thisavrou | Video

[When the feed starts, Elizabeth is right in the center of the frame, dressed in her uniform, giving off a very formal but pleasant attitude. ~~She practiced this. Several times.~~]

Good morning, everyone. For those of you who I haven't met yet, my name is Elizabeth DeWitt, head librarian. Recently, I was promoted by our captains to the position of First Mate, meaning I have taken on additional responsibilities to the crew aside from encouraging everyone to visit the library and make use of the collection. [Little plug there, forgive her.]

As First Mate, I'll be acting as a liaison between the crew and the captains, should anyone have an issue they would feel more comfortable speaking to me about, or if the captains are off ship. Once I've moved in, my quarters will be located in Section M and I encourage anyone to find me there or at the library if you need me.

...I realize not all of us are happy to find ourselves here, however I am one of the potentially few who very easily call this ship my home. Whatever can be done to make things more efficient, safe, or comfortable, I want to discuss it. But, at the same time, if you just want a reading recommendation and some hot chocolate, I can provide that as well.

[She nods, clearly satisfied with the message and smiles, looking a little relieved that she got through the spiel without embarrassing herself.] I think that about wraps it up, but if there's anything else please feel free to message me. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Here we go. The promotions start coming, and the loyalty starts sticking.]

Uh, hey, congratulations, Liz. [He's uncertain, but he tries to keep it from coloring his tone too much. She really does seem excited about the promotion.]

So, do you feel like you trust them?

[So much for trying not to sound skeptical.]

[It's hard not to be aware of how some people feel about their captains-- Elizabeth knows some people don't trust them, or don't care, or something, and while she can't be certain, and she's been fooled before...]

My gut says yes. I've met a lot of awful people in my life, Ratchet, I think I can say that I know at least some of the hallmarks. But if I'm wrong... [She gives up on that train of thought.] I'm here for the crew, I can promise you that's all they asked of me and that's what I plan to do.

[He thinks about that for a minute, wishing it was a comfort. But it wasn't his gut that said not to trust them, it was his head. And the lies and the mistakes, and the danger they'd put the crew in.

But he does trust that Elizabeth really means that. That she would be there for the crew.]

I hope you're right. I'm probably just being paranoid. I've just seen it before, and I don't want that to happen here. At least they picked a good person.

[Because boy are there some people on this ship that would make him a lot more worried if they were handed a promotion.]

A certain amount of paranoia about an unfamiliar situation isn't a terrible thing to have. I understand the impulse and... if I had more to lose, I'm sure I'd feel the same way.

[But all she has is this, so she's dedicated to making it the best she can make it.]

But I'm glad you have faith in me. I'll make sure it's not misplaced.

[Ratchet smiles bitterly, her comment like a slap to the face, even if she’s completely unaware of its harshness.]

You’ve always got more to lose.

[If not from back home, there was plenty to lose here. Plenty that a less benevolent system could turn against them, purposefully or otherwise. He doesn’t bother dwelling on it, pushing forward somewhat hurriedly, his tone uncharacteristically cold.]

I need a book recommendation. Do you have anything on wormhole physics? Or anything like that?

[The response takes her aback, and there's a few long seconds where she's just blinking and taking that in. It takes her a moment, but eventually, Elizabeth comes to the conclusion that she didn't deserve that. Not at all. But how could he know when she's been so tight-lipped about where she'd come from? What had happened to her before? She's certainly not about to spill it all over the network, but--]

...I don't think you have enough information to decide that for me.

[There's always a 'polite' way to say he has no idea what he's brushing off right now. And he shouldn't try it again. If his tone was cold, Elizabeth's is sub-zero.]

Probably. Come when you can, someone will help you.

[He's aware he's overstepped, and overstepped badly, but like any mistake, sometimes its harder to back out than it is to just plow ahead. He didn't know if it was what she'd said, or the tone she'd said it in, or if he was just plain guilt, finally infecting even benign conversations, making innocent words feel like accusatory violence.]

Then don't act like you can decide it for other people.

[It's snapped, but the harsh edge in his tone wavers.

Petty. He was being petty. But he couldn't get her words out of his head. 'If I had more to lose, I'm sure I'd feel the same way.' Like he didn't know what that felt like. Like he hadn't put everything and then some on the line.

Like he wasn't always putting everything on the line.

He looks at the other cuff on his wrist, the one that was inactive and dark, wrapping a hand around it. He exhales. It feels hard to breathe.]

Nevermind. Enjoy your promotion, and forget about the book.

I suppose I can't decide for other people if they'd rather be dead or not. You're right.

I also have no idea if they have any family, friends, or home to get back to.

Perhaps I'm assuming too much when I think that nearly everyone else on this ship has at least one of those things-- a home, a family, a friend, or life left in them. That I'm the only one on this ship who has literally started over from a completely blank slate. But it sure as hell feels that way.

So don't you tell me that I always have something to lose back where I came from, because I've lost it all. This is all I have now, and I'm going to guard it with everything I have. I will not 'enjoy' this, it is a privilege to have something to care so much about again.

Video

video;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

>Private [Burial at Sea Ep 2 Spoilers]