A/N: This...isn't the final chapter of Time and Again. Although, I do have the very beginning and the very ending of it completed. It's roughly half done. Overtime and a sudden, unexpected passion for gardening have dried up most of my writing time and inspiration.
But this hit me the other night when I couldn't sleep at all and was originally meant to be entirely silly. I should have known better, though. It's been in my head for a long time that Pierre desperately longs for people to say nice things to/about him. Since they rarely ever do, he self-aggrandizes instead. But then, even when it actually does happen, he tends to be more suspicious of it than believing.
As a note, Quantum doesn't bother with the pirate speak when it's just him and Pierre. Partly 'cause I didn't wanna, but also partly because the more ways they match each other and differ from the rest of the crew, the happier it makes me on the inside. They got pushed together as a couple of goofball outcasts, bonded over it, and then accidentally found themselves in respectable(ish) positions of power. I love them and wish I had more ideas.
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"That…is a terrible idea."
Well, that's not how Quantum had envisioned this conversation playing out at all.
It's not that he's unused to hearing those particular words from his friend, not in the least. But even so, his shoulders sink, all the jittering excitement coursing through him since first coming to such a brilliant conclusion washed away in an instant by a single tide of reluctance and misgivings. He splutters.
"But—I thought you'd be—would you at least think about it a bit before saying no?"
His voice is just this side of desperate as he peers across the desk of his new-to-him quarters at Pierre. This hadn't been part of the plan—not really. In fact, he'd been completely blindsided by the outcome. The pirates had been running amuck, disorganized and Captainless, since shortly after the Emperor had swooped in and exerted the force of his full reign over this sector. After the past year spent tucked amidst the crew, Quantum had been beginning to suspect they preferred it that way.
How was he to have known they'd been raring to thrust the first guy to head up a few successful raids against Empire forces into the previously, forcibly evacuated position?
"Does the word 'mutiny' mean anything to you? Because I am quite confident that is exactly what you will have on your hands if you insist on going through with this." And with a shrug that's nearly as hopeless as it is resigned, Pierre adds, voice matter-of-fact as ever about the topic when it arises, "The crew hates me."
Quantum winces beneath his helmet. But not to be deterred on the matter, he waves away Pierre's words with a flap of his hand and a booming, "Pffft!" Pierre balks at the dismissal, and Quantum scrambles around in search of something to follow it up with.
"Noooo," he says, drawing it out long and slow and in a way that hopefully comes off as more dramatic than stalling. "No, no, no. They don't—hate you, Pierre. They…just…don't understand you is all!"
He follows the words up with his most winning grin, but judging by the grumpy look now adorning Pierre's face, he's not terribly impressed by any of it. And—sure—maybe part of that is due to the effect being somewhat dampened by the bucket obscuring said grin. But mostly, Quantum figures, eye twitching with the effort of keeping up his optimism, it's because they both know it's all absolute hogwash. In the end, he doesn't allow Pierre the chance to call him out on it.
Straightening his shoulders, Quantum folds his hands together atop the desk and sighs. "So what?" he says. "The crew hates everyone. They're not even particularly fond of me. But they still all agreed I should take over as Captain."
"That is different." Then, resting a forearm on the desk, Pierre leans forward and offers up an ironic little smile. "Surely, you have not forgotten how we met already?"
"No." Quantum frowns at the memory of the execution he'd challenged the validity of all those months ago. "I haven't." More firmly, he adds, "And I still stand by my decision: I want you to by my first mate."
Expression suddenly unreadable, Pierre stares down at the ornate hunk of wood separating them. His agitation is belied only by the erratic tapping of his fingers against its surface. As much as the two of them had joked about what they'd do in the future if any of their attempts to bug the Emperor were to ever succeed, Quantum had genuinely expected him to be more amenable to the idea. Happy about the opportunity even.
"Look. If you really don't want the job, I won't force you into it. I'll figure out something else. But…" He pauses for a moment, gathering every ounce of sincerity he truly feels to put into his next words. "I think you'd really be great at it."
