ataraxion | [ VIDEO ]

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[ VIDEO ]

[When the video transmission starts, there’s a rather neat and tidy man in a suit, seated in one of the passenger quarters.]

I’ll give it to this place, this has to be one of the oddest awakenings I’ve had. Still doesn’t beat Nepal though…

[The last part is muttered, almost to himself, before he turned back to the camera, all business.]

Not to ask the same question twice, but I’d like to go home as much as the next person, so perhaps I’ll save on some of the legwork and reach out. How can I help make sure this ship reaches its destination in one piece? I do have military training and my information gathering skills can be useful.

[There’s a small pause, and then he smiles, a small almost innocent look.]

Also I’m rather decent at poker, if that will help us any. So, who’s recruiting?

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[ To be fair, Odessa and Snape are weirdos who prefer to address people privately rather than publicly. ]

I don't mean to frighten you. [ She flashes an apologetic smile, but it's a very brief one. ] But I figure it's best to instill a healthy sense of... Let's say care.

This cycle marks my fifth.

[Is it a department thing? Eames might chalk it up to that, but it does seem to be a pretty good strategy.

The thought of her being frightening is almost a silly one ( perhaps here there could be good cause for it, but that's later ), waving his hand as if to dispel those words.]

I appreciate your care. It's always comforting to have a beautiful woman be concerned with your well being.

[He'll give her a quick grin as if to show her he's harmless, before taking in that number. It's impressive.]

How are you adapting to it, so far?

[ It may well be. One never knows. Odessa will at least argue that if she wants to address the public at large, that's what she'll do. And it's been known to happen from time to time, even! ]

And it's always nice to be reassured that amidst all this chaos, at least I can still be paid compliments by strangers. [ In other words, Odessa and her ego thank you, Eames. ]

It's not the best vacation I've ever taken. [ But it beats Club Fed, and there are considerably fewer people actively trying to kill her here, not that she intends to share that immediately. ] But the bizarre nature of the place aside - admittedly that's a difficult thing to set aside - I have gotten used to it in some way.

[Eames will chuckle at that. You're welcome Odessa and her beautiful ego.]

Who do I have the pleasure of complimenting? I feel like staying strangers wouldn't be to either of our benefit. I'm Eames.

[The notion that this isn't the best vacation she's ever had amuses him, and he raises an eyebrow at that.]

This ship does seem rather hostile, but thankfully it looks like its residents more than make up for it.

Odessa. Doctor Knutson, if I happen to be addressing the network in an official capacity. [ She doesn't let that one hang long before clarifying: ] I co-head Xenobiology and Genetics. [ And she's proud of that, if the way one corner of her mouth ticks upward when she says it is any indication. ]

I hope your good humor is infectious. New arrivals aren't always prepared to roll with the punches, as it were.

Ah the magic department. [It's said in a teasing tone, but he is rather impressed. He can't say he's a scientist, and those who follow those pursuits have his respect.] It's a pleasure.

[The remark about his good humor has him smiling slightly despite himself.]

In these sort of situations it's better, I find, to stop lamenting early and be proactive. Nothing gets done sitting on your hands and fretting.

[ She laughs quietly at that comment about her department. ] Ah, then you've met Professor Snape. He's the magic, I'm the science. It's not always quite as different as I expected. [ If he had been wondering about that. ]

I couldn't agree more. See, I knew I liked you immediately for a reason.

Interesting. [He means it, take it as you will.] I have to admit I'm curious to see how those two would intersect. Your department sounds the most fascinating by far.

[That'll get a small laugh out of him.]

It wasn't my good looks and charm? Though for a spaceship that seems to be intent on putting it's occupants through horrors, most seem to be rather adaptive here. Or at least, I haven't heard if there's a psychology department.

At the risk of sounding immodest, I believe we are. There's no other that has quite the scope that we do. Of course, if a person's not terribly inclined toward either science or magic... I suppose then we seem rather boring, locked in our laboratories all day.

[ Or maybe that's just her who tends to spend the majority of her time in the labs. Whatever. ]

Well, those certainly help. [ She likes this game, but he put forth a comment that has a serious response. ] There are some resources, but they are few and far between. There aren't terribly many people aboard that are equipped to provide psychological or psychiatric help to others. Fortunately, it seems those who are entirely unable to cope with this place simply... disappear. The prevailing theory seems to be that those who vanish have been sent home.

[ Does she sound skeptical about that? Gosh, maybe just a little. ]

Unfortunately I can't claim to be particularly skilled at either science or magic, but it doesn't mean that I can't admire from afar.

[Yusuf has waxed on about chemistry enough and his job has introduced him to some of the most wondrous advances in science for him to ever believe it could be boring.

He's a bit surprised that she took the remark seriously, but he does appreciate it.]

Where do you think they're ending up instead?

[Because if all it takes to go home is to not be able to cope, well, that would be far easier than any scenario he imagined.]

I have no idea. Some people claim they get sent home at the jump, live out months, years, even decades, but they step out from their tubes and no time has passed while they were supposedly gone. [ And if that sounds implausible, she's quick to hold up a placating hand and add more. ] If I hadn't seen the physical changes with my own eyes, I'd call it ludicrous.

[If Eames wasn't in the dream sharing business he might have been on the same page as the good Doctor, but as it was, that was the least strange thing about this place.

The part that worries him however is:]

Physical changes? Has anyone died while being in their tubes?

Not to my knowledge. But one of my colleagues emerged from his tube one jump ten years older, with memories from back home to fill in the time. Others disappear for months, and return later with no recollection of having been here at all. This place doesn't do me the courtesy of making sense.

I know this is an awful lot to take in. But I've never been big into sugar coating. Sorry.

[It made no sense at all, so Eames wasn't going to try and bother. There was a reason he was never very good at math and the sciences.]

No need to apologize. I appreciate you being forthcoming, and I would be more disappointed to be told nice lies like this place is all lollipops and sunshine.

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[ VIDEO ]

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sorry for the late response. it's been a crazy week.

no worries.o/ no need to apologize.

gonna apologize again, though. sorry again.

again no worries no worries. \o/

you are far too kind

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oh wow i thought i replied to this one days ago whoops.

for shame for shame

i know ugh!!!!

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