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

[tobecaprican]

I got some boots out've it.

Good on you.

[truth_is_cold]

[There's boots too?!] Can I see?

[Societal philosophy today? No thank you. He wants to see Gaius's pirate boots.]

[tobecaprican]

[ Gaius totally wants to show you his pirate boots. ]

Here, see?

[ He picks up the phone and angles them down -- they are some pirate boots, alright. ] They're quite good, aren't they?

[truth_is_cold]

Those are nice boots. And not like the novelty ones that completely lack any usefulness.

[Have an approving nod.] Is the jewelry real gold?

[tobecaprican]

You know, I'm not sure. [ Inspects them, as if that'd help, tapping a fingernail against one of the inset gems. ] They're heavy, so perhaps. But it's not as though there's a currency in here, is there. Not one of gold, at least. Just cigarettes and booze.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

[And then he flicks on a filter, because why talk about this publicly?] Not of any value here, but we do stop at ports where they might be valuable. And depending on what wardens you know, cigarettes and alcohol aren't that difficult to come by.

[Private]

[tobecaprican]

That's--

Actually quite useful. Actually. Thank you, you're of a valued minority.

And my warden's alright-- 'cept about the drinks-- but I'm not really used to having to ask for things, is all.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

She seems interesting. There are a couple of wardens that, will gladly invite someone to drink for the attention. Alcohol doesn't have much of an affect on my system. I have to drink ridiculous amounts of it to accomplish anything. Or something stronger than what humans would drink.

I don't much like asking, either. Wardens are given credit in most ports, but there is other ways of getting funds.

[Private]

[tobecaprican]

[ Suspicious squint down the video, then -- still kind of assumes that anyone who looks human and is not human MUST BE A CYLON but manages to hold his tongue. No one here, after all, seems to know what that is. ]

Is it rude to ask what you are, then?

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

Nietzschean.

[He arm up before the camera and flares the bony protrusions along his forearm out slightly.]

[Private]

[tobecaprican]

[ Well that was unexpected. Shock flares across his bony features, leaning back from his own phone as if proximity mattered when you're communicating like this. Not the most politically sensitive of individuals, is Gaius, but his scifi show only has humans.

And robots.

He clears his throat, nervous. ]

Right, yes, obviously. [ Attempted smile. ] I mean, not obvious, we don't have any of-- you-- where I'm from, and not that you don't make a convincing human if you wanted to--

But why would you--

[ Flounder, please stop him. ]

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

We're genetically engineered. Evolved from humans. [He has a robot friendy.] Homo Sapiens Invictus. There are several sub-species where I'm from.

I do pretend to be human in ports. There's no use attracting attention if it causes a scene.

[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.

[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.