Step one of Finn's overall strategy is to definitely make sure he's got the right person first and foremost. He doesn't have an especially detailed strategy, and he's half not even sure what he's going to realistically accomplish with this, but by this point he really feels the need to commit so like. yolo. ]
Yeah, I think you can. I'm Finn. Standard patrol. I wanted to talk to you about something.
[ There's a brief hesitation. Chyler seemed okay with him doing this. Finn can't really make himself leave it. Still, he doesn't want to sound like he's aiming to shake the guy down or make threats. He's really not. Finn's sort of tapped out on the property treatment after a solid lifetime of it, for himself or another person, and he's particularly tapped out on the concept of going behind people's backs these days.
Step two of his plan, which he's making up on the fly right in this very moment lbr, is: ]
I have office hours if you want to talk recruitment, but I'm guessing this is personal.
[Finn. The name isn’t unfamiliar. He’s heard John’s heard Poe mention a Finn, but there could be another.
As someone named John, he doesn’t usually make assumptions of identity based on given names.]
Are we talking waffles, or chicken and waffles? Because I already had waffles for breakfast this week, and they’re a like- not a love, but I’m willing to bend for chicken.
[ He fails to see how chicken makes a difference here. But it probably took him forever to adjust to chicken as a thing that exists in general, so he knows that isn't saying much.
Finn realizes he has no idea if that's on the menu. ]
No promises. But if we can't make it happen, there are other places out there. I'm not exactly picky.
[ What do you mean it's mixed signals to say you know a good place and then to immediately say you've got low standards. If this were video, Finn would just kinda shrug, the ultimate wordless "idk man it's gonna be what it's gonna be" communication method.
Instead he fires off the address and an ETA, which he almost immediately follows with a text that says something like if this isn't a good time, we can reschedule, because he realizes belatedly that sometimes... people have plans already made for their day, or meetings they're supposed to get to or something. He maybe just kicked down this guy's proverbial door? Which is not the ideal.
But if John finds it amenable, Finn will be there waiting, keeping his eyes peeled for anyone that might be vaguely familiar from the Perimeter Guard, or who looks like they're nebulously walking in to find a stranger. I'd say he's chillin, but he has no chill to spare. He's straight-backed and very still compared to the vibes any other patrons are generally giving off. ]
[He shoots back a simple confirmation. Clearing his schedule for an hour takes all of clicking a few buttons on his calendar, and bumping off a pile of paperwork to Chyler's desk.
John is flexible. That's why he's good at what he does, and why he expects the same capability from others. All the strength and smarts in the world don't mean a damn thing if they can't be practically applied where and when they're needed, yesterday.
He knows exactly who he's looking for, because he took the time to search 'Finn' in the PG Standard Patrol database. Turns out there's only one Finn. The pros and cons of an unpopular name.
John picks him out immediately. He's a perfect match to the photo, and the only person in the waffle joint who looks like he's waiting to be court-martialed.]
Finn? John Sheppard. Nice to meet you.
[John slides into the both across from him with an easy smile. Finn doesn't have to wonder if he's armed, his side-arm is strapped to his thigh over his uniform in full view.]
For a guy who isn't picky, you're looking pretty serious about these waffles.
Edited (phone tagging and I cut a piece off!!) Date: 2018-01-26 10:55 pm (UTC)
[ Finn doesn't smile back. He also doesn't try to hide the fact that he's making some of his own on-sight assessments. At the very, very least, John Sheppard doesn't give off the same air as anyone he grew up under.
That doesn't always mean much. But it's a start. ]
I've got your order in. Wasn't sure what you drink, so they're gonna check back. [ oh wait ] It's good to meet you, too. I appreciate it.
[ Well, he can cross 'get called an efficient young man' off on his life experience bingo card. Sorry bro, he heard chicken and waffles and he was like time to gun this and get it over with as quickly as possible.
The waitress gives him a thumbs up and an "anything else?", all of which she will presumably take into account before she leaves to get it. She also glances to Finn, who lifts a hand and shakes his head to indicate that he's good.
Cut to the chase. Cutting to the chase is usually the best plan. Finn takes a couple of seconds to think. ]
Chyler Silva took a place in your unit.
