the last voyages // 2. video. no filter.

[tobecaprican]

[ Somewhat less ruffled than the first time he transmitted a video, but only just, Gaius Baltar sits in view of the camera, nursing a cigarette, and looking faintly disturbed. He is also dressed like a pirate, from the elegant open-throated shirt through to gold-buttoned waistcoat. The bandanna has been left to hang around his neck, and there are a couple of rings on his fingers that are somewhat chunky and antiquated.

They glint a little as he takes another drag from his cigarette. It's a self-medicating technique so he doesn't freak out at people over phones again. He's just spent a few days believing he was a pirate, never you mind. When he poses his question, it's quite measured; ]

Does this happen very often?




OOC: I may still pirate!Baltar backtag a bit, but. \ oAo/

Comments

video.

[bestlieutenant.livejournal.com]

[Have some tense silence that stretches on for a few moments.]

I've yet to venture on deck for myself. Would you care to meet?

video.

[tobecaprican]

[ You don't say no to murderers, really. ]

Of course. Yes, why not? It never rains.

[tobecaprican]

Thank heavens for small favours.

video.

[bestlieutenant.livejournal.com]

Never rains, you say? Ought to be a nice change.

[She gives a shrug and a wry smile, then the video feed ends. Presumably so she can head up to meet the good doctor.]

[tobecaprican]

I really.

Really.

Rather doubt that.

[tobecaprican]

Like what sort've alternative lives? Do you mean you were yourself or completely different?

Because 'alternative' would be putting it mildly--

...I'm getting so used to talking to complete strangers now. Hello.

permavideo just because. later filtered.

[tobecaprican]

"I've managed to, ah, steal away a few souvenirs myself."

But as shiny as they are, that's not what he wants to talk about, glancing off sideways before he goes to switch on the privacy filter. Takes a fresh drag of the cigarette, streams it out of his nose.

Nervous, a bit. "Elizabeth Anderson knows I'm your inmate. Obviously. She asked me to tell you to tell her-- where you are. Just so you know."

Video.

[tobecaprican]

Boredom isn't my concern, no.

Is that a breaker table?

[ Priorities. Also yes, that's culture-specific slang striking again. ]

[subtlescience]

Let me think.

I arrived in September of 2009. Or 1998, depending on your worldview. It is now September 2011. I've been home three times, for a grand total of one year, which would place me close to the three-year mark since my arrival on the good ship misery.

Now, when did I become accustomed to dealing with the utter rubbish forced upon me by this cesspool...

Three years. If one considers 'jaded' to be a synonym for 'accustomed'.

[tobecaprican]

I see.

That's a long frakking time.

Video.

[yourunichase]

The problem is when someone fucking whines about how bored they are, then stupid shit goes down.

[A frown, and she traced her fingers over the green felt.]

It's a pool table, sometimes called billiards if your posh and British. [The last bit was said with a more than passable British accent.]

[batmanschmatman]

A while ago, there was a hull breach where we all got set back to the American Old West, and I fell overboard in our last port. There were certain similarities - my history and general, I don't know, personality, were pretty similar in the West, but my history was pretty different in this port - and there have been a few floods where I've been something which might be a counterpart to what I'm used to.

Hi.

Video.

[tobecaprican]

Well, I'm neither of those things. [ Sounds like it, for sure, but also certain. ] But at least they've a few outlets that aren't mentally scarring to wile away aforementioned boredom.

[tobecaprican]

Pleasure to meet you.

And do these places ever resemble anything we know about? People's homes?

Video.

[yourunichase]

You could get a job. What do you do back home not Posh and British?

Video.

[tobecaprican]

I could. There a market for computer science consultancy, then?

Video.

[yourunichase]

There are wardens who do science experiments. Talk to Narvin, T'Pol or Tosh.

Or have your warden do it.

Re: permavideo just because. later filtered.

[terminatefate]

"Fuck." There was a long pause, then the sound of something solid hitting a wall. "Like I'm going to fucking tell that murderous metal titted bitch where I am. Jesus flaming Christ on a Popsicle stick."

Another long pause.

"If she is what I think she is," there was the distinct sound of Sarah inspecting her guns and then loading magazines into them, "she is most likely going to kill me. And I really don't want you anywhere near when that goes the motherfuck down."

That pause was awkward and Sarah lit up another cigarette.

[subtlescience]

So it is.

Then again, my meals are prepared for me, I have most of my desires granted upon request, and eventually, I will rehabilitate an inmate and be well and truly shot of this place, deal in hand.

Video.

[tobecaprican]

I might well do that, but of course I do have one small question.

Do we get paid?

Perhaps not in cubits, but privileges, perhaps. Freedoms. Access of information, or traded items. Anything like that at all?

[Private]

[tobecaprican]

I can't even express to you how illegal such research would be, where I'm from. But you, ah.

Seem to be doing alright for yourself.

[tobecaprican]

That must be some sort of amazing deal, Mister...?

[ Couldn't help but see if third time is a charm. It's unsettling, giving a name and not receiving one! Also the principle of the thing. ]

[tobecaprican]

"She is. What you think she is.

"I asked her. She said she was a--" His eyes roll ceilingward as he thinks about that, recalling the memory. "A T-X series cybernetic organism." The beginnings of a smile, because Gaius worked it out, asked, and got the information, which is pretty good, he thinks, and--

The smile vanished again at recollection that Sarah just said 'kill'.

"But she can't do that. I mean literally can't, you get brought back, so-- I mean what would the point of that... be." He doesn't so much as dismiss the sentiment, either, it just makes perfect sense to Gaius that it can bear some analysis later.

He heard weapons. "What're you doing?"

Video.

[yourunichase]

Depends on your warden. Some would view lab access as getting paid.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

Somewhat.

I've heard in a different universe where genetic engineering occurred, the products were banned from existence among humans. My own people were reasonable for millennia before... circumstances changed.

I've spoken to some of the individuals on board. Those that designed people, and those that were designed. Some of them were taught not to see themselves as people. Some of them were mistreated by others that feared them, and told they had no right to exist.