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[rebelsamurai]

[ Amidst the impressive technological marvels and distractions present on the ship, Johnny found it impossible to resist the allure of commandeering the network for a brief moment. While he's no deckhead or with a fancy BD strapped to his head, Johnny at least knows how to work a camera. This is why everyone is getting a good view of the scowling rockerboy as he puffs smoke directly into the camera.

Yeah, he's smoking again already. Don't ask how he got his hands on another e-cigarette. It probably involved a five-finger discount and a lot of schmoozing. Despite being such a complete asshole, Johnny is at least charming.

He's a charming little parasite. ]

Okay, chucklefucks. [ He mutters before taking another drag on his cigarette. Smoke billows from his nose as he exhales, resembling an angry demon/oni graphic on his tank top. ] Let's have a little talk.

Where the fuck are all of you from? Half of y'all look like your average Joe, while others look like wannabe supermodels who just walked off a Jinguji photoshoot.

[ Johnny lets out a chuckle as he brushes some ash off his cigarette. ]

So, who wants to go first? State your name and where the hell you're from.

Comments

[rebelsamurai]

Yep, and that quote is straight out of the King James version of the Bible too.

[ He's from the Bible Belt, okay? Johnny knows a thing or two about that so-called holy book. ] Not that it means much, especially since most Bible thumpers are horrible fucking people.

[ Fortunately, he won't indulge in an extended tirade regarding that. ]

The road to hell is always paved in good intentions, isn't it? It's definitely not just the love of money that makes folks act out of pocket. But I gotta tell you, it feels nice to be away from all that bullshit now.

Nonetheless, none of us have any idea what's going on here.

[sunbeloved]

(he'll avoid asking more on that, anyway. then again, if he mentioned that he knew saint martha and jeanne d'arc of all people....that might also be more confusing. it's something he notes for another time. this man, for the impression he gives off, has the vibe they could have interesting conversations from their differing views.

then again, karna only talks more when someone can manage to get him to.)

The planet itself we're going to is said to be desert climate, I know what to expect somewhat....although India, my birth country, isn't necessarily like one fully, I've dealt with the heat enough.

Figuring out what this "Song" is will take time. I'm sure a number of us are skeptical about it, but our hosts do seem like we were brought here with some manner of good intentions.

....though I did get multiple boxes shoved at me at the trading post and people asking me to come back for discounts whenever I'm just a stranger to these people.

[rebelsamurai]

A desert planet, huh? While we’re fainting from the heat, we might face sandworms as big as skyscrapers, if Frank Herbert's works are to be believed.

[ The last fucking thing he wants to do is battle massive sandworms. That doesn't seem enjoyable at all, especially since he's lacking half of his cybernetic enhancements. But that wouldn't stop V from trying to fight one of those things and that fucking scares him. ]

But in any case, you're from India? The same nation with a population of approximately a billion people? Holy shit, you're like one of the few Earthlings I've met so far!

As for all this "Song" bullshit, I'm on the fence about it until we actually start piecing together the clues. These goofy-ass chooms put my ass on the archive and research team, so I guess I gotta get to work once we land.

Not the kind of work I ever envisioned for a rockstar such as myself, but whatever.

Well, at least you’re getting a discount~! As for me, I believe in the five finger discount.

[sunbeloved]

Sandworms....
That might be a first for me, guns aren't necessarily my forte when it comes to ranged.
Bows, that's a different story.

Still, not everyone seems capable of fighting, and I'd worry more about the possibility of any non-combatants getting hurt.

(frank herbert isn't an author he knows of entirely, though karna did have knowledge of the modern era for his time. books he knew of were found by his own hand, education and all that he took upon himself during more quiet hours. he was always studious.)

That's right. If my brother were here, he likely would have been more obvious than me in sticking out appearance wise.

(rockstar? he frowns briefly to himself, the last time he heard a guitar was when someone decided she would play one for summer....he isn't going to talk about her skills in it.

five-finger discount is a term he recognizes from being taught by a few troublemakers that he knew before as well.)

Thievery? I'm surprised. (if only because he can still read people, just not how he used to do with their nature and detecting lies.) With the impression you gave off, you seemed more capable of talking people into things.

A bit of a troublemaker, but also one that enjoys himself.

[rebelsamurai]

You think you've figured me out, huh? [ He jokes after rereading that last bit for a second time. This choom is dangerous. Very dangerous. Now Johnny is on guard again. Gone is that cavalier attitude of his from earlier.

