RP Log: Lessons in leadership
| Roleplay Log | |
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| Participants: | |
Location(s):
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Stardate:
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| 2020-07-08 16:34 | |
- Combatant Storage <MVS Shawuso>
- This large compartment is filled with cells, each with bars on the walls, floor, and ceiling, but also oddly, all the doors are open. The combatants have free reign to wander around this compartment, but most seem to keep to themselves.
- One area of the compartment is dedicated to the storage of the gear required for the arena. The most notable items are inline skates, elbow and knee pads, and helmets.
Ki'Vek is circling the room, hissing softly to herself but not really saying anything intelligible.
Sawyer returns from another circuit around the arena. he flops kinda in the middle of the floor, not really in one of the open-fronted cells and watches you pace for a minute.
Ki'Vek looks at Sawyer, but doesn't say anything at first. She keeps making her circuit. But when her route next brings her nearby she asks, "Did you enjoy your exercise, Doctor?" By the tone of her voice, you can tell that her mood hasn't improved at all.
You say, "Enjoy? No. It's something to do. You're getting some exercise in, yourself. Tell ya what, let's get our minds off of this mess. Tell me about your family. I don't have any idea what it's like growing up on Selay. If that's not a taboo question, of course."
Ki'Vek pauses for a moment to regard Sawyer, then continues her path. "My family it is what one would expect of a Selay family in the academic class. Nothing truly remarkable or unexpected... except for me."
Sawyer smiles. "I have no idea what one expects in any Selay family. What makes you different?"
Vinuk arrives carrying another tray of food. Fruits, vegetables, some nuts. There is a pitcher of water as well, but no new cups.
"I refused to follow the expected path that was set before me," the Selay answers. "My family they are all scholars, academics, professors and the like. I... am not." She nods as if that explains everything and moves on along her circuit.
"You liked to get your hands dirty. Or is it that you went military?" he asks.
Vinuk says to Ki'vek, "You never eat?"
Ki'Vek stops and eyes the tray of plant things. "I never eat /that/," she says, pointing at it with a jut of her chin. To Sawyer she says, "The former." She continues pacing until she reaches a corner and finally stops moving. She coils up and settles into and unsettled stack of coils.
Sawyer is sprawled on the floor, trying to help the Selay get her mind off things. It may not be working so well. To Vinuk he adds, "Ensign Ki'vek's people have ... very different dietary needs. So far, they've not served us anything her body can really use."
Vinuk asks, "There have been others in the past that had other needs. It was sometimes grudgingly provided. What do you want?" he asks Ki'Vek.
Vinuk says, "If history is any indication though, they will wait until after the next match. They do not care if you are tired, only alive, and if you die during the match, there is no future need."
"I would not give them the satisfaction of eating anything they provided," Ki'Vek almost spits. "Even if it /were/ something I could digest."
Sawyer frowns. "Ensign, that won't work," the doctor says. "I won't want to see you starving yourself for the sake of your own pride. You're not here to prove a point to anyone."
Jiemba enters from the arena and looks among the people gathered, "How's everyone doing?" he asks. "How's spirits?"
Ki'Vek's pupils narrow, but she makes no response to either Sawyers declaration or Anewan's question.
Sawyer looks up at Anewan. "Well, it's not the MGM Grand on Risa, so there's that. I ain't seen any spirits in a long while, so if you come across any, bring the bottle."
Jiemba nods, "Oo..Kk..." he looks over the room. "How much were you able to produce Ensign?"
"The ounce or so that I gave you it should be sufficient," the cranky Selay answers. "Unless you expect me to deplete myself completely."
Jiemba blinks a few times, "Well...no...no I don't. I am hopeing that we can get you to also bite. You know...multiple attack angles and such," he rubs his temples.
Sawyer finally seems to lose patience. He stands up and jerks a thumb at the door. "Lieutenant, we need to talk. Medical business. Come with me please."
Jiemba looks between the people in the room and turns to follow.
- Combat Arena <MVS Shawuso>
Sawyer walks to a far corner and turns to face you. he glares. "Dammit, Lieutenant, what are ya trying to do, drive all your people into caniption fits?"
Jiemba blinks a few more times then says, "What?"
Sawyer obviously gets a grip on himself and speaks quietly. "Look, Lieutenant. I know you wana bust outa here. I know ya wana have a plan. I get that. But right now, we don't have a plan. Right now, what we've got are a bunch of scared people who think they might not live too much longer, and they may be right. Have you noticed Ki'vek lately?"
Jiemba shakes his head, "I just noticed that she was not in the best mood."
