144.98750: PUBLIC CHANNEL, D100

[whattaprick]

Two things.

First, did anyone else plant the seeds the Ringmaster gave us after we got back from Hell? [ How many of the new people even know they've been to Hell??? Well whatever, it's not like it's a big secret or anything. ] They grow fast -- mine's already fruiting.

I want to try something, so let me know if you're up to donating some of yours for an experiment.

Second, engineering's working on getting a training yard set up in the forest. It's not all done yet, but there's space for sparring, exercise, and target practice if you need it. I expect to see all nightrunners out there, but anyone else can drop by if they're interested. Only rules are "don't kill your co-workers" and "you break it, you fix it."

I'll be there in the mornings if you need me. Strange, you can come by later, but don't think you get to slack off just because it's performance week.

Comments

[whattaprick]

Seven days. Took about three weeks before fruits started showing, but I don't know if the frost slowed it down. [ A beat. ] Wait, are you getting competitive about trees?

[stillwinningthehardway]

It's always seven days around here. Like you're all Corellians. Weird.

They're not really trees if they're that small, are they? More bushes. Where's the dividing line there?

[whattaprick]

You know, sometimes I swear you mention things you know I don't know just to see if I'll ask what the hell you're talking about.

The way I was taught, rule of thumb's to look at how it grows. If it's only got one main stem and and a lot of branches growing off that, it's a tree. If it's got a lot of stems about the same size, it's a bush.

[stillwinningthehardway]

Everyone does it! It's self defense. When I first came here I got a guy saying my name sounded like something out of Cub Patrol.

Oh. That... actually makes some sense.

[whattaprick]

Did he ever actually tell you what Cub Patrol was?

There are a few other things you can look at to be sure, but you can always find exceptions. It's mostly useful to make sure you're gathering the right thing.

[stillwinningthehardway]

I had the feeling it was completely irrelevant, so I told him his name was the same as a drink in a Zeltron cafe. Fight references you don't know with ones you do! People will let you know if they want to explain it.

[whattaprick]

Hah. So that's how you do it.

[stillwinningthehardway]

It's not actually my original name. Scout, I mean. I could tell people to call me the word in my first language that means 'scout', but then they wouldn't know.

[whattaprick]

I assumed as much. Do you actually use your real name at all?

[stillwinningthehardway]

I'm not sure my legal name's any less real than the name I was given. Just doesn't sound as good shouted. Anyway, I haven't used it for a long time. I'm on wanted lists! It was usually just when I was in trouble, anyway.

[Ah nostalgia. Being in trouble at home for eavesdropping used to be such a big deal.]

How much will I regret it if I tell you my original name? Not even my surname, that doesn't translate and sounds unflattering in this language.

[whattaprick]

Depends how ridiculous it is. [ Duh, Scout. But more importantly: ] What'd you do to get a bounty on your head?

[stillwinningthehardway]

[Her voice flattens.] I survived when I was supposed to have been killed. Then I kept doing it. They aren't looking for me, specifically, but I'm on that list.

[whattaprick]

[ Kind of an unexpectedly serious answer, but then again... ]

Better keep your name to yourself, then. That sort of thing has power.

[ Idly, he wonders if the Ringmaster allowed her to go by 'Scout' on her contract or not. ]

It's got something to do with what you told me before, right?

[stillwinningthehardway]

Without my surname it's not unusual. Ask me in person sometime. And then just use it for trouble or if you're poking at me, all right?

[She knows him well enough to know he'd do that.]

Yeah. [Scout's tone is guarded.]

[whattaprick]

Fair enough. Don't get pissy if you change your mind later. [ Teasing, mostly. ]

Guess I'll have to ask you about that in person, too.

[stillwinningthehardway]

Yup. I'm a big stickler for that kind of thing. If you can't complain about someone's breath, it's just not as real.