The tapping stutters away to a halt, and though he doesn't look up, Pierre's facade cracks, giving way to uncertainty.
Quantum can work with that.
"As far as I'm concerned, you've already proven it." And with a sharp, self-deprecating laugh he gestures out wide to the spacious room around them. "I mean. Without you I wouldn't even be here right now. It wasn't my plan that actually ended up working."
Still looking wary, Pierre lifts his gaze enough to meet Quantum's eye. Quantum fixes him with a warm smile and is delighted when he receives one, however half-hearted, in return.
"Besides. We both know I'm going to need someone around who can rein in some of my more…enthusiastic ideas."
Just as he'd hoped, that pries a more earnest reaction from Pierre, who lets out a light chuckle and says, "In that respect, I do seem to be uniquely qualified, no?"
"Oh, absolutely! And let me tell you, have I got some pret-ty big plans for the entire organization going forward."
This time when Pierre turns away he looks thoughtful, and he regards their surroundings in silence. Quantum gives him the time to mull it over, praying to any deity that hadn't yet forsaken this galaxy that he'll accept.
He…doesn't really know what he'll do if Pierre declines. Resign? Can he even do that? Just sneak away in the dead of night without a word? He could crawl back to the Resistance, shame-faced and repentant with helmet in tow, offering up the fruit of his labors as penance for ever having left in the first place.
A full year Quantum has resided on Ardolis. And yet, the truth of the matter is that after Pierre? There is no one else.
Even prior to disputing the execution he'd merely been tolerated. No one had wanted the trouble of taking the new guy under their wing. So he'd fumbled along as best as he could while trying not to call too much attention to himself in the process. He'd never in his life experienced so much difficulty finding his footing.
With a bitter huff he says, "If they were expecting anything else from me, well, I don't know what to tell them. You've been the only one to have my back this whole time. I wouldn't have lasted this long here without your help—and—I don't know that I'd make it very long as Captain without it either." Slumping back in his chair, he laughs, looking around the room before finally confessing, "I have no idea what I'm doing."
Quantum really isn't trying to guilt him. He just wants Pierre to know how much he's appreciated both his guidance and friendship. But before he gets the chance to clarify his intentions further, Pierre says, "I still think it is a terrible idea…but then again, I thought you were crazy for suggesting we bug the Emperor in the first place."
It takes a moment for the words to sink in. As soon as they do, Quantum perks right up. He doesn't even attempt to keep the pleading out of his voice this time when he asks, "Is that a yes?"
Pierre still looks hesitant. But eventually, he says, "We have worked well together so far, you and I." He shrugs helplessly, looking as though he can't believe what he's saying when he continues, "Why not see how far it takes us?"
With that, Quantum lets out a triumphant laugh. "That's the spirit, Pierre! Oh, just wait until you've heard everything on my mind. You are going to have a field day!"
The look of instant regret washing over his newly, though not yet officially, dubbed first mate's face makes him laugh even harder. But he'll see. Quantum's thought this whole thing through. And he's convinced that given the opportunity to shine, Pierre will be able to eventually win the crew's respect too.
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A/N: But alas, though he had the best of intentions, Quantum was wrong...
I personally like to think that, despite what we see in game, Pierre is actually pretty good at what he does and takes the job entrusted to him by his best/only friend and Captain very seriously. Especially if he's been threatened with multiple executions by the crew and they still follow him. However grudgingly that may be. I would probably even go so far as to say that surely he's gotten the upper hand when faced against Rivet once or twice. But those were probably way in the beginning before Rivet knew what to expect from him.
Pfft. I wanted to allude to this Rusty Pete dialog way back in Quantum Theory during Rivet's conversation with Quantum, followed up with her asking, "Figuratively or literally?" and Quantum being pretty amused by it. But things didn't quite work out that way. I knew one day I'd get it in here somewhere...
