PT 012 Xho and Carfine

USS, 10:05 PM

As you approach he looks at you and seems...very official.  He's standing very much at attention and keeping himself very stern-looking.

Xho, 10:06 PM

... I am extremely glad to see you.

USS, 10:07 PM

Carfine: "...are you?"

Xho, 10:07 PM

Yes.

Xho, 10:07 PM

... I hope my counterpart did not kick your spider or something of that nature.

USS, 10:08 PM

Carfine: "Your counterpart did not kick my spider, but she did...not seem to like me very much."

USS, 10:08 PM

Carfine: "...shame...I was...kind of taken with her."

Xho, 10:09 PM

That is extremely ironic.

Xho, 10:09 PM

I did not really want to know what happened to her, but I suppose that's a form of cowardice.

USS, 10:10 PM

Carfine: "...I'm dead in your timeline, aren't I?"

Xho, 10:11 PM

Yes. There was a catastrophic depressurization during a training exercise. Apart from me our entire class was killed; I had... severe injuries myself.

USS, 10:12 PM

Carfine: "...well...that's a horrifying concept."

Xho, 10:13 PM

Yes. I was given the position because I was the only one left.

USS, 10:13 PM

Carfine: "...if it helps, the other you is not dead.  ...at least, she wasn't last I saw her."

Xho, 10:14 PM

There was significant debate over whether I was good enough to still go ahead with the program, since I had earned such comparatively low marks.

Xho, 10:14 PM

Oh?

USS, 10:14 PM

Carfine: "...you want more detail.  That's fair."

USS, 10:15 PM

Carfine: "...you um...you did not pass into the academy."

Xho, 10:16 PM

No. I did not expect I would. I had hoped I could reapply after the first test case opened the door to other Drow.

USS, 10:16 PM

Carfine: "......."

Xho, 10:17 PM

I did feel I could pass the general entrance exam.

USS, 10:17 PM

Carfine: "You didn't fail."

USS, 10:18 PM

Carfine: "You opted out."

Xho, 10:18 PM

Why?

USS, 10:19 PM

Carfine: "I believe it was a death in your family."

USS, 10:19 PM

Carfine: "You didn't come back to take the exam after.  I am not sure where you ended up."

Xho, 10:20 PM

Not surprising, but disappointing.

USS, 10:20 PM

Carfine: "I'm sorry."

Xho, 10:21 PM

I feel I am well-suited to my position here, though I often do think you would have been much better. You were in the lead when the accident occurred.

USS, 10:21 PM

Carfine: "Was I?!?  ...wow."

USS, 10:22 PM

Carfine: "There were three ahead of me easily when I took the test."

USS, 10:23 PM

Carfine: "They just didn't follow through once in.  Not everyone's suited to the alliance."

USS, 10:23 PM

Carfine: "But, I worked hard, fought my way to top of my class."

Xho, 10:24 PM

I would expect no less.

USS, 10:26 PM

Carfine: "Turns out you were right to drop out, anyway.  Not long after I joined the Bureaucracy's candidate became president.  S'when everything went wrong."

Xho, 10:27 PM

I cannot believe they were attempting to dissect a crew member.

USS, 10:28 PM

Carfine: "The Bureaucracy's view on their officers is different than the Alliance's was.  And I assume the Federation's."

Xho, 10:29 PM

Apparently! They must have good officers growing in beds, if they are so willing to waste them.

Xho, 10:29 PM

((Mushroom beds.))

USS, 10:30 PM

Carfine: "...for what it's worth, I have spoken to your captain and he seems rather proud to have you on the crew."

Xho, 10:32 PM

That is kind, given that I was selected for him without any of his input. Which is not the custom, particularly not for officers of any kind, and particularly not for executive officers.

USS, 10:35 PM

Carfine nods.  "Our Grax did get some input in who was allowed to join.  He had wanted Duma for the First Officer originally, but they convinced me to take that position instead."

Xho, 10:36 PM

Our Duma accepted a downgrade for the second officer position. They have more experience than I do by far. It is somewhat awkward, but fortunately, Duma is happier as second officer.

USS, 10:38 PM

Carfine: "Yeah, ours is way more experienced than I am too.  It's actually a bit intimidating.  ...and only partially cause she could crush me with one hand."

Xho, 10:39 PM

Ours too. Though we have tentatively become friends thanks to illusory barfights.

Xho, 10:39 PM

... I am somewhat handy with a broken bottle.

USS, 10:40 PM

Carfine: "...maybe I should try that."

Xho, 10:41 PM

It is very enjoyable.

USS, 10:41 PM

Carfine: "I'm not really much for physical activities.  I still don't get basketball."

Xho, 10:41 PM

I do, in theory. In practice, I find it very... tame.

Xho, 10:42 PM

I feel it would be significantly better if weaponry or at least full contact were permitted.

USS, 10:42 PM

Carfine: "...must be a woman thing."

Xho, 10:43 PM

One alternative would be more options for different point values. Three seems insufficient. Why not an option for five points?

USS, 10:43 PM

Carfine: "Now that does make sense to me."

Xho, 10:45 PM

... and I liked your counterpart too. Though I didn't know him well. I was not considered a serious competitor, but he treated me as if I counted.

USS, 10:47 PM

Carfine: "I am glad to hear I was a good person there.  ...I wish I'd known the other you better.  She was always very determined and very much willing to give it her all."

Xho, 10:48 PM

I am too.

USS, 10:49 PM

((This seems like a good end point to me if you're ok stopping here.))