one ☼ spam + video

[deshabille]

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.

Comments

[silvestris]

[Selina hums agreeably; if you ask her, people are worse than aliens any day.]

Why?

[deshabille]

Eventually, because it seemed like the right thing to do.

[silvestris]

'Eventually'. What, they coerced you at first?

[deshabille]

Freedom.

[silvestris]

That's the battle cry for most armies, isn't it?

[deshabille]

Oh, it is. It's a lie for most armies. I meant for me.

[silvestris]

[She has such a bitter smile, even if it's not meant to be.]

Well, it's the only freedom that matters. I guess you didn't get it the way you wanted, if you wound up here.

[deshabille]

I got something.

[She pauses, considering Selina now.]

There's always something more, though.

[silvestris]

[Smirk, smirk]

I like how you think. What's your 'more' right now? And don't say 'getting out', I hear that four or five times a day from people who could buy real estate here by now.

[deshabille]

Hah. We may have had a slight misunderstanding. I can leave anytime I want. But I won't.

My 'more' right now is . . . learning about this place. Figuring it out, or figuring out what can't be figured out.

[silvestris]

Lucky you. Course...there's something to be said for being here.

What have you learned so far? Any juicy gossip?

[deshabille]

There is. There are probably several things. Part of why I'm here, finding out what they all are.

So far I've learned that people here are far more suspicious than people back home, and significantly more interesting.

[silvestris]

People in your world must bore you to tears, then. Or you haven't settled into the patterns here yet...trust me, there are two or three people worth keeping an eye on. The others come and go.

[deshabille]

I can handle myself.

[silvestris]

Is that why you're here? I mean, you have to do the Admiral's work to get anywhere...what skills did you bring us?

[deshabille]

Well. Among other things, stubbornness.

[silvestris]

[Tiny laugh]

It's a start. Do you work the rehab circuit back home or is this new?

[deshabille]

I have experience, yes.

[silvestris]

You're in a small group. Get ready to fix a lot of other people's mistakes.

[deshabille]

Oh, my favorite.

[silvestris]

I knew you'd like that.

Have you met the therapists?

[deshabille]

The what?

[silvestris]

Oh you are starting from scratch.

Charlie Xavier and Mark somebody.

[deshabille]

I can tell from your detailed knowledge of them that you hold them in high esteem.

And what are they supposed to do?

[silvestris]

Charlie's a good guy. A little tense, though. They're both therapists...shrinks. Supposedly they have training in how to rehabilitate felons like me.