02 - Video (I.D. number hidden)

[theguidinghand]

[When the video feed flicks on, it displays a dimly-lit room covered in some sort of greasy-looking chitin. Those who have ventured down to the science decks may be familiar with it, though it's bare of anything of value. In the background are workbenches and aquariums filled with what at a glance appears to be pond scum. The current inhabitant of this lab is little more appealing than the rest of his room - or, at least, what the camera can pick up of him isn't. Mostly, it catches his long white hair and his sharp cheekbones, his tired brow and the sensory pits carved into his face. His eyes are too sunken in to see, except when the light catches just right -- then, for just a second, his catlike pupils cast a greenish glow back to the camera.]

[And when he speaks, he sounds like rust and the creak of old leather.]

This shall mark the third time that I have asked for charity, and it shall also mark the third time that I have heard humans question why I have used another's voice to ask. To those who seek an answer, look to your kin who would call for my extermination, and you shall have it. I do not have time to waste upon answering to each of you individually.

It is to this latter group that I give this message. Your instincts do not allow you to abide a predator in your midst, but to kill me is to kill whatever slim chance you now have at returning home alive. I have been a spacefarer since before so many of your ancestors built their dens beside each other and called it Civilization. The scientific achievements that you laud or fear are as relevant to my kind as a stone-bladed axe is to yours. A human would grow old and die before I could begin to teach her all that I know about the spacefarer's life.

[He tilts his head upward slightly, and the light finally reaches his yellow eyes. He is old and tired, but he's proud of what he is. He is a man of the Hive, Son of Night's Lineage. Wraith.]

I cannot stop you from doing what you please, if you are truly determined to kill me. However, I will not be killed without it being known what it would cost this ship. Satisfying my hunger is a small price for the centuries of personal experience that you shall benefit from.

[He turns his head slightly to one side, apparently looking down. Whether it's merely exhaustion, or whether it's the shame of asking for help, is difficult to read.]

I have been notified that the ship's medical facilities are prepared to receive the volunteers. I cannot promise that it shall be painless, but it shall be as swift as it can be.



[OOC: Volunteers, please head right this way.]

Comments

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[Ah. Well; this does explain a few things.]

With due respect, there are better ways to go about your appeal.

[voice]

[theguidinghand]

And you in all you years know this, young human?

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[That rouses his temper at once.]

Excuse me; I fail utterly to see what my age has to do with anything.

[voice]

[theguidinghand]

It is not your age that concerns me. It is your experience, and your lack thereof. Your hands are soft and untested.

When you have roughed your palms and learned a few things that have not been ladled into your mouth, I shall consider your counsel.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

Right.

[He bites that out.]

And tell me - precisely how much have you interacted with humans? By this speech, I suspect your experience is somewhat limited.

[voice]

[theguidinghand]

More than your suspicions would allow you to believe. I address humans as they are capable of understanding. To address this ship is to address a variety of humans, some of whom are not as sophisticated as you think yourself to be.

video|

[entrapments]

This sounds a lot like blackmail.

voice

[theguidinghand]

[He switches over to voice-only. Staring at a screen is not doing wonders for his eyes.]

Were it so, I would not offer my knowledge. This is a trade, not holding hostages.

video|

[entrapments]

[ if this switch bothers her, her expression betrays nothing. ]

Well, I mean, it's not really a trade if one or both parties are threatened.

voice

[theguidinghand]

By that logic, it is you humans who are the blackmailers. I was the first to be threatened.

video|

[entrapments]

And that I would totally agree with.

So, what're we supposed to call you anyway?

voice

[theguidinghand]

[There's a very long pause at the other end of the feed. He's not even really sure, since humans keep calling him by names of their own design.]

... That is not so simple a question as you would think.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

A quick note: coercion.

video|

[entrapments]

Hey, in law, isn't coercion called a duress crime?

[jurisimpudent]

[He hesitates, and then, with genuine surprise:]

Yes. It is.

[entrapments]

And given that government agencies frequently use intimidating methods during their investigations- you know like, the threat of legal penalties and stuff, coercion is not only socially acceptable but also typically legal? I mean, how often does plea bargaining alone occur?

text;

[abrahamic]

you could be a lot nicer about this, you know.

[ and he's saying this as a not-quite-human. dude, flies. honey. look it up. ]

text

[theguidinghand]

Shall I wear down my claws and pull out my teeth as well?

[Flies and honey aren't worth a red cent when your body is eating itself.]

text

[abrahamic]

i'm not saying "don't be yourself", just "try not to give people another reason not to help feed you".
it's not exactly difficult to get. you're looking a little passive-aggressive like this.

voice;

[20mentholkools]

And what do all of your centuries of personal experience say to do with a predator?

text; private

[entrapments]

[ there's a great deal of hesitation before she sends this, because for being pretty uninvolved in this whole clusterfuck thus far, the conversations she's had here sure give the impression of a vested interest. but then she hears that. and. well, that's all there was to it, really. ]

to get stronger.

voice; private

[20mentholkools]

[Not a number he's interacted with before, but he sees it elsewhere in the discussion and he wonders why she's chosen to respond to him, privately, and with that answer. He could just ignore it. He decides not to.]

Why?

text|

[entrapments]

if it's eat or be eaten, i know what side i'm gonna be on.

voice; private

[20mentholkools]

But you're still gonna talk like you haven't decided.

audio;

[dirtyword]

Someone's a little high and mighty.