[ He hesitates. Folds his hands on the table. Leans forward and chooses earnestness over implied threats or vague terminology. ]
Frankly, I think she could probably put either of us down in less than thirty seconds if she wanted to. She's good. [ I mean he's not gonna lie about that, he's pretty sure she could murder them. ] But I consider Chyler a friend. I take that seriously. If you're her commanding officer, you're part of her team. I don't--
[ Want her to end up like him. Even though their situations are wildly different, even though he hasn't seen a hint of something like that happening to anyone in the Perimeter Guard, and anybody can leave, and they're all about as far and removed from the First Order as anyone can get.
Power is a tool even one person can use, though. It only takes one person. He hasn't forgotten that. But he can't just say it, doesn't want to level it like an accusation. John's been more than agreeable by showing up at all. He hasn't done anything wrong. Finn reels himself in. ]
I don't know what kind of person you are. I want to get a feel for it. That's all.
[John rubs at his jaw absently, doing his absolute best to hide his smile creeping onto his face beneath his hand. John's not laughing at Finn. Really. He respects where he's coming from. He's just happy Chyler's made a friend. If the girl needs a helping hand anywhere, it's with her social skills. John would know, being poorly socialized himself.]
She is good.
[He nods sagely. John will never put down anyone under his command, and it's easy not to do, because he'll never recruit a candidate he doesn't personally believe to be competent, capable, trustworthy, and ultimately worthy of his respect.
Chyler Silva is green, and she has a lot to learn and unlearn, but it's her willingness to learn that makes her stand out from the crowd. John has no room in his team for soldiers who can't think for themselves, and learn from their experiences. If he wanted an army of deadly drones, he'd jack himself a few Replicators.
Could she gun John down? No, he doesn't think so. Because she would hesitate, and he wouldn't. That's the difference two wars worth of experience makes. John's killed a lot of people. More people than he can count. He's hurt people, too. Sometimes on purpose, creatively, and over long periods of time. Until he was no longer their interrogator, but their best friend, and they thanked him with tears in their eyes for the opportunity to tell him what he wanted to know.
Chyler couldn't kill him, or Finn, and that's why he wants her. Because she'll go on to do great things, and if he has any say in it, she won't lose her soul in the process. John will be there for her the way no one was there for him. To tell her when the price is worth paying, and when it isn't.
John doesn't comment on that, though. It's a discussion for her and him when the time comes. If they're both lucky, it won't.]
I am her commanding officer, and we are a team. That means I'd put my life on the line for her, and I'm sure she'd do the same for me.
As for what kind of person I am... Well, I'm about what you'd expect for a guy who's seen as much action as I have. Am I a good person? I'd say that's relative, and it depends who you ask.
The important thing is I'm good to my people, and I'll always put them first, before anything else. I recruited Chyler because I felt she'd be a strong addition to the team I want to build, and I think it'll be a good place for her to grow.
If you don't believe me, you can always see for yourself. Call it a job shadow.
[John leans back, smiling up at the waitress as she returns to their table with a heaping platter of chicken and waffles.]
Well whaddya know. Looks like there's enough for two.
[ Finn doesn't so much as move to interrupt while John answers. This is what he came here for. His expression is sharp, but not skeptical.
It's a good answer. It's straightforward and honest, and addresses the points that were arguably of higher concern to him than others: what kind of teammate John Sheppard is, what kind of leader. He says he's good to his people, and a little bit of the tension in Finn's shoulders slacks off instantly, because in his experience that's a defining point. Good to his people, not something removed like 'fair to his soldiers.'
Sometimes someone has to be able to remove themselves, maybe, sometimes they have to shift things and push down to push through, and that's one thing. Their teammates are their people, still. That's important. He doesn't subscribe to the philosophy of 'weak links' and 'extensions of a greater will' anymore. He doesn't believe in letting one of his people fall behind when he can help them work through what they might fall short on.
It matters that Chyler Silva is a person. ]
Sure you're okay with a shadow? I could take you on your word at this point.
[ Finn's been known to form fast opinions on people, and this marks no exception. His instincts generally haven't failed him enough to make him troubleshoot his methods yet. John Sheppard isn't lying. He's fine. Case more or less closed.
Also, this is two for two on meeting someone here to try to figure them out only to have them share their waffles. He's not sure what to do with that information yet?? He's not sure he wants to risk it turning into a pattern if he wants to figure a third person out someday. Maybe waffle places aren't going to be his go-to in the future. ]
Oh, I'm sure. I mean, what's the worst that can happen?
[John smirks around the crunch of a piece of chicken.
