tlv inbox

[a_titanum]

"Leave your message, if you care to."

Comments

[artistinexile]

[with grudging respect]

You are nothing if not thorough.

I can give you a short list of those I have yet to reach out to. The problem lies in that they will be people I wish to seek out for practical reasons.

Or I can explain the few people who have managed to cultivate friendships here with me, but I confess that I may not be able to describe how or why they do so.

[a_titanum]

Always.

[ A dip of his head. ]

Then your assignment in the second part would be to find someone who fits that criteria. Though I will, of course, love to hear about the other list and those people who you've managed to cultivate friendships with. That will be useful too.

[artistinexile]

Indeed. I will aspire to find someone who can offer me nothing, who I can offer nothing to, and attempt to build without foundation.

[so dry. this is going to be a nightmare for him]

There are those who have outright described me as a friend and those who have not yet made overtures of friendship but have, through their actions, proven to be people worthy of trust and merit.

[Then again, knowing Thrawn, he knows he could be being led around again. It's a fact that worries him about himself]

Thus far, the list of friends or, at the very least, allies in arms;

Aerith Gainsborough. D'Vana Tendi. Frankie Harvest. Justine Florbelle. Lucy MacLean. Nana Daiba. Wu Xin.

[of course he lists them in alphabetical order. But it wasn't until just now that Thrawn realizes he is friends with a list of almost all women.]

[a_titanum]

Nothing practical. We are learning about the value of the soft skills and soft benefits. As long as you are not actively seeking a tangible benefit from them, they would be appropriate.

[ And then he's listening to the list. Hmm. Quite a few names he's satisfied with. A few he's less familiar with. Don't think he missed the gender balance either, Thrawn. ]

I quite like Fraulein Gainsborough. I have yet to meet Fraulein Tendi or Fraulein Harvest. Mademoiselle Florbell is a friend of mine as well. Fraulein MacLean seems promising. Herr Wu Xin I've only spoken to in passing, though I've provided him a shield. Fraulein Daiba... hmm. I have not met her either. Good to know.

Do you find any similarities in the group as listed?

[artistinexile]

Understood.

I believe you will like Tendi especially. She is...enthusiastic. Very eager to assist in whatever way she can.

Up until listing them out, one after the other, I did not realize they were nearly all female or female-presenting. I have had friendlier conversations with male-presentings, but these were of a more practical nature of mutual benefit thus far.

Wu Xin is the lone stand-out, though I could not tell you why, nor why most of my list consists of this gender mark-up. Especially when considering that the ship itself harbors two-to-one ratios of men to women.

[a_titanum]

I will make a point to reach out to Fraulein Tendi at my earliest convenience.

There are a few potential reasons for such a definitive tendency. I don't think it would be fair or smart to make any assumptions for the moment, but perhaps consider how your interactions with them differ from those you have with male-presenting individuals moving forward. I have some theories but data is what we need.

[artistinexile]

I agree. I should hope I do not treat one group differently than the other, but perhaps my bias blinds me.

[a_titanum]

If it is any comfort, my suspicion would be a compliment to you as opposed to a bias. But I'd like to gain more data before confirming.

[artistinexile]

It is.

[some comfort, at least. He had been concerned that he'd been so blind about this, to the point where Thrawn was questioning previous encounters]

On that same subject, I can offer you some more data, should you wish it.

[a_titanum]

Always.

[artistinexile]

I have held command of a handful of ships. Two stand out as my longest-serving command, with loyal, hard-working crews.

One was the Chiss heavy freighter Springhawk, the other the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera.

The Springhawk held a mostly male-presenting bridge crew, in service to a female Admiral, and a close friend.

The Chimaera held a mostly female-presenting bridge crew. Of the twelve Grand Admirals in the Imperial navy, none were women.

Interesting data, but I cannot say yet what it means.

[a_titanum]

Data which supports my theory, in truth. But a little more time, Thrawn. I assure you that when I feel secure in my hypothesis, I will present it.

[artistinexile]

Thank you.

I myself will look through the list of passengers and attempt to cultivate a friendship with someone new.

[no promises when it ends in disaster]

[a_titanum]

Excellent. Let me know when you've found someone and we can consider how to approach it.

[artistinexile]

I will.

[a_titanum]

Thank you, Thrawn. I look forward to discussing your findings.

[artistinexile]

[Days later, Thrawn returns with his short list]

Good day, Florian.

[just gonna launch straight into it]

I have given your assignment some thought and am prepared to deliver my report.

[a_titanum]

Then you should come by and we'll discuss it.

Is now a good time?

[artistinexile]

Yes.

[even if it weren't, this takes priority]

ETA seven minutes.

[a_titanum]

I'll be here. Do walk right in.

[artistinexile]

[At his warden's permission, Thrawn walks inside Florian's cabin, eyes glancing about briefly to catalog anything new added since his last visit. He holds a datachip in his hand]

[a_titanum]

[ Florian, for his part, has a teapot and a cup out for himself. There's a second cup, but it hasn't been poured or even turned upright. Thrawn can refuse.

He sees the datachip, but he's going to gesture to the opposite chair. ]

[artistinexile]

[At Florian's gesture, Thrawn sits, inclining his head]

[a_titanum]

Where would you like to begin?

[artistinexile]

I have made a friend out of an adversary. Hanna Falk Cross.