commander's log 003 | voice;

[chakotay]

[ today has chakotay not yet asleep. this is hardly much of a surprise considering what's been going on lately. it isn't affecting him as badly as some people, but the way everyone's been reacting to it is definitely setting his nerves on edge. so that's why he's decided to make this hopefully encouraging transmission. ]

I know a lot has been happening lately. It seems like most of the City is cursed or seeing things that otherwise might not be real. I know it seems difficult. But we'll get through this. If [ his understanding of ancient earth culture ] memory serves and this place follows some of the rules, this sort of thing shouldn't last much longer. All we need to do is--

[ guess who just walked out of his room and into the apartment's living room to see... his captain... reading a physics book. ]

...Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have a doctorate in quantum physics?

Quantum Cosmology, but it's all relatively within the same field. [ people familiar with her will recognize the voice of kathryn janeway. ]

Then why are you reading a physics book?

I'm not. I'm correcting it. [ they can't see it, but she's holding up a red marker she's been going to town with on the poor outdated textbook. ] The science of the time is, well... painfully behind.

[ well that's new. ] I guess there are worse ways to spend your time.

I thought about trying out a few recipes, but suspected there might be a round of protests.

Only a few, I would think. If you feel like entertaining me with how you've corrected your physics book, I'll make dinner. [ if you people listening think he's grinning, he totally is. his voice is entirely amused. ]

You always make dinner.

[ he chuckles in amusement at that. ] Let me finish this and we can argue about dinner.

[ all he receives in response to that is a warm laugh, because they both know if there's an argument to be had, she'll emerge the victor. in return, he turns back to his communication to finish it. ]

As I was saying, I believe we can all make it through whatever curse is happening this month. We just need to do it together. Find people you can trust or whose company you enjoy and talk about the good things you can remember. We'll make it through this. Just keep that in mind.

[ and that's it. he's turning off the phone so he can "argue" with kathryn about dinner and her book. ]

Comments

Video

[mightbeconcussed]

Okay, you are both seriously adorable.

voice;

[chakotay]

[ nooope. so not going there. ]

I think someone might disagree with you.

[ even if he sounds amused. ]

voice;

[mightbeconcussed]

Kathryn has repression and denial issues.

[ In other words she doesn't like alcohol or swimming. ]

voice;

[chakotay]

Somehow I don't think that's the case. She's doing just fine.

[ NOT THE ISSUE, CHAKOTAY. and dodging the issue isn't going to help the issue. ]

filtered to Lucy // unhackable (but maybe not to all of the other space-future geniuses)

[candothat]

Lucy, Ja--eh, Kathryn is a well-respected Starfleet captain from my future and, in the City, one of my superiors. Please don't discuss this where she can see it!

[NOT HERE]

[hischair]

[ omg it's okay Chekov's Girlfriend jim will speak at your funeral, you brave soul

totally watching this from afar ]

voice;

[directives]

[ oh, lucy. that was a mistake. ]

I don't recall authorizing a psychiatric evaluation, especially from someone not licensed to do so.

video | starfleet encryption »

[medicos]

Inspiring words, Commander.

[ don't mind him. it's a habit to put up encryptions when he's talking to fellow starfleet officers, even when the subject at hand is something as mundane as cooking or reading. ]

Anyway, there ain't nothin' wrong with your captain reading up on this time period's literature, and if she's correcting them, then all the better. I do the same with the some of the medical texts I've found. Didn't really sink in just how far back in time we are until I've read some of the stuff they consider acceptable medical practices.

[ god you just don't know how angry this makes him. or maybe you do. ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[chakotay]

Not the first time I've heard that.

[ he does not mind at all and that's why he lets it remain video for the moment. after kathryn's memory playing over the whole network, he's avoiding direct shows. he knows it's only a matter of time before khan realizes he's starfleet, too, but why broadcast it yet? he can keep it hush hush for now and deny it if asked. ]

I think she might agree with you. I haven't yet taken a look at them myself, but I'm beginning to think some of these would make even my head spin.

[ oh he could probably guess. the emh would have a field day, he's sure. ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[medicos]

You definitely would need to sit down before you do some light reading.

[ because reading about complicated scientific terms is considered light reading for starfleet officers. ]

If you are planning to read medical texts, try reading them last, and don't look at the pictures.

