Post by Threid on Mar 10, 2010 0:16:48 GMT -5
Kyle looked over his list of notable people, focusing this time on those in the 87th Integrated Fleet. He'd maintained such a list from his first day at the academy; it was useful to know about important people and what they were known for. Plus, if he ever met them, he wouldn't be caught flat-footed.
That, and he loved lists - those compact, straightforwardly-organized bits of information, funneling knowledge quickly into the heads of those who read them. If it were up to him, every fleet would have a published "who's who" list. But, as it wasn't, he contented himself with compiling his own.
His methodology was simple: When he had heard enough about someone to form a general opinion, he added him or her to the list. He then sought out the person personally, to add interaction-based personal observations. Finally, he modified the person's priority number, based on how interesting he or she was. Five was neutral, 1 repulsive, and 10 incredibly-interesting; Dr. Minovsky was privileged with an 11. The number tended to correlate with how likely they were to become friends, though there were exceptions. Kyle had occasionally met people he found intensely interesting who spurned his company; he'd also found himself hanging out with those he'd initially assigned low ratings. It wasn't perfect, but it was a system, and Kyle liked systems. He laid the list of well-known 87th personnel in front of him:
Bigby Wolfe, Corporal
Word-of-Mouth: Outgoing, semi-sloppy womanizer with a big mouth and a knockout mechanic.
Observations: A bit rough around the edges, but has a soft spot for skirts, apparently. Likes to have a good time, but goes a bit overboard.
Priority: 7
Jack Murphey, Corporal
Word-of-Mouth: Wheelchair-bound and keeps mostly to himself.
Observations: -
Priority: 6
Edmund Blackadder, Private E1
Word-of-Mouth: Cocky, crazy, conspiracy-theorizing compulsive gambler.
Observations: -
Priority: 4
Seth Yamanu, Staff Sergeant
Word-of-Mouth: Salt-crazy hippie herbalist and homeopath.
Observations: -
Priority: 6
Thomas Parks, Corporal
Word-of-Mouth: New guy.
Observations: -
Priority: 5
Aaron McCaskey, Captain
Word-of-Mouth: Tank squad leader, built like a tank; cares for his mustache.
Observations: -
Priority: 5
Jarvis Ackart, 1st Lieutenant
Word-of-Mouth: Handsome, emo rich boy.
Observations: -
Priority: 4
Woefully incomplete. He hadn't met most of the people on the list, and had decided earlier that he should. In a rare spurt of interpersonal initiative, Kyle had decided to introduce himself to as many of the people on the list as he could. He'd sensed that the mechanics were getting tired of his helping - or "meddling," they frequently joked - and there wasn't much new material to read in the science department.
His plan had been simple, albeit somewhat direct: He planned a party. Invitations had been sent to those on the list, inviting them and a friend of their choice to "An exclusive evening of food, drink and entertainment at The Hopping Hare, on the house." He'd chosen the Hare because it was a relatively well-known area pub that hadn't been leveled in the recent assault, and was, somewhat-surprisingly, Fed-friendly. He had made arrangements for food, drinks and entertainment with the owner already, paid for with his modest salary.
He was confident in his strategy. Those who weren't good-natured enough to accept the invitation would be lured by food; those not attracted by food might be lured by drink. The entertainment, provided by some reputedly-sexy, up-and-coming lounge singer, would probably convince any fence-sitters. And if anyone still spurned his invitation? Well, Kyle hadn't decided whether that made them more, or less interesting. He'd check the RSVP notes he'd received later.
In any case, it was time to go. Kyle donned what he considered to be his best set of civvies, tucked a folded copy of his list and a fresh pen into his back pocket, and practically bolted out the door. It was going to be an interesting night.
That, and he loved lists - those compact, straightforwardly-organized bits of information, funneling knowledge quickly into the heads of those who read them. If it were up to him, every fleet would have a published "who's who" list. But, as it wasn't, he contented himself with compiling his own.
His methodology was simple: When he had heard enough about someone to form a general opinion, he added him or her to the list. He then sought out the person personally, to add interaction-based personal observations. Finally, he modified the person's priority number, based on how interesting he or she was. Five was neutral, 1 repulsive, and 10 incredibly-interesting; Dr. Minovsky was privileged with an 11. The number tended to correlate with how likely they were to become friends, though there were exceptions. Kyle had occasionally met people he found intensely interesting who spurned his company; he'd also found himself hanging out with those he'd initially assigned low ratings. It wasn't perfect, but it was a system, and Kyle liked systems. He laid the list of well-known 87th personnel in front of him:
Bigby Wolfe, Corporal
Word-of-Mouth: Outgoing, semi-sloppy womanizer with a big mouth and a knockout mechanic.
Observations: A bit rough around the edges, but has a soft spot for skirts, apparently. Likes to have a good time, but goes a bit overboard.
Priority: 7
Jack Murphey, Corporal
Word-of-Mouth: Wheelchair-bound and keeps mostly to himself.
Observations: -
Priority: 6
Edmund Blackadder, Private E1
Word-of-Mouth: Cocky, crazy, conspiracy-theorizing compulsive gambler.
Observations: -
Priority: 4
Seth Yamanu, Staff Sergeant
Word-of-Mouth: Salt-crazy hippie herbalist and homeopath.
Observations: -
Priority: 6
Thomas Parks, Corporal
Word-of-Mouth: New guy.
Observations: -
Priority: 5
Aaron McCaskey, Captain
Word-of-Mouth: Tank squad leader, built like a tank; cares for his mustache.
Observations: -
Priority: 5
Jarvis Ackart, 1st Lieutenant
Word-of-Mouth: Handsome, emo rich boy.
Observations: -
Priority: 4
Woefully incomplete. He hadn't met most of the people on the list, and had decided earlier that he should. In a rare spurt of interpersonal initiative, Kyle had decided to introduce himself to as many of the people on the list as he could. He'd sensed that the mechanics were getting tired of his helping - or "meddling," they frequently joked - and there wasn't much new material to read in the science department.
His plan had been simple, albeit somewhat direct: He planned a party. Invitations had been sent to those on the list, inviting them and a friend of their choice to "An exclusive evening of food, drink and entertainment at The Hopping Hare, on the house." He'd chosen the Hare because it was a relatively well-known area pub that hadn't been leveled in the recent assault, and was, somewhat-surprisingly, Fed-friendly. He had made arrangements for food, drinks and entertainment with the owner already, paid for with his modest salary.
He was confident in his strategy. Those who weren't good-natured enough to accept the invitation would be lured by food; those not attracted by food might be lured by drink. The entertainment, provided by some reputedly-sexy, up-and-coming lounge singer, would probably convince any fence-sitters. And if anyone still spurned his invitation? Well, Kyle hadn't decided whether that made them more, or less interesting. He'd check the RSVP notes he'd received later.
In any case, it was time to go. Kyle donned what he considered to be his best set of civvies, tucked a folded copy of his list and a fresh pen into his back pocket, and practically bolted out the door. It was going to be an interesting night.
