mk.08 (text)

[paraclete]

Who: Kaworu Nagisa ... + you!
Broadcast: fleetwide, text
Action: not currently, could change
When: early evening, today.

I haven't taken the time to endure the exploits many of you have been. It doesn't suit me, I think. I'm being productive in other ways, although I'm not sure I can share the fruits of my labor. But bearing something is fulfillment, right? If you have given life to your work, it feels good, even if that life is mild and quiet. Sometimes, perhaps, even moreso then. Well, not everybody wants to be in history books.

Hey, what's some soap you really like? I've gotten myself blotted with ink, which is why I'm pausing to sit back and talk. I didn't want to mark my papers. Then again, it's dry by now, so maybe I can just leave it.

One more question. Does anyone want to make a small trade?

Comments

[mucked]

One nibble I can forgive. But further attempts? [ tut, indeed! ] The lesson was hard-learned.

[paraclete]

Oh, I'm not saying it was bad. I just went on to assume those things tasted that way.

I'm realizing that's not exactly true after all. Rarely have I been more misled in life than by those labels.

[mucked]

For your sake, I hope it stays that way.

[ -- for as misleads go, that one is awfully mild. ]

[paraclete]

:)

To take any path in life is to risk going down a path less favorable. It's kind of you to wish something better for me. Sometimes I realize how little I've learned after all.

[Plus, human beings are good at giving trust issues.]

[mucked]

Although -- for practicality's sake, I'd imagine whatever's provided in your ship's lavatories ought to deal with that ink. If it doesn't, let me know. I'm positive something stronger can be found.

[paraclete]

I scrubbed a bit, but there are spaces of light grey on me. Maybe my skin is eating up what pigment it can.

I started thinking maybe I should leave it. It's nice to see some change sometimes. On the other hand, it's glaring, even if just to me, like the reminder of a mistake.

[A small and stupid mistake, sure—spilling an inkwell shouldn't spell catastrophe. But Kaworu is very sensitive to his own mistakes. Call him tired.]

[mucked]

Some people are rather purposeful about it. Ink on skin, that is. Tattoos and the like.

[paraclete]

I've seen pictures! I like it. I don't know if I could do it, though.

[mucked]

Me neither, truth be told. They grow to be a little too -- distinctive.

[ -- having a recognizable scar is bad enough. but at least all of hers are most often under clothing. ]

[paraclete]

I would like to be distinctive, maybe,

[Maybe. It hurts him to be set apart, but he also has a lot wrapped up in individuality.]

And I would try it, but it might not stick to me.

Is there any picture you would get? If you felt you could.

[mucked]

Dear Lord, must I choose?

[ a pause. ]

I imagine a Saint George's cross would be a touch too patriotic.

[paraclete]

If you're patriotic, it means you love your country, and if you love a thing, it's good. If that's what suits you, I'm sure it would be a beautiful addition to you.

[mucked]

-- Something like that. Although Saint George and the dragon was one of my most favourite play-pretend games when I was a child. Any patriotism would merely be collateral.

[paraclete]

I read the legend when I was younger. Made me wonder a lot.

Favorites from youth are a good thing to keep for yourself, too. The heart wants to remember well and fondly, I'm sure.

[mucked]

But in the end I think I'd rather no ink at all. I don't often see the use in it -- apart from sentimentality.

[ and although she can be sentimental, certainly, she's not in the business of wearing it on her skin so literally. ]

[paraclete]

I know some for whom sentimentality is the greatest motivation. But I know others for whom it is a disquieting crush.

A spectrum, right?

[mucked]

It takes all sorts.

[ allsorts. bollocks, now she wants a sweetie. ]

[paraclete]

That's very kind of you to say.

[The proverbs he heard growing up were less like that and a lot fuller of doom-and-gloom.]

[mucked]

That's twice, now, you've accused me of kindness. I must be losing my touch.

[paraclete]

Your touch so far has been a gracious gift, and I would commend you for it, not belittle. Then again, I personally think that kindness can be beneficial to the self. But I know it's more harrowing than that to some.

[mucked]

It doesn't harrow me but -- I'd venture to guess you'd hear a very different report if you went so far as to ask my crew whether their captain was kind.

[ but she isn't cruel, either. she walks a line in the middle, dipping to either side as needed. ]

[paraclete]

But you are who you are to me. To anyone else, you might be vastly different. The person you are to me, though, is the person I specifically have met and taken into my thoughts. My experience with you is tailored to me.

It's not bad to behave in different ways toward different people, either. It just happens that the circumstances between you and I have thus far facilitated kindness.

Nice, right? :)

[mucked]

Nice.

I suppose it's a comfort to know you're an equal partner in the phenomenon. And I'm not the only one to blame for it.

[ humour, surely. ]

[paraclete]

I have been blamed for phenomena less fun than this one. If this is my transgression for the day, I'd like to go ahead and stick with it.

[Humor. Yes.]

[mucked]

Oh? And what else have you been blamed for?