driftfleet | [Open Moons Mingle Log]

Seems a waste of time. Transporting things around.

[ He thought he could bypass all of that and just find a way to do what he loves without it. ]

Well, it may be a waste of time to you, but I can assure you it isn't— especially not to the people who live here.

Besides that, you don't want to be helpless. This is a part of that. If you cannot support yourself off the ship, you will always be relying on the kindness of others. In short, you'll be helpless to truly make your own decisions.

I just need a start.

[ Just one chance. He makes a little sound of frustration. ] In ten minutes, I could make better metal parts than I see all around me. Especially now that I know things.

[ He looks to her, silently pleading with her to understand, but even he doesn't really understand himself. ]

[ She gets it. She really does. Nonetheless, she thinks he's being a little unreasonable. This is usually the part where she would scold the other half of this conversation for being petty, but, well, she's affected enough by his sudden increase in attractiveness that she's extra sympathetic and with a sigh, she gives him a light tug by the elbow so that he's in front of her. ]

The forge then. Show me where it is.

[ He hears the tone of her voice, understands her feelings, and instead of showing her the way, he lets out a breath. ]

I'm sorry.

We can do it your way. I'm the engineer; I should act like it.

What do you mean? I'm not the captain, you know. We're equals. You don't have to listen to me or treat my suggestions as orders, because they aren't.

I mean - I work on a ship, now. Not at a forge.

[ And he might not have to obey her, but it doesn't mean he doesn't want to make her happy. ]

Listen... Malak, I understand how you feel. Smithing is your passion. Continuing to foster your talent sets you at ease, because it's the one thing you have complete confidence in and great knowledge of. It's familiar and that is comforting when you're thrown into a world like this where you don't even have control of your own will.

For now, I will indulge your hastiness, but only because you will need to build up your wealth here regardless of what you choose to do with it and you're still new to all of this. You should still take other jobs that you can do safely while you're here, but I will also still help you pay for time and materials at a forge. You can pay me back in your own time, when you feel you can afford to. Does that seem fair enough?

[ There's a sort of light in his eyes, as she finishes. A kind of breathlessness. It's fair, it's fair, it's more than fair and he thinks that he is astonishingly lucky, blessed, given a gift that he'll need to repay beyond the money.

And ordinarily he doesn't take gifts from women, because of the expectations attached, but this time he will, gladly. ]

Thank you. [ - softly. ]

[ Cecil doesn't quite realize the significance of what she's saying to him. It's hard for her to remember that where he comes from, the gender roles are the opposite of how they are where she's from. Occasionally, she slips up and just forgets. ]

It's not a problem.

[ Quirk of his eyebrow. ] It's a little bit of a problem.

How's that?

Nothing comes easily. That's all.

I presume that you will shoulder your share of the work—

[ She pauses during her sentence and furrows her brow, a thought occurring to her suddenly. Ah, now she thinks she might know why he seemed so moved by her proposition. ]

Surely you don't think I would expect anything of that sort from you, for whatever reason.

The only thing I give to others with expectations is my loyalty and even then, it isn't for the things you're thinking of. I expect my loyalty to not be abused; I expect my loyalty to not be taken advantage of-- whether for evil purposes or for simply purely selfish ones.

It's hard to remember that you are me. I don't expect you to trust me immediately, but I do hope to earn your trust eventually and set to rest your fears.

[ He is quiet and taken aback and doesn't quite know what to say to this. What if I did want you? he thinks, but, no, he can't, he can't do that now. She's going to think it's something else. His eyes linger on her lips for a moment and he ducks his head, looks away.

This is just desire, anyway. It hasn't had time to be anything more. ]

I wasn't afraid of you.

[ Cecil, in her great habit of thinking the absolute best of people even before she knows them and not quite ever conscious of the effect she sometimes has on people, doesn't realize that he's struggling with his impulses. She takes his eyes not making contact with hers as a sign of mild shyness, rather than anything else. ]

Well, perhaps "fears" is a stronger word than is needed here. Worries, concerns, doubts... things like that.

I - [ But he retreats, somehow, not willing to push his feelings. ] Yes.

It's so different, where I come from.

[ This time she notices something is up, but she can't decide if she wants to push him or not, so she opts for a comforting, friendly pat on the shoulder. ]

It'll be fine.

[ It makes him smile. Makes him feel warm. ]

Shall we go start?

[ She smiles too and nods, withdrawing her hand and gesturing for him to lead the way. ]

Yes, we shall.

[Open Moons Mingle Log]

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