he remembers! when he sits and leaves space, she eases up just a little. relaxes into her chair.]
There's only one, so far, but you can apparently ask the senior crew for more. [she glances down at the book.] It's good so far. Some of... what I assume are jokes are going over my head because I'm inexperienced with Earth culture.
[LMFSKJDHGK I MEANT KAVEH BUT I JUST NOW REALIZED IT SOUNDED LIKE I MEANT MYSELF]
Yeah? I'll have to talk to them... I'm surprised the I.R.I.S. doesn't have a--[he's about to say the ToT version of Kindle, but he catches himself.]--a built-in library.
[Maybe they just assumed everyone would be distracted by suika game...]
Do you read a lot, Throné? [He can actually pronounce her name, amazing]
Mmhmm. They're pretty common in my world. I've always liked real books, though. [Sometimes you're a weird combination of ultramodern and super vintage...
Case in point--]
I've always liked mystery novels. Especially the old ones.
It's only spoiling if I ruin the surprise for other people. [So there!! The vibes are smug. None modesty. Idiot.] Sherlock is my favorite, but you might like Agatha Christie better.
[It's okay, just because they're there doesn't mean they have to be acknowledged!!! The wisdom of Luke, who (static noises) for (static noises) years and planned to (static noises)]
Well, the Sherlock books are a little older. And they're both mysteries, but they're pretty different styles. I'd say... Agatha Christie's books are more like puzzles? A clever reader can solve the mysteries if they're paying attention. They're funny, too. Doyle's Sherlock books, on the other hand--they're more like mysteries and adventures tied into one. And the reader doesn't always have everything they need to figure it out--a lot of times, Sherlock is the only one with all the answers, and you don't get to see everything until he points it out.
[I'll be real I've never read Agatha Christie I'm just parroting off the internet.]
In the end, though... they're both about people, I think. Just from different time periods, through different lenses.
also you're fine, i've also never read agatha christie so yolo.]
I see. [she tilts her head.] I think I'd like both. There's something... captivating, I think, about experiencing the world through someone else's eyes.
A mystery for one person is an obvious trap for another.
[You must be level 4 to unlock his tragic otome backstory]
Mm, that's true. If you let yourself get immersed in the characters, it's a lot more exciting. [He grins, a little sheepish.] I just get ahead of myself sometimes. But those books are part of the reason I became a detective, after all.
He smiles, though he scratches the back of his neck with a hint of embarrassment.]
I don't know about that. I wasn't lying when I said it was an accident. [But his vibes still aren't... modest... stupid.
Briefly, Throné might sense a prickling at the back of her neck--just a hint of the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Luke's gaze flicks to the side, sharp, but beyond that, he doesn't react.]
I like the era of those books, too. It's a lot of fun.
oogh, she doesn't like the watched feeling. instinctively she looks over her shoulder, hand sliding down to the knife that's ever strapped around her thigh, but. there's nothing. a pause.]
... Well. I'll see if I can find them. The senior crew has been nice enough to put in an order for me already. [she says this pleasantly, but there's something wary and off-center in her when she says it.]
It's alright. [don't apologize. and - there's a little flicker of annoyance when the first sensation fades. just for a second! but she's very quickly distracted.
a beat, and then:]
No. [bluntly. not meanly, and not even end of story, but like. no, and also there's a flood of something that's like a strange mix of melancholy and a low, almost violent anger that she takes and neatly puts in a box. nope. not feeling that.
[Throné, repressing her feelings: stop repressing your feelings
He will not, though!!! Especially not in the face of hers. He lifts a hand on reflex, then pauses--but after a beat, he sticks with his choice, slowly extending a hand. If she flinches or cringes away, he'll let it drop between them; otherwise, he'll gently touch her arm.]
she doesn't cringe away this time because she can clearly see him doing it. there's no violence behind his action, and so she allows the touch. he is poisoned and he dies instantly (no).
she's a bit stiff, but she allows it! and even relaxes, after a moment.]
If I tried to force it off, it would flood my system with a fast-acting, incurable poison. [... wryly:] And I like living. So I'd prefer not to.
[In that case, he'll let his fingertips rest on her arm. As a combatant, she'll probably notice that they're not near her wrist, but rather, a little higher up--he could still grab her arm if he wanted to, but it would be a lot more awkward this way.