[ that bad, chakotay. it's that bad. ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[chakotay]

[ that's really bad. welp. ]

I'll keep that in mind. Have you gotten your hands on one with a red pen yet?

[ aka has he marked one up like kathryn's doing to this poor physics book? ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[hischair]

There's some cold leftover toast here, if you guys are hungry.

[ And not especially ... picky. It's all he could make with his arm all lacerated by crazy cursed bastards! Pardon the sight of somewhat blood-spotted, hap-hazard bandages he's swirled around those cuts while he waits for Bones to get home. ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[chakotay]

I don't know. I'll have to ask Kathryn.

[ he raises an eyebrow at the sight. that looks nasty. ]

Maybe I should be asking you if you need dinner. [ and also a medic. where's bones. ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[hischair]

This? It's fine, washed and dressed. Wouldn't suggest a stroll in the park right now, though.

[ He's not saying the blood in the corridor between the Enterprise and Voyager apartments is his

but

it's totally his. Oops? ]

video | starfleet encryption »

[chakotay]

And your doctor is letting you walk around like that?

[ ... captains. ]

voice;

[hexuality]

[LOOK AT YOU TWO.]

Of all the solutions I've heard, spending time with friends and reminiscing about the good old days is a first. At least, when it comes to curses like this. Usually it's lock your doors, arm yourselves, remember they're still people and just cursed... Very cheerful of you.

[And look who finally doesn't sound cheerful since that last curse.]

voice;

[chakotay]

[ NO DON'T. there's nothing going on here, ginny. nothing at all. ]

You sound surprised. It's the sort of solution I would come up with.

[ he is such a pacifist when he's not running around being an angry warrior. ]

Even with a curse like this, I hope a little optimism and cheer can help.

voice;

[hexuality]

As long as people stay safe, I don't care what they do.

voice;

[chakotay]

If they stay safe and sound and don't threaten anyone else in the process, I have to agree. But all the same, I'd like to keep up morale as best we can.

[ neelix isn't here to do that job after all, and chakotay is beginning to miss the little things and all the people they had on voyager. ]

[deadmanbusiness]

I don't know if it's a curse so much as a build up of forces using the extra we'll call it dark or negative energy that happens around Halloween. It's definitely being funneled into the curses, but it's not a curse - at least as the City usually sees it.

It more than likely has to do with that cabin that appeared on the first.

Also, my brother-in-law corrects physics books sometimes when he's bored. There's really nothing you can do.

[chakotay]

But it's affecting a lot of the residents like a curse would, isn't it? Are we expecting it to stick around until after Halloween?

[ because if so, it's going to be a loooong month. ]

I'm planning on buying her new pens. I think she'll need them.

[deadmanbusiness]

It is, yes. The problem with Halloween and October in general at least for worlds that celebrate it, is that it is a thinning of the walls between here and the hereafter. Undead and necromancers like myself are generally more powerful during October because it's fueled by the people's belief that ghosts and spirits are supposed to come out and the actual thinning of the wall. Halloween itself is a ... repairing of the wall. It's the night where people actually - despite everything - believe they're safest from the undead because they trick the ghoulies into thinking they're one of them. So that sudden belief reversal closes off the gap.

At least this is how it works in my world. I would think that something similar is happening here. There is the thinning of the wall and people's feeling of dread is making things worse. Something or someone could be using it to fuel the curses into something a bit more... dreadful than usual. It's sort of like a feedback loop. People are afraid, so it builds up more energy that the users can use to make people afraid... etc.

So my guess is that it will be building up until Halloween. If it stays after Halloween? I don't know. It depends on if whatever it is is causing this gets their spell off correctly or not. Hopefully not. I mean I don't mind the extra power boost but I would like to be able to sleep.

[Tl:dr Theo. TL:DR Theo... of course this is his area of expertise. So, you have to give him that.]

If the book she is using is that antiquated then yes, probably. You might want to try giving her different color pens. We got Adrian some sparkly gel pens. He used different colors for different kinds of mistakes and rude comments.

[hairdu]

Sounds like good advice. In theory.

[Yes, this teenager is cranky from sleep deprivation.]

[chakotay]

A lot of advice is good if people can focus long enough to take it.

[ that's okay. he kind of understands. ]

[hairdu]

The focusing is kinda the hard part right now.