...And also these.

[thespaceopera]

[ Calibration Rooms ]
( for N-Z characters )

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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - Q Nami Natasha Romanoff Nelkeila Tarid Nux Nyssa al Ghul Octavia Blake One Peggy Carter Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève

R - U R. Daneel Olivaw Rapunzel Remy LeBeau Riku Robin Redbreast Rogue Santanico Pandemonium Shawn Hunter Stefan (Alesci) Salvatore Steve "Orion" Rogers Steven Quartz Universe Souji Seta Stiles Stilinski Syeira Tadashi Hamada Tekhetsio

V - Z Vash the Stampede Vima Sunrider Vision (The) Wanda Maximoff Wrath Yamanaka Ino

Comments

[sinuosity]

[ Recognition flickers across her face, and at the word father she stills. ]

All the men you saw, those in black, they were all him, once. They come for the same reason.

[enshields]

[He looks at her, askance, and takes a sip of that water. It's clear, and cool. He wishes it weren't.

After a moment,]

What reason is that?

[sinuosity]

[ Simply, ]

They are lost, and broken. They want an end to their pain. The outside world is cruel.

[enshields]

[He makes a soft noise, torn between an exhaled huff of laughter and something shot through with understanding.]

Does it help?

[sinuosity]

[ She frowns, not liking the sound. ]

They are changed. Better — it's subjective. They are strong, but they have to be to make it to our gates. I know little of them before they are tested.

[enshields]

[His boot scuffs the earth beneath his crossed ankles, he closes his eyes, too brief to be restful.]

Do you mind if I ask about the canary?

[sinuosity]

[ Nyssa's expression softens. ]

I do not. What do you wish to ask?

[enshields]

What would've happened if I'd followed it?

[Her, his mind prompts him unbidden. Instinct: the bird represents something loved. He thinks about picket fences and children that favour their mother, and how little of that light is left.]

[sinuosity]

Her, [ Nyssa corrects, softly. ] she would have led you home.

You are not the only one lost, Steve Rogers.

[enshields]

[He exhales.]

I'm sorry.

[He's heard those words more than once, masquerading as something more profound than what they are: just words. Meaningless without the sentiment behind them. But he means them wholeheartedly.]

[sinuosity]

[ Quietly, ]

Her name was Sara. She was the bravest, strongest person I knew.

[enshields]

[She doesn't seek pity, maybe not even compassion. To her, he's a stranger. He has no more place in this world than the one he woke up in, but she's trying to make it mean something.

Was. He studies the fire.]

My mother's name. She was the same for me.

[sinuosity]

[ It's pain shared in silence, as the fire crackles and she puts away the bottle of water. He gives her no pity. ]

Eat. I'll take first watch. Tomorrow, we will catch our prey.

[enshields]

[He drains the last of the small cup (is it warmer? feels like) and wipes it down before handing it back, politely.]

'Are you sure you want a stranger sleeping in your brain?' is definitely the strangest question I've asked anyone today.

[It's lightly said.]

But... if it's all the same to you, I really don't need the rest, ma'am.

[sinuosity]

Stranger things have happened.

[ She pauses. ]

If you have no objection, then we can put out the fire. Do you hunt? Between the two of us it would be greatly expedited. Father does not like me out for long.

[enshields]

[Soft,]

I hunt.

[For too many things. For just one, now. But he stands, and offers her a hand.]

[sinuosity]

[ She stands by herself, to her full height, commanding. But, ]

Thank you.

[ The swords get tucked into her belt. The bow in hand. Nyssa picks up the travel bag, and then she hands it to him. ]

Follow.

[enshields]

[He take it, slings it crosswise along his body so it'll stay out of his way. However:]

Ma'am, I realize I'm a guest here, and I appreciate your hospitality. But if we do this, I'd prefer it be as equals.

[She's a leader, he can see it in her bearing, and he knows the type. But so is he, and there's only one man alive he'd follow anywhere.]

[sinuosity]

I've never had an equal.

[ She looks back at him, curiously, frozen in a half-step forward. ]

Will you follow me this once?

[enshields]

[He weighs the words. A question now, rather than a command. It's enough of a compromise that he nods his acquiescence.]

All right. Lead on.