driftfleet | (no subject)

[He doesn't stagger back and he doesn't freeze up, but he looks more startled than he should, knowing Misty. But after only a slight hesitation he gives her a quick embrace and pats her on the back.]

Er, well, it is a natural extension of the gardens project I'd already begun. I'm glad you like it.

I love it!

[Best captain!!! She beams at him, then runs over to inspect the swamp more closely.]

We should get some water-lilies if we can. You can eat them and I got potions I can make with them too.

[And they might look nice, too. He nods.] I believe I saw some at one of the pools on Lavendula; I'll ask where they may be acquired. I'd offer to move some of the fish over here temporarily for effect, but I'm afraid they're the salt-water kind.

Oh, that's all right, you've already done so much. I'm sure I saw some crawdads in the water down there, or something like 'em anyway. We could eat them too. You ever had a crawfish boil?

Er, I can't say I have. But that's not exactly an indicator of anything in particular, except that I don't generally eat.

Oh. Right. Can you eat? Like... For fun?

It would require a slight adjustment, and I've no guarantee I would taste anything in the same way you would--but yes, I believe I could.

But you can see and hear and feel just fine... what about smell? Can you smell things?

Yes, although as with taste I can't say if my mind perceives those scents the same as yours would.

I mean... that makes sense. Other species don't smell the same way we do either.

Precisely. Though I can drink with little enough difficulty, so if there should be some kind of group meal I needn't be entirely left out.

Don't suppose you get drunk though, do ya?

[And oh she's grinnin real big at that image.]

[That gets him looking amused and rueful at the same time.]

Despite Mr. Stark's best efforts, no. Not that I'd think it would be a terribly good idea if I did, mind. Control is rather important for my abilities.

[She nods.] Mine too. Though you're better at it than me. Maintaining control I mean.

[His eyes widen a bit at the admission.]

It's something I strive for; even I make mistakes.

Have you ever lost your temper?

[He looks, of all things, a little embarrassed at the question.]

Er, actually, no. I've never truly been angered except in the abstract.

[Maybe Bruce tweaked his programming????]

Really? Never?

Er, there was the time a became cross at someone for destroying one of the maintenance bots on the network.

Just cross?

[She frowns.]

Did you do anything about it?

[He nods.]

Of course I did. I wrote a program similar to the one used on ours here on the Windrose that prevented them from exterminating the vermin, as that was what was causing the problem in the first place. Then I helped the maintenance personnel on the ship install it to prevent any other displays of wanton violence.

[She huffs.]

Not exactly what I meant. You didn't you know... yell or wanna fight or anything like that?

[He purses his lips.]

As much as I've trained for combat, I rarely feel the desire to initiate it. I suppose I tend toward the defensive rather than the offensive in nearly every circumstance.

Wish I was like that.

[She kneels and trails a hand in the water.]

I never mean to get angry, but I do. A lot.

[He sits down next to her on the barrier.]

It's not the anger that's a problem, Misty. It's a perfectly natural response to things - one of the factors people use to classify me as inhuman, in fact. I don't believe it's that I'm not capable of anger, but my frame of reference is so very different than anyone else's the normal stimuli don't affect me in the same way at all.

Channeling the anger into a productive outlet is far more difficult.