and writes something down.]

Forgive me, I do feel the need to spell out one more item: the respect of and defense of your privacy with exception of anything which might endanger my life, freedom, or the lives of others aboard directly.

[ He smiles, now more pleased with himself. ]

As for your own responsibilities, these include providing pertinent, accurate information in regards to your safety and well-being, timely communication should you feel required to commit murder, [ he pauses ] I would guess from your previous communication that you have no regular desire to kill people but I am well aware the Barge creates unusual social situations that may require it and in that case, I would prefer to find out from you than from any other source. [ Back to his notes ] That you engage in appropriate self care and in the event that you cannot, that you inform me so that I can assist you. Attendance to your assigned job. Should you dislike your job for any reason, I will assist you in finding another placement. To be informed of any other wardens who may hold issue with you or your actions other than in regards to purely interpersonal conflict. Honest communication regarding our work together and any misgivings that you may have at any point.

[ A glance at Thrawn]

You are always welcome to defer in regards to any questions I would ask but a blunt and forthright refusal is much preferred over lying.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[artistinexile]

[Thrawn's mind is turning over these details. He's catching some loopholes, but finds that he doesn't wish to exploit them; he respects this strange, intelligent lithe warden too much to not wish to adhere to both the spirit and the letter of their agreement. This is an ally; someone who is offering a hand. It would be foolish not to take it.

He thinks over the parameters in front of him, lining them up with his own goals in his mind and finding significant overlap.

He does quirk a slight smile]

I do not feel that dislike of a job is enough to demand a switch. Many jobs are unpleasant, but they are still required for a ship to run efficiently.

[And should he want to switch later, he will probably do so because he's already revamped that section of the ship and will consider a move more of a lateral promotion to assist elsewhere]

You are correct; I have no innate desire to harm anyone on this ship, with perhaps one exception, which I am happy to explain shortly.

Self-care has never been an issue to my knowledge and I doubt will become an issue here, unless of course the facilities are compromised.

I have not missed a custodial shift yet, though I received an offer from Rawne in Maintenance. I would request at least one more month in custodial, however, due to its overlap with Maintenance and my desire to examine the mouse droids. Their design may yet be improved upon. From Maintenance, I hope to further secure from Cho Jedao an invitation to Engineering. I have often been accused of being too thorough to the point of reprimand and demerits in regards to my...let us call it 'eagerness' in examining and revamping ship criteria.

[somebody may have already complained to the Admiral about insufficient life boat capacity]

I find it interesting you discuss a need for my privacy. I would like to revise that; I will tell you anything and everything you wish to know about me, but I will instead request privacy on behalf of my people. This includes their locations, their military and social structures, internal and external matters of state, up to and including what we call ourselves. I realize it is an unusual request, but I have carried much of my people's secrets with me to the grave and would like to continue in my guardianship.

Re: One Minute After The Announcement

[a_titanum]

[ He's watching Thrawn, and he's hoping he'll find the loopholes that he's left behind: one must have some flexibility to function here, he's aware of that more than most. Florian had always wanted to work with Archer, but there were times when he had to do something that until it came to fruition, he could not inform Archer of. He has no doubt that anything Thrawn would do, he would similarly hold little issue with even if it is technically out of the bounds of what he can allow.

Trust very much goes both ways. ]

Forgive me for choosing succinctness over specificity: I meant only to make it clear that if your problem is interpersonal or even simply boredom, I would not ask you to 'stick it out' or make you deal with someone overly long whom you find personally distasteful more than is necessary: if you want a new job, we will find you one.

As for self-care, of that I had little doubt, but this place does place one in situations and taxes people psychologically in ways which they may not be accustomed to and I have found that those who are incredibly self-sufficient often have the hardest time reaching out for assistance in such a situation. Thus stating plainly.

[ A quick smile. ]

Any such reprimands or demerits will hardly put you in the red in my books.

[ He turns his hand. ]

And as you are a representative of your people, their privacy is included in that assurance.