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[goingtobeunwell]

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[goingtobeunwell]

[There's nothing particularly unsettling about an undecorated bunk, although Crozier had expected a little more character considering how long Hilbert's been on the Barge. He surveys the books briefly - two topics oddly relevant to him - and nods to Hilbert.]

Good afternoon.

[tarakan]

Good afternoon as well, [ Hilbert says, with a nod. ] Apologies for lack of seating. But area is more private than anything else on ship.

[goingtobeunwell]

I don't mind meeting on familiar ground, even if we do just stand. [He steps inside and claps his hands - or rather, grabs his wrist - behind his back.]

I assume you usually just float about in here though.

[tarakan]

[ Hilbert nods. ]

I strap myself down when it is time to sleep. Otherwise? Am used to floating around.

[goingtobeunwell]

I imagine there's a sort of trial period when you first experience zero-gravity. One needs to find their sea-legs, as it were.

[But enough of the small talk. He addresses Hilbert with a nod of his own.]

How are you occupying yourself aboard the ship?

[tarakan]

I have my hobbies, [ Hilbert shrugs. ] I work in greenhouse. Tutor Mandrake in science and whatever else he wishes to learn. Read. Study. Keep myself busy. Watch movies if I have free time.

[ Stay under the radar enough in the hopes that someone will let him work in the infirmary. Make himself seem useful and trustworthy in the hopes that he gets more opportunities. ]

It is useless to be idle.

[goingtobeunwell]

It's healthy to have hobbies. [So he's been told.] What do you study?

[He nods towards the books.]

[tarakan]

Medicine, botany, virology...have recently been thinking about starting up AI research again.

[goingtobeunwell]

[Virology. AI research. Damn, that's a little beyond his scope.]

Mn. And how would you go about that?

[tarakan]

The same way you go about most hobbies. Learn about something, obtain necessary materials, practice. Of course, due to Inmate status, I am usually stuck at 'learning.'


[ which he's not even bothering to hide his irritation at. ]

[goingtobeunwell]

Mhm. It can be a fairly large barrier to doing whatever the hell you want. [There's a bit of sympathy there; he knows what it was like after all.]

So. Why do you think you're an inmate? [Judging how much awareness we may have here.]

[tarakan]

I know why others think I am an inmate, [ he shrugs. ] I have used other people as trials and test subjects in my research, often without their consent. Results were...poor. People died.

[ He lets out an annoyed 'hmmph' of irritation before, ] And because I am heartless mad scientist willing to overlook that for the greater good, I am bad guy in need of redemption.

[goingtobeunwell]

[Crozier makes a small noise as he listens.]

What do you mean, 'greater good'?

[tarakan]

Curing diseases, stopping cancers, things of that sort. End goal of my work is to enhance regenerative properties of cells for use in healing.

[goingtobeunwell]

Mn.

[A long pause.]

Why?

[tarakan]

[ because he had a traumatic childhood and never learned coping skills! ]

I am doctor. That is my job.

[goingtobeunwell]

That sounds more broad a thing than a simple physician. Larger a scope than healing a single patient.

[Christ though, if that isn't Stephen Stanley.] You do, however, remind me of a doctor I once knew. Brilliant mind. Horribly talented.

[tarakan]

I will take that as compliment.

[goingtobeunwell]

He tried to murder my entire crew by setting fire to our tents.

[He frowns.]

He thought he was doing the merciful thing. But he was brilliant.

[tarakan]

[ He's not really taking that as a compliment now. Hilbert frowns slightly, not entirely sure what to say next before, ]

Why would killing you all be merciful? What happened?

[ Because something obviously must have happened. ]

[goingtobeunwell]

It's a very long story. Probably one that would merit a chair.

[Or two chairs, which would be too extravagant.]

We'll meet tomorrow and we can talk more. Is there anything you need of me now?

[tarakan]

There are things I want, but nothing I outright need.

[ There's a pause before he dryly responds, ]

Do not go insane and try to possess half of ship and we will get along fine.

[goingtobeunwell]

Ah. Yes. I don't have that capability, so we should have no troubles. I'm just a man. Nothing more.

[tarakan]

Already that is a good sign, [ Hilbert points out, with a little sigh of relief. He's a bit tired of trying to work around being spied on by literally every insect on this ship. ]

[goingtobeunwell]

Mn. We'll see, won't we?

[There are other ways to isolate people, after all!]

Tomorrow, the midday meal.