003 ✫ Voice

[useofaswhat]

I've been on some pretty odd worlds in my time but I never saw one like that before. Somethin' new every day on this ship, huh? [On the whole, he sounds pretty pleased about it.] Anyone out there know how to patch up spike holes in leather?

[Private to Natasha]

Appreciate the expertise back in the wilds there. How'd you know how to deal with big cats?

Comments

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

Plenty of reading. [And perhaps a mission in a jungle where things did not go as smoothly, but.]

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

Part of your training? [It definitely did not look like the first time she'd been in that situation.]

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

I'm trained for a lot of things. [So, yes.] Do you still have boy scouts in your time?

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

There anything they didn't train you for? [Besides living like a human being, of course. For the moment he keeps that to himself.] You mean like – junior military divisions? Some worlds got corps like that, why?

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

Alien invasions. You're on your own for that. [This is just her being secretly bitter. How does the future even happen, she doesn't understand. But it fades because lol Mal.]

No, not military. Never mind. Being prepared for anything is their motto.

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

You held your own on the last planet, didn't you? [It's a legitimate conclusion! Can you tell he's ex-military, Natasha?] Good advice. Now I'm all curious, what do they do?

[takeyouapart]

Yeah. I mean - the holes in leather. Yes. But the something new every day as well. What happened?

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

Stayed on board. [Self-preservation at it's best okay, she was not going out there into danger land.]

Teach boys how to tie knots and be polite and navigate by the stars, I imagine. All technically useful things, but they tend not to make use of it. [Since they're just normal kids and all.]

[useofaswhat]

Got caught by the tail in one o' those closing-in spiky wall traps. I got out fine, my coat didn't.

[takeyouapart]

Right.

Um, I can fix it for you if you want to come to the Infirmary. Or I could show you how to patch it.

[Why yes 'fix' and 'patch' are distinct here.]

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

Smart girl. [A much better idea than getting yourself captured by alien overlords.]

Adventure club kinda thing? Sounds like somethin' the rich folk on core planets send their kids to during school breaks.

[useofaswhat]

Infirmary's catering to wounded clothes now too? I'll trust your doctorin' skills. [Read: with my sewing skills, if I attempted to patch this I would ruin my coat. :(] Be up there in a few. [And isn't it a relief to know how to get places again?]

I'm good for spam if you are <3

[takeyouapart]

Infirmary's quiet enough that I think I can handle an extra patient or two.

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

Probably pretty close.

You have youth military?

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

Every world's got its armies. Some of 'em don't get too picky about who they take in, you know? If they ain't got enough volunteers, they'll recruit anybody, even kids.

lovely spam, wonderful spam

[useofaswhat]

No better time to tend to the wounded then.

[The walk to the infirmary only takes a few minutes, fortunately, and is free of wild animals, booby-trapped hallways, or sphinx-style riddle keys. Unfortunately.] So you stitch up leather as well as you do people?

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

I know. [She knows that better than most, but still. It isn't often you run into standing, civilized militarizes that do that.]

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

Oh. Right – uh, sorry. [It's not Alliance battalions that have youth regimens – though they do have the 26th century equivalent of military academies. It's the outer planets, the border worlds, where the population of able-bodied adults is insufficient against whatever threat they face or perceive.

He imagines most of them are not as sophisticated in their training as the Red Room.]

spammmm also if you have any objections to magical coat fixing merlin can go either way >>

[takeyouapart]

[Modestly:] It's a gift. You're - Mal, yeah? Captain Reynolds.

spam are you kidding he'll think merlin is the coolest ever

[useofaswhat]

Yeah. And you're the one runnin' this place with Dr. Tam, right? It's – Merlin?

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

[The Red Room wouldn't even consider them threats. Simpletons with weapons, but nothing any of their students couldn't take care of. Maybe Natasha would even feel sorry for those kids - the didn't sign up for it, and they were trained badly. At least she can say she survived, in the end.

Well. Almost.]

Don't be.

spam well he does like people thinking he's cool

[takeyouapart]

[He nods.] Yeah, that's right. I noticed you knew each other, you - he told me he was travelling on a ship, you were the captain there?

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

[Simpletons with weapons are a hell of a lot dangerous than simpletons without, regardless of how well they know how to use it. Still, Natasha could've handled most folk on a border world, he didn't doubt that. She was a highly trained government agent, after all. Practically Alliance.]

Dropping the subject.

So seein' as things are back to as normal as they get, give me an update. You holding in there?

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

[She almost says she's just peachy, no need to keep checking in on her, but. Wait a tic.]

I wouldn't say not to having my Bite back. [She did not name the stupid things okay.] My wrist-weapons.

spam

[useofaswhat]

's right, he's on my crew. [Despite his friendly tone he still manages to sound a little protective when he says it.] He was the medic on board. Will be again, once we get back.