mingle post? mingle post. MINGLE POST!!

[carreau]

Who: you
Broadcast: if you want
Action: also if you want
When: right. goddamn. now.

[ It's a mingle post. IN SPACE.

Just comment and tag around. ]

Comments

[theboogieman]

I don't like explaining.

[he's starting to feel kind of sick. not physically--his body feels great--but this has already been a mental obstacle course he hasn't been expecting. she's not supposed to be interested in him, she's supposed to go, "god, what a freak," and then do her best to avoid him for the rest of her time here.]

And stop sitting there, it's annoying.

[proteusmoon]

[ She takes a page from his book and reaches over to punch him lightly in the knee. ]

Then sit with me.

[theboogieman]

[he pulls his leg back, surprised--? he didn't expect her to do that.

but then... something about it makes him change his mind. he slowly lowers himself onto the floor, sitting cross-legged and slumped forward. he lets his arms rest uselessly against his knees, but refuses to look at her.

doesn't look angry, but he's not making eye contact with her. his eyes are on the floor. he says nothing about it, just waits.]

[proteusmoon]

[ She smiles a little to herself when he actually does sit down rather than climb into his shuttle and leave. She doesn't mind that he doesn't say anything, content with this much. She's inwardly surprised he made this choice, but she remains silent for a long while and when she does speak, she doesn't say anything about him deciding to sit with her. ]

I used to be what is called in my homeworld a Dark Knight. I trained since I was a child to harness the powers of dark energy and utilize blood sacrifice to become such a warrior, because the queen of my country asked it of me. She had found me abandoned as little more than a newborn and because of that, I felt I owed her everything. She was my mother, my teacher, my disciplinarian. I loved her and I dedicated my entire life to her and the nation that she brought to, even though many people of that nation looked down on me because I was an orphan with no history.

I don't regret the things I did as a Dark Knight anymore, but looking back on it, if I hadn't felt I owed her a debt, I'm not certain this is the path I would have chosen for myself, no matter how much I loved her as a person.

My background as a Dark Knight is why I beat you. And my own choice to deviate from that background is how I healed you.

[theboogieman]

[he watches her again as she tells this story, watching her posture and what she does or doesn't do with her hands as much as he watches her face.

so he's met a giant killer and, now, another knight from a faraway land. he has nothing to say to it, but his questions are all being answered, and he nods to show that he's been paying attention.]

[proteusmoon]

[ His continued attention is a bit unexpected, but not an unpleasant surprise. She stays quiet for a while, then: ]

I became captain of Baron's airship fleet, the youngest to do so in history, and war broke out. A lot happened and I was abducted to a place called Court. A universe like this-- a crossroads. Beings from all over the multiverse were dragged there for reasons nobody knew.

I changed there and I went home before I could forget that I was a knight, with duties and responsibilities. I can't go back anymore. I only have more duties and responsibilities now, as...

[ She closes her eyes and presses her lips together tightly, trying to force herself to be truthful by telling herself that it might teach him something. The problem is, she's not so sure what it is she's trying to teach him herself. ]

...as a queen. I regret leaving without saying goodbye, without asking them to leave with me.

[theboogieman]

[...he's not sure where she's going with this either. he's learning plenty about her, though her feelings don't strike much in the way of a meaningful chord...

still, he's listening. maybe she just needs to get this out. girls are like that.]

[proteusmoon]

[ She's pretty much done now, looking back at him expectantly this time. When she sees she's not getting through to him, she only sighs and goes silent herself. ]

[theboogieman]

[he watches her eyes, leans forward a little to follow where her line of sight goes. he's still curious. he wants to know why she's bothering. it just doesn't make any sense to him.]

And.

[proteusmoon]

[ That isn't a lot to go on, so she just blinks at him and quirks a brow. ]

"And" what?

[theboogieman]

[he's tired of talking. he considers not saying anything. the fact that he does fess up some words after a couple of seconds of deliberation speaks volumes about his involvement.]

What's your point.

[proteusmoon]

Ahh...

[ She laughs again a little, looking away from him and out one of the view ports at the stars outside the ship. ]

My point, I guess, is that you don't have to be alone here if you don't want to be. I know it's frightening and disorienting, and everyone wants, needs to go home just like you, but we're all trapped together whether we like it or not. You don't have to carry whatever burdens you brought here with you alone.

So, maybe you should try letting the part of you that's kept you listening to me right now for this long breathe a little more.

[theboogieman]

Hm.

[a show of camaraderie. he can understand that, at the very least, though it helps him to think of it in terms of allegiances and contacts and resources. that last part, though--he feels it is misaligned.

with the blandest expression he can summon, he reaches over for her shoulder, slowly, and... gently shoves her towards the floor because that's stupid and she needs to stop and this is how he communicates his feelings.]

Assuming again.

[proteusmoon]

[ This time, she tips right over and just lies there on the ground for a moment before extending her leg and kicking him half-heartedly in the hip with her heel. ]

Well, I assumed I would wipe the floor with you and I wasn't wrong about that, now was I?

[ There's a hint of a smile on her face again and a teasing little tone to her voice. ]

[theboogieman]

[he takes the kick and the words without complaint. in fact, he smiles.

which, in itself, is kind of terrifying.

but the skeletal expression disappears again a moment later as he lets go of her and starts to get up again. he'll go for his coat, if no one has any complaints.]

[proteusmoon]

[ She doesn't, partially because she's busy trying to figure out just what that expression of his means before she realizes it's him smiling. Then she continues to lie there on the floor, curled up a little, contemplating if it's a good sign or a bad sign. With a grin like that, it's a little difficult to tell.

But she'll optimistically take it as a good sign without another explanation to turn to and she finally gets up from the floor herself. ]

...Any time you want a real fight, you know how to contact me.

[theboogieman]

[he picks up his things and heads back to his shuttle--but he waves his hand by his head, to show that he heard her.]