deshabille | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

I'd never seen green plants before here.

Or green people.

Or... showers.

I became another version of myself for a few days.

What's interesting, to you?

[She smiles wryly.]

Plants I know. Green people - no, but dead people, yes. I also knew a girl with stitches all the way around her scalp once.

I saw the showers. They don't make sense. Neither does becoming another version of yourself, but I'm actually not surprised given where we are.

Everything's interesting. Like the fact that you said you'd never seen green plants, that's interesting to me. More interesting: you haven't told me your name yet. You're not interested in being polite, you're interested in finding things out. It's unusual.

They make sense. But I had to ask questions about the pipes first.

[ He learns fast.

The corners of his eyes change, compact, a subtle sign of amusement that falls short of a smile. ]

My name is Zane.

[Ordinarily her smiles reach approximately halfway up her cheeks; eyes are for observing. What she gives Zane in return is just an eye smile, and therefore several times more genuine.]

And my name is Mal. And now we're acquainted. But you do realize I wasn't actually complaining, yes? Politeness is overrated.