And then he keels over from poison damage HOORAY No okay. Actually, now it's his turn to feel a surge of anger; like hers, it's a cold, dark thing, a sharp knife just waiting to be aimed at the right target.]
...Is there a key? A code?
[FORGET ESCAPING THE SPACE SHIP THIS IS NOW HIS NEW MISSION no jk. He can multitask.]
no she - actually does not flinch away from the anger. she enjoys it, even though she knows she shouldn't. there's no guilt, nothing like that. just the acknowledgement that she shouldn't want to curl up in that fury and live there.]
There's a key. [she lifts the collar a little - shows him the locking mechanism hidden under the pendant.]
[He was doing so good at respecting her space a minute ago but right now he's too distracted by this to care--he leans closer, absorbed in studying the mechanism.]
Do you remember what it looks like? Could you draw a picture of it, if you had the supplies? [He looks like he's about to ask a bunch more questions, but then he catches himself, sensing the need to slow down.] I'm not--I understand your caution. I'd be the same way. It's just that, where I'm from, we have ways of dealing with this kind of thing. Tools and machines, all meant to dismantle dangerous devices without letting them hurt anyone. I doubt they'd have anything like that on this ship, [and if they did he'd have a LOT of questions] but if they were able to implant us with the I.R.I.S....
[Then maybe they have the technology to get it off of her safely, too?
It would take a lot of trust, though, even under much more normal circumstances than "y'all got convenient amnesia about this totally-not-a-kidnapping." He gets that.]
[she lets him look - she's tense, but she doesn't pull away or bat at him. it's fine. this time it doesn't seem like it's because he's in her space, it's just more because this is a tricky topic. i don't know a whole lot about the mechanism itself because it's kind of just vaguely talked about but you can imagine that for a medieval device that was probably infused with magic at some point, it's a pretty sturdy lock. it's lightweight.
as for all of his questions, she lets him get through it. her emotions are calm, but she's a bit shaky.]
No. [just, right off the bat.] I won't do it any other way than taking the key from the person holding it. I will break these chains with my own two hands.
[she knows that it sounds stupid or maybe even needlessly stubborn, but it's important to her that she's the one who does this. that she's the one who frees herself. she can't accept help, or it'll never feel right. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
he remembers! when he sits and leaves space, she eases up just a little. relaxes into her chair.]
There's only one, so far, but you can apparently ask the senior crew for more. [she glances down at the book.] It's good so far. Some of... what I assume are jokes are going over my head because I'm inexperienced with Earth culture.
But it's worth reading.
no subject
Yeah? I'll have to talk to them... I'm surprised the I.R.I.S. doesn't have a--[he's about to say the ToT version of Kindle, but he catches himself.]--a built-in library.
[Maybe they just assumed everyone would be distracted by suika game...]
Do you read a lot, Throné? [He can actually pronounce her name, amazing]
no subject
A... built-in library? [whoa... a whole-ass library in a tiny little system??? that blows her mind.]
... Sometimes. [is her answer to that question.] When I have the time. I haven't.
no subject
Case in point--]
I've always liked mystery novels. Especially the old ones.
no subject
Somehow that doesn't surprise me. [the mystery novels bit] You seem like the type to try and solve them before the story finishes.
no subject
no subject
Hm. Spoilsport. [...] You should tell me the names of ones you enjoy. I'd like to read them.
no subject
no subject
What's the difference between the two?
no subject
Well, the Sherlock books are a little older. And they're both mysteries, but they're pretty different styles. I'd say... Agatha Christie's books are more like puzzles? A clever reader can solve the mysteries if they're paying attention. They're funny, too. Doyle's Sherlock books, on the other hand--they're more like mysteries and adventures tied into one. And the reader doesn't always have everything they need to figure it out--a lot of times, Sherlock is the only one with all the answers, and you don't get to see everything until he points it out.
[I'll be real I've never read Agatha Christie I'm just parroting off the internet.]
In the end, though... they're both about people, I think. Just from different time periods, through different lenses.
no subject
also you're fine, i've also never read agatha christie so yolo.]
I see. [she tilts her head.] I think I'd like both. There's something... captivating, I think, about experiencing the world through someone else's eyes.
