[I can't tell if she's traumatized and anti-man or if she's got like poison skin or something]
We won't be here for eight weeks, if I have anything to say about it. [The slight sulkiness in his tone is very mature.] But Margaret said she wanted to ask about different accommodations anyway, so it might not matter for long.
[...He hesitates for a minute, but. Well.]
I didn't want to say it in front of everyone, but I'm an agent with the National Security Bureau in Stellis. [Normally he wouldn't say it to anyone because that's kind of Secret Agent 101, but based on the profiles and the intense level of monitoring, he's pretty sure their abductors already know.] I'll be okay, I promise. It's my job to keep people safe.
[Yeah look Kia traumatized me with sadness 6 years ago and I will never forget it
Also it's funny she says that. Actually, the comparison makes him look a little embarrassed; he lifts one hand, scratching the back of his head.]
Er--something like that. [He clears his throat.] Anyway--I'll do what I can to look out for everyone until I can get in touch with my team and get us out of here. So don't worry too much, okay?
[unfortunately for him she sees the little bit of embarrassment and latches onto it. terrible. she doesn't say anything about it yet, but she saw it! hehe.]
I wasn't worried to begin with. [...] I don't intend to just sit back and let someone else rescue me. I'm also looking for a way out.
I certainly don't. And I wouldn't agree to this. It doesn't matter how many leaves I was offered. [...] ... If you have something to say, you may as well say it.
[temenos is her best friend she knows when someone is thinking real hard about asking a question]
[in turn, she doesn't seem guilty or embarrassed by her profile.
she's quiet for that same moment - the way she watches him is the way that a rattlesnake warns people approaching. calm, coiled, ready, but not actively looking for a fight.]
Mine started off as an accident, so that's not saying much. [He's been carrying himself with confidence after that initial arrival, but he wasn't always a professional. Still, even that's not quite the same. He gets what she's saying.] ...Do you want to talk about it?
... I clean up messes. [she figures he gets the gist of it, what with the backstabbing part.] That's my job. My experience will likely come in handy here. I assume that's why I was brought on.
...Mm. Maybe. [It's highly likely... then again, rich people do a lot of weird shit that isn't technically illegal, so. He's trying not to jump to conclusions just yet.] But if that's the case, it probably wasn't the best choice to bring me on. There's no way they didn't know, with some of the things they included on my profile.
He's quiet for a little while, as if deciding what to say. Eventually, he leans forward, resting his arms on his legs.]
...I don't want people to feel like they don't have a choice. [He's not naive enough to say something like "you always have a choice"--he's seen too much of the world's darkness for that, but.] There are always ways to appeal to them, so that as few people as possible can be involved in this. It's just a matter of finding out how to play their game.
[Whether that means working doubly hard to get their attention, speaking their language and pretending not to care--anything that can take the heat off of others.]
You're trying to be a hero. [she doesn't mean in any sort of like... superhero way or anything like that, but her impression is that he's trying his best to be selfless.]
[He shifts, gaze flicking away for a moment before it returns to her.]
I wouldn't put it that way. It's just my job to help people. If I can't get in touch with my team and get us out of here quickly, then the next best thing is to minimize harm. [And if that means doing a little extra dirty work, then, well. It wouldn't be the first time.] No one asked to be here--but even if they had, they shouldn't have to do bad things because they feel like they have no other options.
[As if to combat the sadness in her voice, he straightens up, putting his hands to his hips and smiling brightly.]
I'm tougher than you'd think! I've never failed a mission, you know. I don't plan to start now.
[Pixi? Playing a character who will take every murder as a personal failing? Say it ain't so]
All that goes for you too, okay? Things at home might be... [Well. Maybe he shouldn't make assumptions.] however they are for you, but as long as I'm here, I'll do what I can to make sure you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can figure something out.
there's a little calculating look, almost, as she watches him. like she's forming some opinions in real time.]
I told you I don't need to be rescued. [she says, eyebrow raised, but it's less mean this time. a little. like a centimeter.] If you're going to be like this, then I'd rather work with you than hand you the reins.
[well, and - the part she's not saying, which is there's something so... there's something about the way that he sees her putting her flame out, and throws a little bit of himself on the fire to stop it from happening. she doesn't want that.]
Technically, they all need to be rescued--but he doesn't point that out, even jokingly. Instead--]
I'm not opposed to that. [He says, which is definitely the truth coming from someone who literally just said he'd do other people's work.] I don't mean to act like a commander, or anything. I don't mind working as a team.
[It just... doesn't sit right, leaving other people to take on the role that's usually his. There isn't much he can do here, so far out of his element--it makes him want to go harder in the few ways he can.]
I'm not opposed to it either. [she says dryly.] I typically work alone. But there's no point in working on the same thing separately in this sort of situation.
Okay. I'll do the same. [He reaches into his pocket, then, pulling out the multi-tool they were given with a wink.] And in the meantime, I'll see what I can do with this.
[He will fight these nerfs EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE CAN STILL BE INSPECTOR GADGET EVEN IF THE GADGET IS A SHIV]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
We won't be here for eight weeks, if I have anything to say about it. [The slight sulkiness in his tone is very mature.] But Margaret said she wanted to ask about different accommodations anyway, so it might not matter for long.
[...He hesitates for a minute, but. Well.]
I didn't want to say it in front of everyone, but I'm an agent with the National Security Bureau in Stellis. [Normally he wouldn't say it to anyone because that's kind of Secret Agent 101, but based on the profiles and the intense level of monitoring, he's pretty sure their abductors already know.] I'll be okay, I promise. It's my job to keep people safe.
no subject
she does find the little sulky tone to be very funny, though, her expression reflecting that.]
