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[a_titanum]

"Leave your message, if you care to."

Comments

[artistinexile]

Hello, Florian.

I wish to call your attention to a not-atypical reaction I have from both those here and in my home galaxy.

I have never made efforts to be liked but I realize this may be a learning opportunity the Admiral is attempting to provide.

[a_titanum]

I would have liked to know directly from you that you intended to unofficially rejoin custodial during this event, but I appreciate that you've indirectly told me now.

Please note that I am not being passive aggressive. I mean exactly what I said.

As for this interaction, I would say that your assessment is not wrong and that this is an opportunity. Edward has had something of a sour disposition since his demotion and would certainly constitute a more difficult person to guarantee cooperation from.

Though it does lead me to the question of why you have never made efforts to be liked.

[artistinexile]

I did not rejoin custodial.

Apparently we are limited in number of spaces set for us by the Admiral. It was not my intention to rejoin custodial but I was invited by Frankie Harvest to assist her in cleaning because she needed extra hands after this week. I was also not expecting Zack and Richter to quit entirely and did not wish to leave them as he did.

So I am unofficially both and neither.

[Thrawn's voice is cold, distant. He isn't pleased about the way custodial ended up]

He agreed to cooperate. I believe that is enough.

[he also doesn't answer the question, letting Florian come to his own conclusions or ask him outright. It's something of a long answer and would distract from more pressing opportunities.]

[a_titanum]

I believe I said 'unofficially'. Careful not to let strong emotion make you miss minor details.

And while I am obviously noting every time that you fail to answer a question, I should like you to also make note of it. And when you have time, obviously, consider why you have prioritized other matters over the answering of that question. I'd prefer not to badger you with them all in a row but it's getting to be a habit.

[ He shakes his head.]

And he agreed to cooperate. The job is not yet done. A reluctant workman will similarly find reasons not to complete the task assigned to them, and do it even more readily if they find you distasteful. Further, you asserted that the addition you requested would be a boon to the ship but failed to explain how or why or give him any reason to feel compelled to do the work or do it well.

[artistinexile]

I am aware of what you said. I am countering your argument: unofficial or not, I was not aware I was still on custodial and was assisting a friend. So when you say you prefer to be informed, I am here informing you that there was nothing to be informed about. As I did not know myself.

Noted.

[Thrawn will squirm his way out of every direct argument he possibly can; this is one method of many]

I assumed his boredom was reason enough. Clearly I was mistaken, as I was not aware I was disliked until he told me. We had not spoken up to that point.

[a_titanum]

Given that what I said regarded your decision to join unofficially, your decision to assist, you can hardly claim you didn't know yourself.

Again, details.

[ A small smile. Not mean. Just pointed. ]

Though you should realize that those who you have not spoken to may have formed ideas about you already from what public actions you've taken. And that the distance can leave room for suppositions made about your methodology, your motives, and your goals.

[artistinexile]

Do you wish to be informed every time I offer to assist another?

[innocent look right back. He can do that. He's just insane about how much he talks to people behind the scenes]

Indeed.

[a_titanum]

I believe you requested my assistance specifically in regards to the situation around the custodial team. Thus, it would follow that any changes in that particular campaign ought to be shared for proper coordination. Forgive me for assuming you would follow logical protocol in regards to information dissemination in an established situation.

[ He's better at looking innocent. ]

But no, I don't need to be informed every time.

[ A deeper breath. ]

Why did you contact Edward, of all people?

[artistinexile]

Forgiven.

[But Thrawn is decidedly unhappy with his warden.]

He announced he was part of Maintenance and indicated interest in repair work.

[a_titanum]

[ That's fine. Someone needs to learn not to information starve his allies. ]

And you assumed that someone who was interested in repair work would also be interested in construction?

[artistinexile]

[unlikely. how else can you have DRAMATIC REVEALS]

Indeed. Is it not a natural progression?

[a_titanum]

Not necessarily.

[ Look, Thrawn, he appreciates the style aspect, but it's not the most logistically intelligent choice all the time. ]

For many people, the two are very different requests. One is to restore that which was broken, that which is expected to function. By it's place on board and it's usual status of function, it has become a communally accepted item whose maintenance is considered part of pitching in to the group's resources.

Construction, however, implies that something new is being added. And the value of that new item is unknown; it has not been here before so the added value it might bring is in question and often whether it will bring value is determined as a matter of faith or trust in the person making the construction request. If he does not like you, he will have less faith or trust that your decision to construct such a thing is a valuable use of his time and efforts.

[artistinexile]

Then I must build that faith and trust. For I have no intention of wasting anyone's time.

[a_titanum]

I agree wholeheartedly.

Would you like my assistance with that task?

[artistinexile]

Yes.

[a_titanum]

Certainly.

And where would you like to begin?

[artistinexile]

With instruction on how one cultivates trust and friendship on this ship. Clearly my previous ways of doing so are not applicable here.

[a_titanum]

How did you do so previously?

It's possible that they are applicable, just with some tweaking.

[artistinexile]

...To be entirely honest, I seem to be taken in by other, cleverer people than myself who have noticed my oddities and sought to correct or understand them.

Or in the case of military assignments, they had no choice but to work close alongside me. Most find my..

[how to put this...]

...Egalitarian ways off-putting. I found it useful to give respect to those who serve below me and trust me with their lives. Those sacrifices should not be taken lightly.

There are those who did not appreciate meritocracy, and those who did. That is all I can say with certainty.

[a_titanum]

[ Hmm. ]

And how much luck did those who sought to correct you actually have?

[ Oh he has other questions. But that's a big one. ]

[artistinexile]

....Three, I believe, had some measure on my behavior. Mainly to the point of masking troublesome qualities.

[a_titanum]

Ah, one of the least useful ways to go about it, forgive me for saying.

[ He looks to Thrawn curiously. ]

May I ask a few questions about that, or are you too cross at me for such a sensitive subject?

[artistinexile]

I am not cross.

Please; ask away.

[a_titanum]

[ There's a little eyebrow bounce, as if to say 'okay', he's going to take that at face value, before he continues. ]

Do you believe it is your egalitarian ways themselves that cause the irritation?

[artistinexile]

I believe there are those who prefer I give preferential treatment and assignments to those who wish to trade favors.

In response, I have faced everything from court martials, to my ships going to the bottom of the list in blue dock.