The real hellraiser is about to show up. ]

Word of advice: you don't know shit and will never know shit about me. Not unless I say so, but yeah—maybe I like causing a little bit of trouble.

It's better than just farting around singing "Kumbaya" with a bunch of weirdos in the middle of outer space. But whatever, right? It seems like we're stuck on this ship for the long haul or until the Edicts get bored of us.

[ With that out of the way, Johnny returns to the conversation at hand. ]

The noncombatants should keep their asses on the ship; that's obvious. As for those who can fight, we need to ensure that whoever is on security detail can actually do their fucking jobs.

[sunbeloved]

(he'll keep that in mind, is what karna thinks briefly. he isn't bad at this. reading people, what he looks at more is mannerisms and actions. some have often said he was capable of reading someone down to their soul with that....they wouldn't be wrong, either. evil is evil, but not every terrible person is incapable of reason and does hold their own beliefs. their own thoughts, karna does understand this too well as a man that a man's word can only get one so far.

not all men desire to keep that word they gave their fellows, another thing he keeps in mind. he almost frowns to himself, a nerve likely was struck. unintended, but he does know the type.)

My apologies, then.

(polite, even when in the wrong. thoughtful, too, since he decided to leave it at that, with something simple.)

That depends. I have been practicing my target shooting with the gun they handed me, it isn't difficult as I already know archery and how to use a bow in a different comparison.

And I am not bad with my fists if I need to. I don't count on this being peaceful.

I haven't met the others yet from the security division....so I won't be able to give any thoughts about what I think of them. If anything, I'm used to taking charge and going from there on terms of action....words is another story.

I'm better at acting than speaking.

[rebelsamurai]

Don't sweat it.

[ He's certainly paying close attention to this choom right here. Johnny was uncomfortable with the speed at which this person evaluated him. This is the kind of shit V does to him on the regular; he doesn't need another asshole therapist with him. ]

Archery isn't going to fucking cut it against aliens, that is...assuming alien lifeforms truly exist. We need guns, lots of guns, and I'm not sayin' this because I'm from Texas.

[ Yep, he's from the "yeehaw" Lone Star State. ]

I gotta be honest with you, I already don't fuckin' like the idea of the security division. They're the only motherfuckers allowed to carry while the rest of us lie defenseless. That sounds like a bad idea already, doesn't it?

Still, we need people to start treating this shit more like an expedition and less like a glorified vacation from their mundane little lives. I see too many dewy-eyed marks roaming around that look like they would get easily distracted by just dangling a set of keys in front of their faces.

[ Damn, that's one hell of an opinion for someone who hasn't met half of the crew yet. ]

[sunbeloved]

Practicing isn't difficult.
I tend to be a quick study with new weaponry, as long as I have a basic idea of how to use it.

The worrisome part however....I do agree that other divisions should have some manner of defenses for themselves. If only some of us are armed, there's the issue of what should be done if we're indisposed.

I could start to teach some of the others willing to learn basic hand-to-hand techniques, but that would depend solely on them. What I learned came from two people who had specific styles they mixed with boxing.

(he still isn't going to mention who taught him, though. explaining that he learned how to knock people six days to sunday thanks to saint martha and beowulf would be confusing enough.)

Everyone learns at some point that reality is far different from what they believe it is.

Innocence usually isn't something terrible, until they're faced with something to shatter it to pieces. We have a number of youths around, the one that I've met falls under my responsibility, then.

They need to learn, but they also need to be taught without being too brutal or too gentle.

[rebelsamurai]

So you're some kind of genius on the battlefield, huh? You might get along with my guy V. He likes to tear shit apart with his bare hands with those gorilla arms of his.

Mentioning gorilla arms, are you familiar with tech called 'cyberware'? I'm starting to realize most folks here don't know about that stuff.

[ That certainly seems to be the case since no one is bragging about their latest Mr. Studd implant or their new Kiroshis. It's a little unsettling for Johnny. ]

If you have the patience to teach, then by all means. I certainly wouldn't be opposed. I learned how to fight due to my time in the military. However, that shit barely kept me alive during the war. I learned everything I know in the field as a part-time merc.

[ To be fair, he was only sixteen when he joined the military and lost his arm in the same damn year. ]

Yeah, keep an eye on that kid. If I see any, I'll probably send them over to V. He's better at nurturing kiddos than I am. I'll just cuss at them.

[ Bullshit. Johnny pretends to be all gruff and stuff but he really isn't. At least, not all the time. ]

I just can't believe all of this shit is really happening. It's worse than a fever dream.