deshabille | one ☼ spam + video

Entry tags:

one ☼ spam + video

spam {may 2}

[She knows they say the Turtle moves, but technically that was one of those things that wasn't said aloud much back home. Either it was an Abomination or it was generally frowned upon, and even her life as it was then didn't shelter her entirely from the taboo of discussing certain subjects. Not that she paid attention to taboos; she was simply aware of them.]

[Here she feels more intimately connected to the movement of the Turtle, despite the fact that it's not here. Space is, and that's what matters; if she closes her eyes she imagines she can feel the rocking of the boat, the push of flippers. It's a nice thought, anyway, so she closes her eyes slightly more often than usual.]

[It doesn't take long to explore the whole Barge, so she does it again for good measure. Then, when she's satisfied she's seen everything there is to see, she finds a corner of the deck to tuck herself away in and stays there for a while, smoking and considering the stars. They, like the stars at home, will constantly change. She finds this familiar, if not comforting.]

[A cigarette dangles from her fingers as, slowly, her gaze moves from the "sky" to the others on deck. She takes a drag, lets smoke curl between her lips, eyes bright with curiosity. And she smiles.]

video {may 3}

[All that's visible at her back is brown canvas, and the light is low, which may or may not be intentional. But Mal is smiling, truly and deeply pleased.]

All the amenities here, I see. [It's mostly sarcastic, but also a good, secret way of saying, hey, this thing is really neat and I want to know how it works even.] I'm not going to bore anyone with my unfamiliarity with certain things, because I'd absolutely hate if anyone did that to me, but really, well set-up. Although too small.

[She leans in slightly, head to one side.]

I can't decide if it's run on magic or something else, or if there's even an answer that makes sense or it's just one of those things you're not supposed to question - and I'd anticipate that the Admiral doesn't respond well to constructive [ha] feedback, though I'd still guess I've served under worse - but there is a kind of magnificence in the ship itself.

Unless you've seen more impressive, of course. In which case, feel free to correct me. [And tell her all about what's more impressive than this.]

[She pauses as though considering saying something else, and finally settles on,] Introductions are tedious, but I'll get them out of the way now so I don't have to later. Call me Mal. I'm new. Obviously.

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[She tilts her head as he works through it, then nods.]

I suppose different works. I've been called undead, but it's really not a good descriptor. Differently alive's much closer.

[There's a slow blink - the implication that he would hear it intrigues her.]

Do you know what a vampire is?

[ A slow shake of his head. The word isn't one that's easy to parse, either, unlike some of the terms he's heard people use here.

The smoke makes him sneeze. He dims down the tin, reluctantly. ]

Is that what you are?

It is. And you heard that.

[Not a question. She knows he did, and wants to know how.]

[Another blink when he sneezes; she turns her head to pull on her cigarette again, considers him out of the corner in her eye, and turns back, exhaling in his direction.]

What are you?

[Human, she thinks, but something else, too? She can't figure out what. Something sharp tickling her nose, from somewhere.]

Mistborn.

[ He doesn't know what a vampire is, she probably doesn't know what a Mistborn is. It's a fair trade. ]

[She nods, accepting this for what it is - he's given her exactly as much as she gave him. So she gives him more, because she's not used to being able to conceal it. It hardly matters.]

Bloodsuckers. [A beat.] Is the pejorative term.

You feed on blood?

Living or dead?

[ It's not that disgusting to him. Kandra feed on the flesh of the dead, after all, and take their bones. ]

Not me. [For the first time she sounds irritated.] Not anymore.

Traditionally - living.

So it's a choice?

[ Kandra don't need to feed very often, he thinks. Is it like that? Can she just abstain? ]

Mistborn burn metals for powers.

More or less.

I see. [Her eyes are bright. This is new.] We don't have anyone like you where I'm from.

Most worlds don't.

[ He's unique and special. ]

But you don't have anyone like me where you're from.

[She is not actually unique but it's nice to act like it sometimes.]

No. [ he admits. ] I don't think so. I don't know you yet.

Not yet.

I'd be interested in your first impression, though.

Warden. [ Because she's confident, even while she's paranoid. ]

Outcast... but an outcast who's found somewhere else to be. [ Given that the mention of vampires drinking blood did get a rise of irritation out of her, but that she doesn't have the hunted, insecure look of someone who's been cast away from the only place she could have belonged. ] And clever.

You're interested in what I have to say. So maybe you're looking for people to use.

[That's actually very impressive. She raises her eyebrows, giving him a steady look, before putting her cigarette out and leaning forward.]

Warden, yes. Outcast - [A pause.] You could say that. [She doesn't touch on having found somewhere. That's up for debate. But she does smile when she says,] And I'm very clever.

Last part's wrong, though. I'm interested in what you have to say because what you have to say is interesting.

You seem keen. Like a blade. I'm not sure there's much you do that isn't for a purpose.

[ Interesting isn't good for its own sake. It doesn't have its own purpose, in his eyes. ]

Like a blade. [She chuckles.] I like that.

Well - you're not wrong, really. But there's always a use to knowing things about people. If nothing else, it keeps me from being bored, and in a place like this boredom's dangerous.

[Twofold meanings: cabin fever, and the possibility of attack from any side. He's not wrong about paranoid.]

[ A nod. This he can accept, provisionally. ]

Are you interested in what I have to say because you want to use me?

[There's a hint of challenge in her look now. Frankly, she'd like to see him try.]

My motivations are mine.

[ He's insane. Why does it matter what he does? ]

Hm.

[She looks up at the sky for a moment, at the stars, and considers. Cagey and paranoid, even more than she is. Which implies persecution, which implies pain. It implies a lot, actually.]

[She looks back at him.]

I wouldn't try it, that's all.

[ He nods, acknowledging and noting that. There's even some respect in the gesture. ]

Are you new here, or have I just not met you yet?

I've been here exactly - what time is it now - something like four hours. You have seniority.

Not much of it. I've been here a few weeks.

Seniority's seniority.

Seen anything interesting? Besides me.

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