Sawyer nods. "Know why? She's starving to death. She can't eat what they're giving us." The doctor lets that hang. "She's also scared, young, and feeling like shit because she thinks her being noticed on the planet got us into this mess. She thinks she could have done more to attack that Sam fella and she feels like she's let us down. And she's not the only one feeling down on life right now." he circles around you. "You need a new approach, lieutenant. I haven't heard you thank her for the vennum. not one time. I haven't heard ya tell her that trying to take out that fellow was a good try. I haven't heard you say those things."
Jiemba frowns and says, "Really? She thinks its her fault?" Anewan considers this for a moment then says, "I thought we were all on the same page about brainstorming on a way to get out. I just don't want anyone to give up because we can't rely on waiting for help to come. I will do those things Doctor," he pauses for another moment then says, "Vinuk has given up, and I don't want any of us to adopt the attitude."
Sawyer nods. "I know ya don't. And we shouldn't give up either hope or give up trying. But you need to understand, Jiemba, that leading isn't just about devisin' the next plan or brainstorming the next option. That's part of it. But right now, you've got half this bunch thinking you're a heartless SOB trying to either build a reputation or work your ego." A beat. "Me? I don't think so. I think you're young, and trying to do the right thing. So I'm here to tell you that part of leadership is giving praise, comfort, or reassurance to the people who need it. That's the part you're neglecting, and right now, that's the more important part. Even more important than figuring out a plan. Do you follow me?"
Jiemba nods, "I follow you Doctor. But believe me, I am just trying to get out of here," he pauses to think again. "Again, I thought we were all on the same page."
"You thought wrong," the doctor tells you. "At least partially. Everyone wants to get outa here. That's true. And everyone's doing their best. In that sense, we're on that page. but the page you need to get on, Lieutenant, is the empathy, encouragement side of leadership page. It's not that everyone else needs to do more, Jiemba. You do. Ok? So let's go back in there, and you can start with Ki'vek. K?"
Jiemba nods and heads back towards the Storage Room.
- Combatant Storage <MVS Shawuso>
Jiemba enters again with the Doctor in tow and announces to the room, "OK guys. I have a few things to say."
Ki'Vek turns her head to listen.
Sawyer sprawls back on the floor, listening.
Jiemba rubs his chin, "I have not been doing my job well. One of the ways I respond to stress is laser focus and to goal orient. I feel like it is my job to get us out of here, to try to protect everyone. Being the eldest of a large family and an even larger extended family my feelings or how I felt was never an issue because I have to do what I needed to do. I apolgize first to you Ensign," he turns towards Ki'Vek. "I have asked a lot of you and praised you none because of a lack of empathy for your experience. I thank you for your recon work. I thank You for your venom and I thank you for your expertise and appreciate your value," he turns to Samar. "You as well Chief, I just want to get out of here. I thank you for your protection," then he turns towards the Doctor, "I thank you for your experience and advice."
Jiemba continues, "We were captured because the race of this 'Sam' is a species that we have run into before," he says now speaking to the whole group. "They are known slavers or people traders. They are always looking for trusting souls to take advantage of. We had a group captured by them on Nova Station I believe. This was no ones fault, we all simply trusted the wrong person," he pauses then he adds. "We are indeed in a very difficult situation with no current means of escape or even helping someone find us or even know where the other members of our away team is. I have been thinking only of that...and I apologize to everyone about that," he walks over and kneels next to Ki'Vek and says in a softer voice, "Ensign, you not eating doesn't help anyone. When you said that you needed to eat only every few days, I was certain that we would be out of here before that and put it in the back of my mind. If we can get you food, you really need to eat. Being in the state that you are helps no one. We all need you to make smart and unexpected attempts like you did before to get out of here."
A ripple runs through the length of Ki'Vek's body and she shoots a look at the Doctor. She returns her attention to Anewan but stays silent for a long few seconds. Finally she says, "If something I can digest it is presented, I will eat." Her tone is displeased, but determined... or at least resigned. She continues, "But if what our furry friend here he says is correct, they aren't likely to waste their time and other resources on specialty food items before the next fight."
Sawyer just smiles placidly up at the ceiling. Then, as if getting an idea, he walks over to the tray and picks up two fruits. he tosses one to Anewan and starts eating the other one.
Jiemba catches the fruit and takes a bite himself as considers the Selay for a long moment then looks at the Doctor, "We can only ask," he pauses.
Vinuk asks, "What do you eat, grains?"
"I eat meat," Ki'Vek says, still a bit irritably. "Rodentary, preferably."
You say, "You need it to be alive, right Ki'vek? Or is that just a preference?"
Vinuk growls ever so slightly in Ki'Vek's direction. "How big?" him being a marsupial, he isn't far off from being a rodent in some eyes, certainly the Consortium.
Jiemba looks between the two, "I think you may be a bit to large Vinuk."
Ki'Vek shakes her head. "Live it would be... a delicacy, but not necessary. Just fresh and uncooked."