trans_9 | Dear Slobo... [open]

All he had wanted was some peace and quiet. First, he had found a way to rig the TVs in the hotel to link to the ship's library. Second, he had convinced Stacy to just let that be, and explained how odd "pulsing walls" were to most of them. Finally, he had found a couch on the far wall in the lobby that had the best view of the big screen TV the lobby had, and marked it. Above it on the wall was a plaque that read as such: RESERVED FOR FORMER YJERS/TITANS WHO WERE DECLARED DEAD IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

However, these were not exactly detractors in everyone else's mind. Every time he tried to relax and just read his back issues of "Crazed Merc" magazines, someone came in, sat down in the nearest chair, and asked him about... whatever was on their mind. He couldn't stop it, he knew it from the first. When the crazy japanese kid who he had previously lead to the sensoriums had shown up asking him about whether he should go to a dance, he had given advice. Then the priest showed up, asking about what the Outsiders were about. Now, Slobo was just waiting for the next person to come asking him, of all people, for information or advice. So he was more waiting than relaxing...

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Though it was very, VERY hard to surprise someone like Alessa, she was decidedly a bit thrown both by the sniffing and by this person knowing what she was. What WAS he able to smell on her? Well, there was blood of course, and certainly dust and maybe a lingering smell of death here and there, but nothing that would have given her identity away.

"If they had the authority to do that, they would be much more effective at eradicating the present situation," Alessa said. "Instead, I suppose the crew are supposed to go on the faith that they know what they're doing. My entrance to this place was killing off undead filth. Clearly their authority is lacking."

Though Alessa chuckled. "You shouldn't demean yourself by saying you're mortal. You aren't divinely blessed, yet you knew what I was. If there is something I can say you are not, its human. So what's your story?"

" I'm a clone of a guy who decimated his own race, who destroyed god and the devil, who's banned from heaven and hell for the damage he does to either." Slobo took but a moment to look at her before going back to his magazine.

"Ya want me ta be afraid. Yer a spirit o' vengeance. I can smell it on ya. But ya don't scare me. I seen scarier than ya, and will in my time. So if ya wanna hang and talk, ya can, I'll probably have yer back in a lot. But if ya jus' think yer gonna frighten me, then frag off. I'd rather help ya then fear ya." His words were pure with emotion, and he truly was not afraid of Alessa.

"If I choose to believe that, it ultimately makes you neither an enemy nor an ally of mine," Alessa said. "I've had my fill of both, to be honest, and now that I'm here that sort of grandstanding can be shucked...in most instances anyway."

There was still Castiel to be concerned about.

"I'm in the guise of a little girl," Alessa said. "That hardy scares anyone. Once I drop that, then people decide if they fear or hate me. If you think I came here for the purpose of trying to scare you, you're sadly mistaken. My time is a bit more precious these days, especially with the flagrant idiocy of this place. The reason I am here is the sign outside of here. Why is this team called 'The Outsiders?'"

"Cause we ain't the types ta despise." He said rather matter of factly.

"We want the people everyone else tosses aside. The folks that on a ship full o' fraggin' freaks, ain't welcome. They're welcome here." He turned, and looked at the demon, stone-faced still.

"We take all comers, as long as they wanna be a part o' somethin'."

Alessa appeared to flex her shoulders, but if he could read strange demon body language, it was a gesture of interest. She hadn't felt that in a while, honestly: between her work in the factory and the tedium of people that came and went on Stacy, she had yet to have a moment where her attention was actually piqued. She was sure she fell into this category (where else?) but wanted to know a bit more. Alessa's loyalty, after all, was no easy thing to shrug off.

"A part of something," she repeated. "Well, explain that. We are all a part of the ship, from a logical perspective. We were pulled here against our will to be used in a battle against the very aliens that claimed the lives of our world. If that is true, what makes the Outsiders different from any other gathering of people here?"

"We ain't about our own cliques." Again he was matter-of-fact, not quite staring her down, but not deterring his gaze either. He was interested himself, in her reaction and interest.

"Everyone else here... They bond ta what they know, or in a few cases, who they know. We Outsiders? We just provide things people need. If ya ain't from our world, we don't give a frag, we learn about yers. If ya just wanna bash skulls, we work with ya, show ya how ta work with a team without cuttin' into that fun. If yer ever in a bad situation and yer an Outsider, yanno ya got a solid group o' folks from throughout the multiverse who'll back ya up if yer just willin' ta give the ring." There was a slight smile playing on his lips, not in mockery of her, but as if he was saying something no one else would get.

"Hero, villain, demon, angel, alien, human... Maybe the thing that makes us different from the other groups on ship is we actually take all comers if they want ta join. We don't stick with our own world, there's no specific kinda folk welcome."

Alessa stared at him steadily, betraying no emotion. She didn't say anything for a moment, only stared at the place, and her hands went to the couch with the plaque over it. She ran her hands lightly over the fabric but did not sit in it: it was as if she were trying to get a feeling from it. She turned to Slobo.

"I'm not one for pretty words. I do not believe in the world as it exists as a better place: I am a being of nightmares, I know better. Hopeless idealism repulses me. If you had tried to appeal to me with that sort of talk, I would be gone from your sight, all the more hoping for another monster to claim the ship and rid itself of more useless mouth breathers. However, there is also a reality for me I have to face: my very existence had made me sought after, and being alone is no longer a logical option for me anymore. Your team, if they are what you say they are, will be pushed to their limits if I were included. Be prepared for that."

She rose up, looking at the screen. "You are also doing things I am sure will earn the ire of other people on the ship, especially the command staff. They will not like your flagrant disregard of their authority. Are you prepared for that?"

Dear Slobo... [open]

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