001.

[anewlanguage]

[Cain has no interest in vlogging, but his video feed was switched on accidentally as he got settled into his room. So for a long while there's no sound, and the only picture is of the side of his leg. Then he notices that it's not cooperating, and he's not such a stoic prisoner that he'll just turn it off and pretend it hadn't happened.]

This is some kind of reality show, huh? 'True Lives of the Deadliest Inmates'?

Comments

video;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

That's an interesting way of putting it. [= Hello, can you keep impressing him or is that a one-off thing?]

video;

[anewlanguage]

[He's not in top form, so probably just a one-off :( ]

Well, looks like they're offering killer grand-prizes.

video;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Redemption or bust does make an excellent tagline. [Slight distaste. Adrian has a deep-seated hatred of the media, even if he understands its uses.]

video;

[anewlanguage]

[Snerk, it does.] Who would you put your money on?

video;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Redemption, I'm afraid. I'm one of those wide-eyed optimistic types you've been warned about.

video;

[anewlanguage]

How long has that been going on? [Optimists have a shelf life where he's from.]

video;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Quite a while. [Adrian's one of the luckier ones, he has money and power to help him survive.]

[Private]

But that's enough about me. Are you a friend of Cassandra's?

Private;

[anewlanguage]

No, no. [They are decidedly not friendly.] I'm her father.

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

[Adrian seems completely unaffected by this. He can remain objective, after all.] Adoptive or biological?

Private;

[anewlanguage]

Biological. [He frowns] I taught her everything she knows. Most of it I even taught on purpose.

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

[The only change on Adrian's expression is a slight furrowing of the brow. It's not displeasure; he's thinking.] I'm acquainted with the young lady. Perhaps you've been already made aware, but several people on board this ship are going to be out for your blood.

Private;

[anewlanguage]

Yeah. [They can have it.] How well acquainted are you?

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Well enough. [To remain objective, that is.]

Private;

[anewlanguage]

She doing as well as they keep telling me?

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

She's had a recent string of losses - the Admiral tends to make people disappear without warning, but she'll pull through.

Private;

[anewlanguage]

Yeah. She always does.

[He should be more proud of that fact; it's his doing.]

Goes without saying if you try to harm a hair on her head she'll break your arm. But I just hope that doesn't mean you people are taking her for granted. She's got no emotional walls.

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

I wonder who's responsible for that. [Adrian's tone, however, is neutral. He's curious, not judging. People have reasons for what they do, even if it's not the right ones.]

Private;

[anewlanguage]

[Cain just shrugs. Sure it's his fault, but he doesn't have to answer to anyone but Cassandra for it. Better if everyone else thinks he's a callous bastard.]

Point is, she's out in the world now.

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

That's debatable. [And someone is now watching you like a hawk for cues in body language and words. Not that he wasn't before, but...]

Private;

[anewlanguage]

[he taught Cassandra to read--he basically, as he puts it, invented the language. So bluffing goes hand in hand with that, or at least being able to obscure things until he is very well known to someone.]

Yeah, I guess it is! [Chuckling, knocking a hand against a wall] We're in space, right?

Private;

[thirtyfiveminutes]

We are indeed. [He offers a smile, guarded.] At any rate, welcome aboard. Should you encounter any difficulties, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Private;

[anewlanguage]

Yeah. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

[Although he doubts Adrian will help him with suicide.]