driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Robin
Broadcast: Audio, accidentally open to the whole fleet.
Action: If applicable!
When: Middle of the day this week.

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[it kind of seems like Robin didn't mean for this message to be public, what with the way his voice suddenly cuts in mid-word and keeps going as if he was already talking to someone. quietly.]

--utes late, since I'm staying with this family... They're nice, but the old lady always accosts me when I try to leave. She's convinced I've never eaten in my life. She's, I don't know, four feet tall? Talks with this weird accent? Her daughter says it's because she's from a northern island, but I think she's just fucking with me--

[and here he is cut off by the sudden cackling of a much older woman. her voice gets louder and she presumably invades his personal space. she does have a weird accident. she might be making it up.]

Bird boy! Are you talking to your friend? Tell them they do not feed you enough! [another hearty cackle.] You're so tall and thin that the wind will pick you right up, whip you around like a kite!

I'm-- [awkward.] I'm probably going to be fine, ma'am...

No, no. You are too skinny! And too pale.

[there's a sudden "ggkk--" from Robin, but nothing else.]

You look like fish belly. Sick child. Go sit in the sun instead of staying inside another day, like real bird!

[Robin may or may not quietly mumble something about that just being "what he looks like" before the message (thankfully) ends. how awkward. still, nothing says you can't leave a message in response...]

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[he... oh.

even when he's specifically prepared and waiting for Robin to say something surprising, he still manages to be caught off guard. Robin can't see the blink, or whatever progression of startlement and confusion might hint across Tek's face, but he can hear the pause.

until finally Tek gives a little laugh.]

Are you sure you really want to know?

[he somehow manages to hide for as long as it takes him to pause. when the silence ends with a laugh and not bitter dismissal, he peeks up over his fingers--a little surprised that Tek is even humoring him.

the smile that quirks up is a little too genuine. travels right to his eyes, curious, as he lowers his hands against the table.]

Of course... The guys I learned it from would say all kinds of shit, so I've really got no idea.

[and when Robin's eyes are up again, Tek is still engaged in the conversation, but he's really as far away from it as he can actually be. leaned back in the booth, lounging over in the corner of his seat, fingers thoughtfully over his mouth--just one more little wall between himself and whatever he might be at risk of expressing, and Robin.

he's trying to continue the talk as normal, because he is at least curious, even if it is hesitantly so.]

Did they?

Yeah...

[ah, perhaps he was too enthusiastic. he reigns himself in a little, holding his elbows (squaring his shoulders) and watching the little plates slowly pass by their table.]

Though, actually, I learned most of it from absorbing and listening... No one was exactly going to sit down and teach me. Pretty sure those punks who'd say I sound halfway decent were just looking for a laugh...

[he looks halfway apologetic, then, even if it's towards the sushi and not Tek.]

So... I couldn't exactly be offended if you told me to quit while I'm ahead.

[normally, at least one of them needs to be looking at the other, because both of them seeking conversational distance by looking away is just too much of a surrender to social discomfort.

but this is one of those cases where he just can't seem to settle his eyes on anything but the plates rolling by.]

...Well, I don't speak any of the other languages that you know. It would be nice to have some way to communicate that not everyone around is privy to.

[and no, forehead-speak doesn't count.]

You do sound like garbage, though.

[out of all the things that run through his head, all of the feelings, the shades of relief, the joy at being let in on this private thing he should not know, only one reaction makes it out to the table.]

Garbage?

[that's the worst comparison he could have made!]

I was setting you up to compliment me! A gentle letdown, at the very least!

[he's laughing now. it's the best release of awkward, horrible tension, after all. he can't even really answer as the server shows up with Robin's drink. he just waves a helpless hand and giggles.

if Robin wants to order anything, he'll have to do it himself.

eventually--]

Goodness, it's nothing personal. I meant it literally! ...You know those machines that chew up garbage? In the sink. That's what you sound like...

Ah-- [the server's arrival gets him to quiet down, at least.] Thank you.

[the server laughs it off too (oh, working in food service...) and since Robin wants nothing else, leaves them in peace. he is now keenly aware of how other people can hear him.

won't stop him from being grumpy, though.]

Garbage disposal? Tek, that's even worse.

You wanted to know.

[he shrugs one shoulder. he can look at him a little bit now.]

The sounds are all in your mouth. It's like you're chewing on them.

[he finally picks something up off the conveyor. rice with slabs of fish on them, really simple. the funny thing is that he expected to be bad, but not this bad. he was passable in the tunnels, and hasn't quite realized the "real thing" is much more elegant...]

So I don't articulate well. How is it supposed to sound?

Ameer yeh, lekhai. Ha yuruah.

[he breathes the words easily instead of speaks them, tilting the R's just so, purring the other sounds so they're not so harsh. it suits the lowest, even tone of his voice very well.

and he plucks a set of rolls off the conveyor... but turns his nose up at them once he sees them up close. too much... mayonnaise, or whatever that is. this plate gets set in front of Robin.]

[the dance begins. with a somewhat defeated frown, Robin dexterously accepts the new plate while sliding his own in Tek's direction. he pretends the chopsticks don't exist, popping a roll into his mouth to cover his lack of an immediate comeback.

nothing comes to mind, though.] ...Fine.

[oh, much better. Tek will use his chopsticks for now, but it's only to delicately separate the fish from the rice, and eat the meaty bits first.]

I suppose you'll just have to practice, if you want to get better.

[oh and he'll just conveniently glance over at the conveyor as he says it, fishing off a plate of something deep-fried.]

I would like to... If only so you can't pick at me every moment I try.

[he knows he would. he takes an experimental sip of his drink, and--]

Ah-- [he looks a little surprised, but brightens.] It's sweet! The drink, not you.

[in case that wasn't clear.]

[he takes a bite of the fried shapes he'd snagged off the belt, but immediately makes a bit of a face. and he waves off Robin's comment--don't worry, he wouldn't have assumed that for a minute.

he drops the uneaten half of his fried treat back into the bowl.]

...I think they're vegetables.

Really? [he grabs another something that at least has an obvious crustacean tail sticking out of it, and slides it in front of Tek. he reaches over to steal one of those fried vegetables out of the bowl. it disappears in seconds.] Itsh pretty good...

[he... finishes chewing before he tries again.] How do you feel about crustaceans?

[once more they trade, and once more Tek is much happier with his new selection. he doesn't even pick this one apart. he pops the whole thing--inedible tail bit and all--into his mouth.]

Not very filling, but they're still one of the more delicious creatures in this world.

Maybe we could catch you a whale...

[he says it half-jokingly. he'd already thought of offering the dragon some grilled fish if he didn't fill up here--but Tek would quickly eat him out of metaphorical house and home.]

Or a giant crab. I hear there's a lot of big stuff out in that ocean...

There is always big stuff in the oceans.

[and he sounds distinctly displeased about it. it sounds like Opinions. and he zeroes in on a plate of skinny fish fried whole.]

[with all the food Tek's been rejecting, Robin has enough in front of him to stay busy for a while.]

Oh? You sound a little annoyed about that...

Do you know many things that live in the ocean?

[oh, yes, one bite in and these fish are immediately his favorites. they are about to be daintily devoured... as are any others that go gliding past him over the course of their stay.]

I'm not personally acquainted with them...

[omnom... nom...]

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