Video | backdated to a few days after the jump

[tarred]

[It’s been a long few days for the Tarrs. It’s not the first time they’ve been awoken from stasis of some kind, but the apparent lack of proper bathing facilities made it a far ruder awakening than last time. Luckily, they discovered the inadequate-but-not-actively-insulting bathrooms on the residential floors before anybody tried to make them use the showers.

And now they appear on the network, calm and composed. They would look more or less like a human couple, if their unnaturally pale complexions didn’t give them away as something else. The man in the video speaks, projecting his voice as if addressing a crowd.]

My name is Datak Tarr, and this is Stahma. I am informed that none of you are responsible for kidnapping myself and my wife from our home. Be aware that if I find I have been lied to, none of you will be making it to -

[Before Datak can continue, a smaller, but firm hand appears on his shoulder, pressing down reassuringly. He glances at its owner and falls silent, letting her speak for now.]

We are certain this is not the case, of course. This rather-- unpleasant situation seems to be a misunderstanding, at worst. We are willing to talk about this civilly in a manner that befits all parties, if you allow us. In fact, sitting down to discuss this sounds like a wonderful opportunity to know our new neighbours. After all, it seems we may be in each other’s company for a while.

[At this point, Datak gives her a smile that should indicate gratefulness, but looks more like a signal to stop talking. When she does, he turns back to the camera and continues his speech.]

As you may have noticed, we are not human. While we are quite familiar with your kind, I understand that few of you are familiar with Castithans. I would like to speak to any of you who are, as well as any other people who originate somewhere other than on Earth.

Finally, I find myself in need of someone with engineering skills. It seems as if there are no baths of a civilised size on board this ship, and I would like to see this remedied as soon as possible. I'm sure we can come to some sort of deal for payment.

[He smiles a little, well aware that the request will seem strange to the apes on board and wanting to seem disarming about it. It's a mask for his disgust at being unable to bathe properly since arriving. Bath attendants may be too much to ask for, but being forced to bathe in single-person bathtubs is humiliating.]

Comments

[ancientalien]

[Javik's initial investigation of the messaging system contained in the small, primitive device had yielded little of interest, seeming to be only a source of mindless chatter for the humans aboard. But a few days in, with annoying flashes of emotion and fumbling human fingers had left him with little else to do. The ship had little to offer in the way of answers, and it seemed like the other prisoners were the only source of real information. So the message interests him enough to bother to figure out the video function (it is not difficult, it is an incredibly simplistic machine, worse, even, than those aboard the Normandy) and address the two strangers on the other line.]

I have found all human bathing facilities to be grossly inadequate. [the irritation in his voice is plain, and it is mirroed on his face and in his stiff posture] Their concept of hygiene is still primitive. They do not even have basic cleaning facilities in their rooms.

[Javik had remedied that almost immediately, his caution in dealing with the ship took a back seat and he stole a large bowl from the kitchens and filled it with water every few hours. It was something, if not ideal.]

I do not know the Castithans. You must be a fairly recent race, what planet are you from?

[They appeared nearly human, but even he could see they were not. Which was an annoyance; they had been allowed to keep their bodies when his had been stripped from him. A torment reserved for him and the few other crew members aboard. Possibly their already quite-human, primitive forms had been torture enough for a lifetime.]

[finer]

It is rather unfortunate, is it not? We have to put with the indignity of indiscriminate grouping under such inhospitable circumstances, but our keeprs do not express the courtesy of proper accommodation. I am glad to find a kindred spirit who understands this inconvenience.

[tarred]

[Odd. The man looks entirely human, but speaks as if he isn't.]

I suspect it's less that we're a new race and more that our planets no longer exist. We originate from the Votanis system, and unfortunately, not many of us made it out in time.

[He doesn't sound particularly perturbed by this fact. It's old news, practically from another life, and his new life has treated him well.]

video;

[longestnose]

You do realize that a great many of us are not of the race of men.