He's made up his mind. He likes Finn. The kid gives him a good vibe. How someone treats their friends says a lot about them as a person.
John hasn't seen Finn in action yet, but if he's from the same universe as Poe, he's seen war, and that makes him more experienced than half the people in the PG. He'll give Finn's file more than a cursory read when he's back at the office, not that John really expects a pile of paperwork to tell him anything of real value about a person.
That's always been John's biggest struggle when it comes to building a team. He doesn't trust grades, letter recommendations, or medals. He needs to see people in action. To talk to them, learn who they are, and see if that person changes when bullets start to fly.
Something tells him what you see is what you get, with Finn. He's not certain he knows to be any other way. There's an honesty about him, a purity, almost, that reminds John of Chyler. It makes sense that they get along.]
Best case scenario: I like you, you like me, you join my team.
Worst case scenario: You get shot, and I feel really bad about it.
[ That gets a huff of a laugh out of him. That is pretty fair, as far as worst case scenarios go. He's a worst case scenario person.
He doesn't know too much about the specifics of this team yet, but between having time to dig around and shadowing, Finn figures it won't take too long to get his head wrapped around some of the details. And tbh now that he's done any form of laughing he's kind of left at the point where he sees no reason not to snag some waffle. He's already in the hole on this conversation. He might as well. ]
If I get myself shot, try to take a pass. Pretty sure I'd either feel bad enough for both of us or I wouldn't really care.
Yeah, I'd say getting shot tends to be pretty all or nothing.
[As in you live, or you don't. Something John's sure Finn is well aware of. The kid's got some salt to him. Gunpowder, too. That's a must to be on John's team. He doesn't have the time or inclination to train civilians turned hobby-guard, or eyes in the back of his head. When the mission goes south, which it almost always does when your environment and enemy are largely unknown, John needs people he can trust to execute his orders under pressure, as well as use their own judgment should those orders no longer apply.
When it comes down to it, you've seen war, or you haven't. There's no substitute for experience. No amount of reading, watching, or listening to other people talk about it can prepare you. Kind of like being shot, but on a much larger scale.
John skewers a piece of chicken and waffle on his fork, swirling it into a pool of syrup. He's glad Finn's eating. That means something. John doesn't eat when he doesn't trust people, either.]
I'm curious to know what you think of the Perimeter Guard.
[ Not quite a question, not quite a statement. It hovers somewhere in between. That's not really something people have asked him. Finn gives it a second, like he's either waiting for clarification or waiting for John to be like "actually never mind, I don't want to hear it." When it doesn't seem to be forthcoming, he goes ahead. ]
I think when I got here and said I had combat training, I didn't like that it was the first place I got pointed to. I think that happens to a lot of people who don't know much else and don't know they can ask for more options. But I also think that's a problem that runs a little higher up.
[ Honestly, once he was stable enough to leave the hospital and get the proper orientation, everything up to and including the hospital vending machines was shady as hell to Finn. He won't pretend otherwise.
Anyway, he's... got a lot of opinions incoming. He runs on having opinions about everything he can, really, because a little less than three months of of it has barely put a dent in 23 years of not knowing that he could have them at all. There's a difference between having opinions and making choices during a simulation. ]
I think the Perimeter Guard does the best it can to look out for this city with what it's got. Boot camp runs too short, even if you know already what you're doing. I can't figure out if there's a point to that or if they just want to get their numbers up faster. Doesn't seem like the best idea.
[ Small militias, though. What can you do. ]
I think it looks like a bad roster balance between standard patrol and special units on paper, but they put stock into cooperation and going where you're needed when they need it. It holds up fine. Unit cohesion is good, for the most part. I think the people are good, for the most part. [ There's no way every single person in this organization is gonna be inherently good or even easy to get along with, necessarily. ] I think I could leave if I wanted without having to watch my back over it, and the work's good enough that I can choose to stay. I think I've made myself useful.
[ He stops, tips his head to one side. ]
Best mess hall I've ever eaten in, too. As much as that's worth.
[Finn talks. John listens. He wouldn't have asked if he wasn't interested.
The kid has a lot to say. That speaks to strong observational skills, and a capacity for critical thinking. John's honestly impressed by his breakdown. Finn is sharper than he lets on, at any rate. Good for him. It's important to keep something in your pocket.]
It's worth something.