An agent of what? [what is national security. a beat, and then:] ... Similar to a knight, I'm guessing?
no subject
Also it's funny she says that. Actually, the comparison makes him look a little embarrassed; he lifts one hand, scratching the back of his head.]
Er--something like that. [He clears his throat.] Anyway--I'll do what I can to look out for everyone until I can get in touch with my team and get us out of here. So don't worry too much, okay?
no subject
I wasn't worried to begin with. [...] I don't intend to just sit back and let someone else rescue me. I'm also looking for a way out.
no subject
He looks at her for a minute, and there's clearly an unspoken question on his mind--but then he just nods.]
I think most of us are. It doesn't sound like anyone remembers agreeing to be here.
no subject
I certainly don't. And I wouldn't agree to this. It doesn't matter how many leaves I was offered. [...] ... If you have something to say, you may as well say it.
[temenos is her best friend she knows when someone is thinking real hard about asking a question]
no subject
Mm. The only way I would've come is if I'd been assigned here for a mission, but that's not possible.
[Not to mention, y'know. The convenient collective amnesia, and everything else suspicious about all this.
He doesn't look guilty or embarrassed at her prompting, at least; he's just quiet for a minute.]
...I was just thinking that your profile is pretty intense, too. [His gaze is searching, just a little.]
no subject
she's quiet for that same moment - the way she watches him is the way that a rattlesnake warns people approaching. calm, coiled, ready, but not actively looking for a fight.]
It's not as clean as yours. [she says, softer.]
no subject
Mine started off as an accident, so that's not saying much. [He's been carrying himself with confidence after that initial arrival, but he wasn't always a professional. Still, even that's not quite the same. He gets what she's saying.] ...Do you want to talk about it?
no subject
anyway, she tilts her head just slightly.]
Which part?
no subject
He lifts a shoulder in a shrug.]
Any of it. I'm a pretty good listener.
no subject
... I clean up messes. [she figures he gets the gist of it, what with the backstabbing part.] That's my job. My experience will likely come in handy here. I assume that's why I was brought on.
no subject
I see. [Yeah, he can read between the lines.] What makes you think that was their reasoning?
no subject
[she says this with such confidence but she actually has no idea]
no subject
no subject
You have experience with getting into these systems. And it isn't like you have a choice to participate or not. They may not have cared.
[a beat.]
And there's a good chance they won't tell us what we're delivering. Or we'll never see it. We could be trafficking. You'd never know.
no subject
He's quiet for a little while, as if deciding what to say. Eventually, he leans forward, resting his arms on his legs.]
...I don't want people to feel like they don't have a choice. [He's not naive enough to say something like "you always have a choice"--he's seen too much of the world's darkness for that, but.] There are always ways to appeal to them, so that as few people as possible can be involved in this. It's just a matter of finding out how to play their game.
[Whether that means working doubly hard to get their attention, speaking their language and pretending not to care--anything that can take the heat off of others.]
no subject
You're trying to be a hero. [she doesn't mean in any sort of like... superhero way or anything like that, but her impression is that he's trying his best to be selfless.]
no subject
I wouldn't put it that way. It's just my job to help people. If I can't get in touch with my team and get us out of here quickly, then the next best thing is to minimize harm. [And if that means doing a little extra dirty work, then, well. It wouldn't be the first time.] No one asked to be here--but even if they had, they shouldn't have to do bad things because they feel like they have no other options.
no subject
You're asking to be chewed and spat out. [she says, simply, but there's this sort of sadness to her voice, now.] That isn't... how the world works.
But that's admirable. [genuinely.] It is.
no subject
I'm tougher than you'd think! I've never failed a mission, you know. I don't plan to start now.
[Pixi? Playing a character who will take every murder as a personal failing? Say it ain't so]
All that goes for you too, okay? Things at home might be... [Well. Maybe he shouldn't make assumptions.] however they are for you, but as long as I'm here, I'll do what I can to make sure you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can figure something out.
no subject
there's a little calculating look, almost, as she watches him. like she's forming some opinions in real time.]
I told you I don't need to be rescued. [she says, eyebrow raised, but it's less mean this time. a little. like a centimeter.] If you're going to be like this, then I'd rather work with you than hand you the reins.
[well, and - the part she's not saying, which is there's something so... there's something about the way that he sees her putting her flame out, and throws a little bit of himself on the fire to stop it from happening. she doesn't want that.]
no subject
Technically, they all need to be rescued--but he doesn't point that out, even jokingly. Instead--]
I'm not opposed to that. [He says, which is definitely the truth coming from someone who literally just said he'd do other people's work.] I don't mean to act like a commander, or anything. I don't mind working as a team.
[It just... doesn't sit right, leaving other people to take on the role that's usually his. There isn't much he can do here, so far out of his element--it makes him want to go harder in the few ways he can.]
no subject
I'm not opposed to it either. [she says dryly.] I typically work alone. But there's no point in working on the same thing separately in this sort of situation.
[so there.]
If I have information to trade you, I will.
no subject
Okay. I'll do the same. [He reaches into his pocket, then, pulling out the multi-tool they were given with a wink.] And in the meantime, I'll see what I can do with this.
[He will fight these nerfs EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE CAN STILL BE INSPECTOR GADGET EVEN IF THE GADGET IS A SHIV]