002. video.

[sorrycharles]

Good morning, Tranquility.

[ Erik is seated at his desk, eyes fixed flat upon the camera. ]

I’m conducting a poll.

[ The suit he’s wearing is dove grey and freshly pressed. The dress shirt beneath it is discolored about the collar, faded brown blotched behind the (flagrant) purple of his tie. He could stand to shave. He could stand to sleep for more than a few hours before addressing the entire network. ]

On a scale from one to ten, with one being the perpetuation of a meaningless existence at the mandate of an invisible hand for some unknown and likely terrible purpose, and ten being, [ he pauses to take a breath and to check down after his notes, ] ten being no harm done with a side of unlikely survival courtesy of a confusing -- but benevolent -- presence, [ he reads directly: ]

How would you rate the outcome of last month’s attempted mutiny?

[ A show of his teeth when he looks up can’t quite pass for a smile, fleeting and thin as it is. ]

Just curious.

Comments

( video )

[sleuthtastic]

[ Watch, Erik. She's gonna get you back for hanging up on her. A several month old grudge? That's nothing, son. ]

—did you just come back from Reno?

[ video ]

[sorrycharles]

[ There's a cinch of tension around Erik's eyes. Almost imperceptible. ]

I'm going to pencil you in as an eleven.

[mindtricks]

Why are you asking?

[ because the why is far more interesting than actually answering the question — and she isn't entirely certain how she'd rate it. not either extreme, most likely. ]

[ private video / 0% encryption bc hes an idiot ]

[sorrycharles]

I’m curious, [ says Erik, who switches the conversation to private before he reaches to pull a banana into frame. He’s already working at the peel when he glances back at her. ] I said that.

You should pay better attention.

[voice forever!]

[ryuuzaki]

[It's a bored young English guy.]

I think you need to check your numbers.

[That's a joke, although it's not intended to be a very funny one.]

[ video anyways ]

[sorrycharles]

I'm open to suggestions.

[chuffle]

I personally am going to say that I can't make that kind of decision yet, but I still stand by the idea that Nathan is an idiot who doesn't know what he's doing.

[sorrycharles]

What specifically has led you to believe that Nathan is an idiot who doesn’t know what he’s doing?

[ Her words. ]

video;

[redhotsummers]

You seem two events behind, Erik.

That isn't normal for you.

[He snorts.]

Nice suit.

[video]

[sorrycharles]

Time flies when you’re a bitter disappointment as a friend and a father.

Would you like to rate me instead?

[ Erik clicks his pen at ready, flat affect offset by a lift at his brows. ]

One to ten.

video.

[forgodssake]

[ The video is framed as such that Charles doesn't need to hold it up, peering into the lens for a good few seconds before he picks up whatever beverage necessitates a porcelain mug, steam still floating from the rim. He takes a moment to blow cooling air across the surface, then sips deliberate and measured.

All the while watching the camera.

Then sets it down. It is the most judgemental of tea sips ever. Made more so by the fact that this is the message in its entirety. ]

[ video ]

[sorrycharles]

[ Erik is optimistic in keeping hold of his pen for the first half of this ritual, only to let it drift from his fingers around the time Charles sets his cup aside. The pen turns end over point in the air above his open palm, sluggish in its suspension. ]

My intentions are noble.

[ He looks earnest, if not especially passionate about his own innocence. ]

[nightblogs]

were still in the shitter so id say divided by zero

[sorrycharles]

d id you believe anything might come of it when the attempt was initially organized

[klutziness]

I'd go with three and a half.

i assumed this is video if not lmk and i will redo

[sorrycharles]

You’re looking better than when I saw you last, [ Erik says, then dictates: ] ‘Three and a half,’ [ in time with his making the same notation. ]

Care to elaborate on your assessment?

video;

[cogere]

[ oh, this is very nearly amusing, if in somewhat bad taste. elijah appears neutral, thoughtful with the slightest hint of amusement. ]

[ crisply. ] Three on account of psychological damage and, ah, fear factor. [ that's what you modern people call it, right? ]

[ well, not personally, but he imagines. ]

[ video ]

[sorrycharles]

Among the participants, or among the ship’s population at large? [ By this point, Erik has quite the collection of notes going. He’s still jotting down Elijah’s number when the screen changes. ]

[video.]

[foolproofed]

How about five.

Happy medium.

[video.]

[sorrycharles]

Well, we are still alive, [ Erik agrees as he reaches out of frame for a glass. ] Probably.

[ He appears to be drinking water.

Probably. ]

[voice]

[circumitus]

[There are no words. Not even a face. Just a very audible sigh on the other end.]

[voice]

[sorrycharles]

Charles is the telepath, [ Erik doesn't wait long to prompt helpfully into the silence. Curt. ] I have other talents.

text;

[puppydogeyes]

So you can give it a try yourself?

[ text ]

[sorrycharles]

not today

[killarevolution]

Worked out a lot better than the last attempt at a mutiny.

[So, you know, they're improving anyway.]

[sorrycharles]

‘So far,’ seems to be the consensus, [ says Erik.

There’s recognition in the way he sizes Haymitch up, but no familiarity. ]

i'm the latest forgive me.

[northerner]

What do you intend to do with your results, Erik?

[sorrycharles]

Why should I do anything?

You know me.

Ever the neutral observer.