[John munches thoughtfully on his last bite of waffle, and washes it down with some coffee. Dabs at the corners of his mouth with the corners of an already crumpled up napkin. He doesn't like unnecessary mess. Finn will learn that about him when they work together.]
We're on the same page, more or less. The PG's got growing pains. You can tell they started as a group of rangers, a few skilled people to take care of the bad stuff outside the wall while law enforcement deals with people. Then the wall got bigger, the PG got bigger, but they're still operating to the same grass-roots standards.
It's good, in some ways. People new to this place might not respond well to a solid chain of command or regiment. They can't be expected to take a hard knee to people they don't know, and they can choose their level of commitment.
I think the reason us military types get pointed in this direction is because it's easier to keep an eye on us if we're all in the same place, and it keeps our trigger fingers from getting itchy. That said, the levels of experience and skill required to join are... all over the place.
They should probably implement a reserve force, we have something like that back home. People who want to help, and to learn, but don't necessarily have the right background or experience to be anything but a liability on the field. You train them like it's their job, and keep them in auxiliary for disaster relief, or god help us, support in theatre, until they meet the requirements of the regular forces.
I've been pretty picky about the people I'm asking to join my team for a reason. I'm not comfortable taking responsibility for the actions of untrained civilians with machine guns unless it's absolutely necessary. If they don't hurt themselves, they'll hurt someone else.
[ Finn absorbs his responses, interest written clearly across his face. He likes being able to lay out his opinions. He likes being able to hear others, too. It doesn't always line up well, sometimes leads more to argument than agreement, but provided it's not anything gravely serious, even that's not necessarily bad.
With what John has to say, he leans towards agreement easily enough. It's reasonable, and all more or less on the same page, like John said.
John's explanation of a reserve force sparks particular interest. Finn thinks of Slip, not for the first time, surely not for the last. Wonders for a brief moment if he could have fared better in something like that, even still attached to the First Order in some capacity.
(The idea washes away, as it always does, in the reality of knowing that the First Order would only ever section off stormtroopers like Slip in order to throw them away more quickly. Lower-tier cannon fodder. But it was nice to have the thought.)
Finn's mouth twitches into a brief, passable smile in spite of himself. ]
Yeah, well. Don't have to be picky to have good taste in food.
[ People always turn out more complicated. most importantly, finn will die to defend his right to eat vegetable-covered pizza and call it tasteful. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
audio; @finn
Date: 2018-01-26 04:31 am (UTC)[ It's a bird. It's a plane. It's some dude.
Step one of Finn's overall strategy is to definitely make sure he's got the right person first and foremost. He doesn't have an especially detailed strategy, and he's half not even sure what he's going to realistically accomplish with this, but by this point he really feels the need to commit so like. yolo. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 03:50 pm (UTC)Can I help you?
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 07:55 pm (UTC)[ There's a brief hesitation. Chyler seemed okay with him doing this. Finn can't really make himself leave it. Still, he doesn't want to sound like he's aiming to shake the guy down or make threats. He's really not. Finn's sort of tapped out on the property treatment after a solid lifetime of it, for himself or another person, and he's particularly tapped out on the concept of going behind people's backs these days.
Step two of his plan, which he's making up on the fly right in this very moment lbr, is: ]
Do you like waffles? I know a good place.
[ He knows exactly one waffle place. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 08:11 pm (UTC)[Finn. The name isn’t unfamiliar. He’s heard John’s heard Poe mention a Finn, but there could be another.
As someone named John, he doesn’t usually make assumptions of identity based on given names.]
Are we talking waffles, or chicken and waffles? Because I already had waffles for breakfast this week, and they’re a like- not a love, but I’m willing to bend for chicken.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 08:22 pm (UTC)Finn realizes he has no idea if that's on the menu. ]
No promises. But if we can't make it happen, there are other places out there. I'm not exactly picky.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 08:37 pm (UTC)[John isn’t picky either. The USAF set the bar so low with their MREs you could play competitive limbo with it.]
Shoot me an address and ETA. I’ll be there.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 10:28 pm (UTC)Instead he fires off the address and an ETA, which he almost immediately follows with a text that says something like if this isn't a good time, we can reschedule, because he realizes belatedly that sometimes... people have plans already made for their day, or meetings they're supposed to get to or something. He maybe just kicked down this guy's proverbial door? Which is not the ideal.
