video; @c.silva

[childofaxios]

[ When the video kicks in, it's clear that Chyler is in one of the Perimeter Guard's offices. She's standing close to the lens, adjusting the feed until it lines up to her satisfaction. Then she steps back and stands at attention.

For one brief, brief, oh-so-brief moment there's a flicker of exasperation on her face. Then she locks her gaze on nothing in particular and shouts like she's in the middle of a drill: ]

MY NAME IS CADET SILVA AND I AM A CLOCK.

[ A pause, oh-so-brief a pause, but her expression doesn't waver this time. ]

IF AT ANY POINT YOU REQUIRE THE LOCAL TIME, IT IS MY DUTY TO PROVIDE IT DOWN TO THE SECOND. I AM REQUIRED TO DO THIS REGARDLESS OF WHERE I AM OR WHAT I AM DOING AT THE TIME OF YOUR REQUEST.

IF AT ANY POINT I REFUSE, PLEASE INFORM PERIMETER GUARD SQUAD LEADER JOHN SHEPPARD OF RR-1.

[ Chyler snaps off a salute, then reaches forward and turns off the feed with equal crispness. ]

Comments

@just.marco; text

[brightline]

suddenly.

I feel the need to know the time.

like constantly

video

[childofaxios]

[ She could reply with text. She could. But then he wouldn't get her deadpan stare directly into the camera. ]

Ten-o-eight-o-one. O-two. O-three. O-four. O-five. O-six.

[ SHE'S JUST GONNA KEEP GOING DUDE. ]

text

[brightline]

has anyone ever told you you have a pretty voice?

video;

[childofaxios]

[ Now her deadpan is a glare. ]

O-ten. O-eleven. O-twelve.

text;

[brightline]

fine fine. as much as I like the fact you totally can't shut me down when you're counting, I don't need the time THAT bad.

video; @cphantom

[sweetlies]

[This almost reminds him of accumulating y's back at Weston. Almost. Telling the time and writing out latin poems is very different. Annoying punishments all the same.]

So what did you do?

text;

[childofaxios]

I have no idea what you mean.

[ BULLLLLLSHIIIIIIII-- ]

text;

[sweetlies]

[Calling the bluff!]

You've made it clear this is a punishment.

And it's something you deserve, judging from the fact that you'd gone through with this.

[childofaxios]

It doesn't matter if it's deserved or not. It's an order, I'm following it.

private text; @a.holdo

[protectingthelight]

[ Text so that Chyler won't see that Amilyn is really really struggling to keep a straight face. She's made people do things like this before. At the same time, she is reminded in an oblique way of her and Leia's girlhood, where they themselves had to grow up a little too fast. ]

Can I ask how you got yourself into this fix, Cadet Silva?

permathat

[childofaxios]

Excessive honesty.

[ At least she's acclimated enough to how many civilians there are here that she's not adding sir to the end of every statement made to a stranger THERE'S IRONY FOR YOU I GUESS. ]

[protectingthelight]

For some officers, a little of that quality does indeed go a long way.

How long are you in for?

[childofaxios]

[ Something about that statement says this person speaks from experience, which means military, which means... whoops. Still, it's a private conversation, so she feels slightly more confident in her sass. ]

Until he remembers he told me to do it. Most likely.

May I ask to whom I'm speaking?

[ A person can be sassy and polite. ]

text; un: Snowpiercer

[peacemongering]

There is a story behind this, and I am very inclined to hear it.

Cadet Silva, I was of the mind when we met that you adhered rather well to protocol.
I'm pleasantly surprised to see you in this predicament.

[childofaxios]

[ A quick network search tells her who she's talking to, which automatically shifts the way she responds up several notches of respectfulness. ]

Sir, I'm afraid I don't understand.

[peacemongering]

[He clearly is one of the few that earns 'sir'.]

Most Cadets don't speak so honestly that they earn a punishment.

[childofaxios]

You think that's a good thing? That I did?

video. un: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

Did you get caught by an adult saying things you shouldn't?

[Spoken with eyerolling eloquence; her teacher had made her to something not quite this, but similar enough — public service announcements, that is. It was terrible.]

video;

[childofaxios]

[ Chyler bites her lip so she doesn't laugh. ]

I said things to an adult that I shouldn't have. But for what it's worth, I don't think Susan should have insulted your accent, either.

video;

[shoplifter]

She is terrible and I hope she drops lunch on her shirt.

[A very nice comment, compared to what people could say otherwise, okay!]

I think adults need to be spoken to the same way. They don't get special treatment.

[I punched my dad in the face once, it was therapeutic.]

[childofaxios]

[ Help Chyler wants to take this small ferocious child home or possibly introduce her to John. ]

Commander Sheppard is my boss. I have to respect him.

[ She lowers her voice as though her whispering it will somehow make this private and not viewable by the whole network. ]

He even earns it, most of the time. Don't tell him I said so.

{ Video; @potentia.regere }

[earlofphantoms]

How kind of you! { It's not kindness, Vincent. } What time is it?

[childofaxios]

[ With perfect crispness: ]

The current time is o-two fifty three o-seven.

[earlofphantoms]

How perfectly precise! { He is going to ask for the time a lot. Sorry. } I would expect no less from a clock.

[childofaxios]

[ Somewhere, John Sheppard is laughing and knows exactly why. ]

Thank you, sir.

[ BECAUSE WHAT ELSE CAN SHE SAY. She's a clock now this is her life. ]