[b][i]Alvin Davion[/i][/b]

Being underestimated was an asset, not a flaw, provided that one's ego could take it.

And Alvin's ego can take it. He had lost track of what was happening, but he knew he was being talked about elsewhere. Well, he'll show them once it was time to take on the pirates. But first, he had to eat in the mess hall, take note of Captain Ulrik's behavior and words - He cannot trust him to be the father figure he wanted yet (Alvin was honest enough about his goals) - and then get acquainted with his fellow teammates, at least the ones whom Fuka had not shit-talked him to first. 

Speaking of Fuka, Alvin had a plan to show her how much he had grown, but he can wait to start it after he had proven himself in battle; he knew enough to know that if he kept his head and acquainted himself with the Hermes-II's systems, he can do his part and [i]maybe[/i] carry the day for the Lance.

A big maybe; one that relied on him not being arrogant, on him knowing his strengths and weaknesses well and being able to land a hit on the pirates' degraded mechs and whatever surprises they may have. He grinned at that and thought, [i]Fuka is better at shooting and taking shots. But I know her better than she thinks; she's going to have to rely on the others to cover her lack of agility when she actually is in a BattleMech.[/i]

He had observed her as she had annihiliated his Lance. He had overheard hushed conversations during his time of enslavement. And of course, he had picked up whatever information he could whenever she 'deigned' to talk to him. He was confident in her overconfidence and was willing to feed the latter to make her future defeat even sweeter.

But for now, Alvin Davion was going to his allotted room and his allotted roommate - He needed to talk to one other person if he was to get acquained with his new potential family. Whether that person was someone Fuka already got to or not didn't matter; Alvin can win them over enough to live and let live.

[i]Worst-case scenario, I get a non-friend whom I have to stay away from outside of combat operations, but cannot frag me as I literally cannot be replaced yet,[/i] Alvin calculated; he thought nothing of trying to be calculating as long as no one was hurt. [i]Best-case scenario, I get a genuine friend whom I can laugh with, share fun times with, and talk about one's hopes and dreams.[/i]

Including his own, secret dream and hope that not only can he return to the 'Golden World' of Argyle, but do so with his head held high, acknowledged by his kin, in addition to the even more secret dream and hope that maybe, just maybe, something would happen to the Davions of Argyle and leave him the ruler of that world by default - It wouldn't even be treason if all he did was be away and wait for an accident or someone else's resentments to... No, it would still be a betrayal. 

Bloodline meant something, even if tainted with bastardy. If something [i]did[/i] happen to the Davions of Argyle, he would help them first, his loyalties can be called on. But would it be so bad to rise up above his allotted station, in a legitimate manner, and eventually be acknowledged by all?

[i]A family, wealth, and a landhold,[/i] Alvin thought. [i]That is my minimum. As for my maximum... I want everything I can get within the bounds of reason and morality.[/i]