But if John finds it amenable, Finn will be there waiting, keeping his eyes peeled for anyone that might be vaguely familiar from the Perimeter Guard, or who looks like they're nebulously walking in to find a stranger. I'd say he's chillin, but he has no chill to spare. He's straight-backed and very still compared to the vibes any other patrons are generally giving off. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 10:51 pm (UTC)John is flexible. That's why he's good at what he does, and why he expects the same capability from others. All the strength and smarts in the world don't mean a damn thing if they can't be practically applied where and when they're needed, yesterday.
He knows exactly who he's looking for, because he took the time to search 'Finn' in the PG Standard Patrol database. Turns out there's only one Finn. The pros and cons of an unpopular name.
John picks him out immediately. He's a perfect match to the photo, and the only person in the waffle joint who looks like he's waiting to be court-martialed.]
Finn? John Sheppard. Nice to meet you.
[John slides into the both across from him with an easy smile. Finn doesn't have to wonder if he's armed, his side-arm is strapped to his thigh over his uniform in full view.]
For a guy who isn't picky, you're looking pretty serious about these waffles.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-26 11:53 pm (UTC)You should see me with oatmeal.
[ Finn doesn't smile back. He also doesn't try to hide the fact that he's making some of his own on-sight assessments. At the very, very least, John Sheppard doesn't give off the same air as anyone he grew up under.
That doesn't always mean much. But it's a start. ]
I've got your order in. Wasn't sure what you drink, so they're gonna check back. [ oh wait ] It's good to meet you, too. I appreciate it.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-27 12:08 am (UTC)That was very... thoughtful of you.
[John was about to open his menu, but now he'll just push it to one side.
So much for browsing.]
I'd say you're welcome, but I don't know what you want yet. You seem like an efficient young man, though, so why don't we cut to the chase.
[He flags down the waitress.] Coffee, black. Thanks
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-27 01:40 am (UTC)The waitress gives him a thumbs up and an "anything else?", all of which she will presumably take into account before she leaves to get it. She also glances to Finn, who lifts a hand and shakes his head to indicate that he's good.
Cut to the chase. Cutting to the chase is usually the best plan. Finn takes a couple of seconds to think. ]
Chyler Silva took a place in your unit.
[ He hesitates. Folds his hands on the table. Leans forward and chooses earnestness over implied threats or vague terminology. ]
Frankly, I think she could probably put either of us down in less than thirty seconds if she wanted to. She's good. [ I mean he's not gonna lie about that, he's pretty sure she could murder them. ] But I consider Chyler a friend. I take that seriously. If you're her commanding officer, you're part of her team. I don't--
[ Want her to end up like him. Even though their situations are wildly different, even though he hasn't seen a hint of something like that happening to anyone in the Perimeter Guard, and anybody can leave, and they're all about as far and removed from the First Order as anyone can get.
Power is a tool even one person can use, though. It only takes one person. He hasn't forgotten that. But he can't just say it, doesn't want to level it like an accusation. John's been more than agreeable by showing up at all. He hasn't done anything wrong. Finn reels himself in. ]
I don't know what kind of person you are. I want to get a feel for it. That's all.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-27 03:07 am (UTC)[John rubs at his jaw absently, doing his absolute best to hide his smile creeping onto his face beneath his hand. John's not laughing at Finn. Really. He respects where he's coming from. He's just happy Chyler's made a friend. If the girl needs a helping hand anywhere, it's with her social skills. John would know, being poorly socialized himself.]
She is good.
[He nods sagely. John will never put down anyone under his command, and it's easy not to do, because he'll never recruit a candidate he doesn't personally believe to be competent, capable, trustworthy, and ultimately worthy of his respect.
Chyler Silva is green, and she has a lot to learn and unlearn, but it's her willingness to learn that makes her stand out from the crowd. John has no room in his team for soldiers who can't think for themselves, and learn from their experiences. If he wanted an army of deadly drones, he'd jack himself a few Replicators.
Could she gun John down? No, he doesn't think so. Because she would hesitate, and he wouldn't. That's the difference two wars worth of experience makes. John's killed a lot of people. More people than he can count. He's hurt people, too. Sometimes on purpose, creatively, and over long periods of time. Until he was no longer their interrogator, but their best friend, and they thanked him with tears in their eyes for the opportunity to tell him what he wanted to know.
Chyler couldn't kill him, or Finn, and that's why he wants her. Because she'll go on to do great things, and if he has any say in it, she won't lose her soul in the process. John will be there for her the way no one was there for him. To tell her when the price is worth paying, and when it isn't.