A mystery for one person is an obvious trap for another.
no subject
Mm, that's true. If you let yourself get immersed in the characters, it's a lot more exciting. [He grins, a little sheepish.] I just get ahead of myself sometimes. But those books are part of the reason I became a detective, after all.
[Luke your jobs.]
no subject
I can see why you were recruited, then. [there's a little thought of i imagine you get ahead of yourself a lot.]
no subject
He smiles, though he scratches the back of his neck with a hint of embarrassment.]
I don't know about that. I wasn't lying when I said it was an accident. [But his vibes still aren't... modest... stupid.
Briefly, Throné might sense a prickling at the back of her neck--just a hint of the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Luke's gaze flicks to the side, sharp, but beyond that, he doesn't react.]
I like the era of those books, too. It's a lot of fun.
no subject
oogh, she doesn't like the watched feeling. instinctively she looks over her shoulder, hand sliding down to the knife that's ever strapped around her thigh, but. there's nothing. a pause.]
... Well. I'll see if I can find them. The senior crew has been nice enough to put in an order for me already. [she says this pleasantly, but there's something wary and off-center in her when she says it.]
no subject
Okay, but if you don't like them, then I never recommended them. [Stop. ...But he remembers her prompting him to ask before, so--] ...You okay?
no subject
a beat.]
... Yes. [absently runs her fingers over her collar.] Sorry. I'm still getting used to feeling... other things.
no subject
...Me too. Sorry. [The prickling sensation fades, then, as if pulled behind a curtain.
Unbidden, his gaze follows her hand.]
Is that--[Hmm. How to ask...]--comfortable, for you?
[He'd initially filed it away as an accessory, but now he's less sure.]
no subject
a beat, and then:]
No. [bluntly. not meanly, and not even end of story, but like. no, and also there's a flood of something that's like a strange mix of melancholy and a low, almost violent anger that she takes and neatly puts in a box. nope. not feeling that.
well, the anger, anyway. the sadness stays.]
no subject
He will not, though!!! Especially not in the face of hers. He lifts a hand on reflex, then pauses--but after a beat, he sticks with his choice, slowly extending a hand. If she flinches or cringes away, he'll let it drop between them; otherwise, he'll gently touch her arm.]
Why not take it off?
no subject
she doesn't cringe away this time because she can clearly see him doing it. there's no violence behind his action, and so she allows the touch. he is poisoned and he dies instantly (no).
she's a bit stiff, but she allows it! and even relaxes, after a moment.]
If I tried to force it off, it would flood my system with a fast-acting, incurable poison. [... wryly:] And I like living. So I'd prefer not to.
no subject
And then he keels over from poison damage HOORAY No okay. Actually, now it's his turn to feel a surge of anger; like hers, it's a cold, dark thing, a sharp knife just waiting to be aimed at the right target.]
...Is there a key? A code?
[FORGET ESCAPING THE SPACE SHIP THIS IS NOW HIS NEW MISSION no jk. He can multitask.]
no subject
no she - actually does not flinch away from the anger. she enjoys it, even though she knows she shouldn't. there's no guilt, nothing like that. just the acknowledgement that she shouldn't want to curl up in that fury and live there.]
There's a key. [she lifts the collar a little - shows him the locking mechanism hidden under the pendant.]
... I know where it is, but I'm here, instead.
no subject
Do you remember what it looks like? Could you draw a picture of it, if you had the supplies? [He looks like he's about to ask a bunch more questions, but then he catches himself, sensing the need to slow down.] I'm not--I understand your caution. I'd be the same way. It's just that, where I'm from, we have ways of dealing with this kind of thing. Tools and machines, all meant to dismantle dangerous devices without letting them hurt anyone. I doubt they'd have anything like that on this ship, [and if they did he'd have a LOT of questions] but if they were able to implant us with the I.R.I.S....
[Then maybe they have the technology to get it off of her safely, too?
It would take a lot of trust, though, even under much more normal circumstances than "y'all got convenient amnesia about this totally-not-a-kidnapping." He gets that.]
no subject
as for all of his questions, she lets him get through it. her emotions are calm, but she's a bit shaky.]
No. [just, right off the bat.] I won't do it any other way than taking the key from the person holding it. I will break these chains with my own two hands.
[she knows that it sounds stupid or maybe even needlessly stubborn, but it's important to her that she's the one who does this. that she's the one who frees herself. she can't accept help, or it'll never feel right. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)