And I am sorry to tell you, but no one is going to answer your questions on the kidnapping. There is no bargaining with our captors.

video;

[finer]

It is a great oversight on our part, so do accept my apologies. They are a majority from where we've been removed.

But do tell me more about your race, if it pleases you.

video

[tarred]

Oh, I have no intention of bargaining with our captors. [His tone makes it clear he has more intention of slitting their throats]

video

[theswordofthejedi]

[Jaina doesn't have any reaction to the duo's appearance. She's grown up around all sorts of species. The thought of someone looking too "alien" isn't one she can really grasp.]

Never heard of Earth, but I've never heard of Castithans either.

[She pauses for a second, debating.]

I do know how to build stuff, though, so if nobody else makes an offer, I can help with the bath thing.

[Why not? It'll give her something to do to keep herself preoccupied and she's enough of her mother's daughter to know that having connections outside of those from her galaxy isn't necessarily a bad thing.]

video

[tarred]

[Datak hesitates. A human who's never heard of Earth? Or is she another non-human who looks like one? It's going to be inconvenient if there are many of those. But asking would betray ignorance, so he'll just have to try and work it out while they talk.]

And what is your price for helping with the "bath thing"?

[leaps]

What do you mean by civilized size?

[tarred]

We Castithans believe in communal bathing. [In the same tone of voice as one might say, "I believe in putting clothes on before leaving the house."]

Since it is only my wife and I here, our needs are quite modest.

[video]

[elvenking]

Many of us are neither human nor from Earth. You are fortunate, at least, to have arrived together.

[It's been a while since he saw his wife. Kind of sucks.]

Some worlds have legends of my people. Know you of Elves, on Castitha?

[video]

[finer]

So I have been corrected, if you'd forgive my assumption.

We may not have had the pleasure of knowing your kind where we come from, but I would certainly to learn more.

[video]

[tarred]

Our planets were Daribo and Casti. And no, we had no legends of Elves.

[For one thing, he's doubtful that whatever race this man is from is impressive enough to inspire legends.]

[tinytactician]

They brought both of you?

[finer]

Is that not the norm?

video

[assumedposition]

Monsieur and Madame Tarr! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Albert Herrera...

I'm afraid to say that I've never heard of Castithans, but I would be honoured to learn, if you don't mind telling. Are they at all related to the people of Janina?

video

[finer]

Am I under the correct assumption that you're of French origin? How delightful, young man. It does pain me to say that we're of no relation to Janina, at all. Would you care to tell me more about that place?

text.

[look]

[ aliens. ]

[ jesus christ. ]

[ and despite that fact, he doesn't want to find out how his particular ability works on non-humans, what he ends up reading, so he switches to text and hopes they do the same. ]

You want someone to build you a bigger bath?

text

[finer]

[Yeah well]

One of a decent size, at least. These hubs are hardly acceptable.

text

[tarred]

[The text message feels impersonal, like someone is making an effort to be unrecognisable. Datak reads a dismissive tone into it that sets his hackles up.]

Who's asking?

voice.

[tofindthesun]

Civilized would a great many different things, to a great many different people. [curiously. it's.. his way of asking for specifics. without actually asking for specifics.]

video | sorry for the delay replying!

[tarred]

Yes, one of those unfortunate facts of life. [He says it with an air of good humour, but there's irritation underlying it.]

In our case, it means not bathing alone.

video;

[coffeeking]

What would you consider a civilized size?

video;

[tarred]

For myself and my wife? At least three times what is currently available. [Really he'd prefer something the size of a room, but he's trying to be reasonable.]

visual »

[unparental]

Baths— try Tony Stark, maybe?

[ jenna has no idea what tony does. science that's enough right? and the same as building bathtubs. ]

And the human to not ratio actually skews... decently even, although some of us are the first and from earth.

[tarred]

[Datak takes note of the name for later and homes in on the information about the ship.]

Define "decently."