John doesn't comment on that, though. It's a discussion for her and him when the time comes. If they're both lucky, it won't.]
I am her commanding officer, and we are a team. That means I'd put my life on the line for her, and I'm sure she'd do the same for me.
As for what kind of person I am... Well, I'm about what you'd expect for a guy who's seen as much action as I have. Am I a good person? I'd say that's relative, and it depends who you ask.
The important thing is I'm good to my people, and I'll always put them first, before anything else. I recruited Chyler because I felt she'd be a strong addition to the team I want to build, and I think it'll be a good place for her to grow.
If you don't believe me, you can always see for yourself. Call it a job shadow.
[John leans back, smiling up at the waitress as she returns to their table with a heaping platter of chicken and waffles.]
Well whaddya know. Looks like there's enough for two.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-27 03:50 pm (UTC)It's a good answer. It's straightforward and honest, and addresses the points that were arguably of higher concern to him than others: what kind of teammate John Sheppard is, what kind of leader. He says he's good to his people, and a little bit of the tension in Finn's shoulders slacks off instantly, because in his experience that's a defining point. Good to his people, not something removed like 'fair to his soldiers.'
Sometimes someone has to be able to remove themselves, maybe, sometimes they have to shift things and push down to push through, and that's one thing. Their teammates are their people, still. That's important. He doesn't subscribe to the philosophy of 'weak links' and 'extensions of a greater will' anymore. He doesn't believe in letting one of his people fall behind when he can help them work through what they might fall short on.
It matters that Chyler Silva is a person. ]
Sure you're okay with a shadow? I could take you on your word at this point.
[ Finn's been known to form fast opinions on people, and this marks no exception. His instincts generally haven't failed him enough to make him troubleshoot his methods yet. John Sheppard isn't lying. He's fine. Case more or less closed.
Also, this is two for two on meeting someone here to try to figure them out only to have them share their waffles. He's not sure what to do with that information yet?? He's not sure he wants to risk it turning into a pattern if he wants to figure a third person out someday. Maybe waffle places aren't going to be his go-to in the future. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-27 07:10 pm (UTC)[John smirks around the crunch of a piece of chicken.
He's made up his mind. He likes Finn. The kid gives him a good vibe. How someone treats their friends says a lot about them as a person.
John hasn't seen Finn in action yet, but if he's from the same universe as Poe, he's seen war, and that makes him more experienced than half the people in the PG. He'll give Finn's file more than a cursory read when he's back at the office, not that John really expects a pile of paperwork to tell him anything of real value about a person.
That's always been John's biggest struggle when it comes to building a team. He doesn't trust grades, letter recommendations, or medals. He needs to see people in action. To talk to them, learn who they are, and see if that person changes when bullets start to fly.
Something tells him what you see is what you get, with Finn. He's not certain he knows to be any other way. There's an honesty about him, a purity, almost, that reminds John of Chyler. It makes sense that they get along.]
Best case scenario: I like you, you like me, you join my team.
Worst case scenario: You get shot, and I feel really bad about it.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-27 11:41 pm (UTC)He doesn't know too much about the specifics of this team yet, but between having time to dig around and shadowing, Finn figures it won't take too long to get his head wrapped around some of the details. And tbh now that he's done any form of laughing he's kind of left at the point where he sees no reason not to snag some waffle. He's already in the hole on this conversation. He might as well. ]
If I get myself shot, try to take a pass. Pretty sure I'd either feel bad enough for both of us or I wouldn't really care.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-28 07:46 pm (UTC)[As in you live, or you don't. Something John's sure Finn is well aware of. The kid's got some salt to him. Gunpowder, too. That's a must to be on John's team. He doesn't have the time or inclination to train civilians turned hobby-guard, or eyes in the back of his head. When the mission goes south, which it almost always does when your environment and enemy are largely unknown, John needs people he can trust to execute his orders under pressure, as well as use their own judgment should those orders no longer apply.
When it comes down to it, you've seen war, or you haven't. There's no substitute for experience. No amount of reading, watching, or listening to other people talk about it can prepare you. Kind of like being shot, but on a much larger scale.
John skewers a piece of chicken and waffle on his fork, swirling it into a pool of syrup. He's glad Finn's eating. That means something. John doesn't eat when he doesn't trust people, either.]
I'm curious to know what you think of the Perimeter Guard.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-28 09:32 pm (UTC)What I think of it.
[ Not quite a question, not quite a statement. It hovers somewhere in between. That's not really something people have asked him. Finn gives it a second, like he's either waiting for clarification or waiting for John to be like "actually never mind, I don't want to hear it." When it doesn't seem to be forthcoming, he goes ahead. ]
I think when I got here and said I had combat training, I didn't like that it was the first place I got pointed to. I think that happens to a lot of people who don't know much else and don't know they can ask for more options. But I also think that's a problem that runs a little higher up.
[ Honestly, once he was stable enough to leave the hospital and get the proper orientation, everything up to and including the hospital vending machines was shady as hell to Finn. He won't pretend otherwise.
Anyway, he's... got a lot of opinions incoming. He runs on having opinions about everything he can, really, because a little less than three months of of it has barely put a dent in 23 years of not knowing that he could have them at all. There's a difference between having opinions and making choices during a simulation. ]
I think the Perimeter Guard does the best it can to look out for this city with what it's got. Boot camp runs too short, even if you know already what you're doing. I can't figure out if there's a point to that or if they just want to get their numbers up faster. Doesn't seem like the best idea.
[ Small militias, though. What can you do. ]
I think it looks like a bad roster balance between standard patrol and special units on paper, but they put stock into cooperation and going where you're needed when they need it. It holds up fine. Unit cohesion is good, for the most part. I think the people are good, for the most part. [ There's no way every single person in this organization is gonna be inherently good or even easy to get along with, necessarily. ] I think I could leave if I wanted without having to watch my back over it, and the work's good enough that I can choose to stay. I think I've made myself useful.
[ He stops, tips his head to one side. ]
Best mess hall I've ever eaten in, too. As much as that's worth.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-29 06:32 pm (UTC)The kid has a lot to say. That speaks to strong observational skills, and a capacity for critical thinking. John's honestly impressed by his breakdown. Finn is sharper than he lets on, at any rate. Good for him. It's important to keep something in your pocket.]
It's worth something.
[John munches thoughtfully on his last bite of waffle, and washes it down with some coffee. Dabs at the corners of his mouth with the corners of an already crumpled up napkin. He doesn't like unnecessary mess. Finn will learn that about him when they work together.]
We're on the same page, more or less. The PG's got growing pains. You can tell they started as a group of rangers, a few skilled people to take care of the bad stuff outside the wall while law enforcement deals with people. Then the wall got bigger, the PG got bigger, but they're still operating to the same grass-roots standards.
It's good, in some ways. People new to this place might not respond well to a solid chain of command or regiment. They can't be expected to take a hard knee to people they don't know, and they can choose their level of commitment.
I think the reason us military types get pointed in this direction is because it's easier to keep an eye on us if we're all in the same place, and it keeps our trigger fingers from getting itchy. That said, the levels of experience and skill required to join are... all over the place.
They should probably implement a reserve force, we have something like that back home. People who want to help, and to learn, but don't necessarily have the right background or experience to be anything but a liability on the field. You train them like it's their job, and keep them in auxiliary for disaster relief, or god help us, support in theatre, until they meet the requirements of the regular forces.
I've been pretty picky about the people I'm asking to join my team for a reason. I'm not comfortable taking responsibility for the actions of untrained civilians with machine guns unless it's absolutely necessary. If they don't hurt themselves, they'll hurt someone else.
Good waffles, huh?
(no subject)
Date: 2018-01-31 04:21 am (UTC)With what John has to say, he leans towards agreement easily enough. It's reasonable, and all more or less on the same page, like John said.
John's explanation of a reserve force sparks particular interest. Finn thinks of Slip, not for the first time, surely not for the last. Wonders for a brief moment if he could have fared better in something like that, even still attached to the First Order in some capacity.
(The idea washes away, as it always does, in the reality of knowing that the First Order would only ever section off stormtroopers like Slip in order to throw them away more quickly. Lower-tier cannon fodder. But it was nice to have the thought.)
Finn's mouth twitches into a brief, passable smile in spite of himself. ]
Yeah, well. Don't have to be picky to have good taste in food.
[ People always turn out more complicated. most importantly, finn will die to defend his right to eat vegetable-covered pizza and call it tasteful. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-02-15 12:59 am (UTC)[Here's hoping the Waffle House doesn't want a signing bonus.]