a proposition

[heresyandlace]

Who: Tekhetsio
Broadcast: Network video - sent to all ships
Action: SS Pathstone - he's hanging out in his 'office'
When: Oct 14, late morning

[as the broadcast begins, he knocks on the receiver with a knuckle, causing all speakers transmitting the message to give nice, sharp little pop noises. just to make sure everyone is listening. and then there is the image of a very pretty man with lavender eyes smirking into the camera.]

This meager allowance that they've started us off with really is a shame, isn't it? Only enough to make one significant purchase... and even then, we must choose between vitals such as palatable food, and those luxuries that keep us sane and happy.

It's almost cruel.

[and with that, he hoists up one of the bottles of alcohol that had been offered for sale on various way-stations, making sure that the camera gets a good view of it.]

...Being the generous creature that I am, I'm here to offer everyone listening the chance at a trade. I have alcohol. It is much more potent than anything that you will find on the stations, and I am looking to sell it.

And, since I know we are all still hurting for spending cash, I am taking payments of a few--very specific--different kinds.

Hail the SS Pathstone if you are interested, and we can discuss further arrangements.

[he tilts the bottle toward the camera, in salute]

Cheers.

Comments

[heresyandlace]

[if she only knew that he's laughing because she's right.]

Do you not want to tell me? I suppose it's rude to ask a lady her age...

[proteusmoon]

[ He plays it off well enough that she can't tell how right or how wrong she is. All she knows for certain is that she hit a nerve. The appreciation in his laughter just confuses her more than anything. ]

It depends on why you want to know. I am not some highborn lady, so that's hardly it.

[heresyandlace]

[there are few that can walk the line between being insightful and just plain annoying him, and he appreciates that she manages it. either that or he has a slight, off-kilter masochistic streak.]

I want to know because you make it hard to tell.

[proteusmoon]

[ Possibly it's a little bit of both? ]

I imagine you're much older than I am.

[heresyandlace]

[the world may never know.]

No specific answer, though? Now who's being dodgy and suspicious?

[proteusmoon]

[ She almost rolls her eyes at that. ]

Twenty-one.

[heresyandlace]

[if he didn't deserve an eyeroll before, he might deserve one now. he hadn't really been intending on outright picking on her over her age, but she manages to surprise him by being even younger than he'd guessed.

he almost laughs.]

Really? That's all?

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil furrows her brow and frowns with great disapproval at the way he responds. ]

Yes, really.

[heresyandlace]

I'm surprised.

Which, you should probably take as a compliment.

[proteusmoon]

Age doesn't necessarily have anything to do with insight. Experience is far more important.

[heresyandlace]

Yes. Though age does help.

[proteusmoon]

It somewhat depends on what your world is like, I think.

[heresyandlace]

Oh, do you think so?

[again, he sounds genuinely curious. as if there has been nothing antagonistic about this conversation at all.]

[proteusmoon]

I know so. I've fought alongside child soldiers no older than a handful of years.

[heresyandlace]

Ah, well. I will grant you that.

...Still, there are some perspectives that you simply can't get from living for less than a century.

[proteusmoon]

Mm, is this the part where you invalidate my opinions because of my age?

[heresyandlace]

Not at all, actually.

[--despite what he'd just been halfway arguing. that had been more of a side discussion than anything. because that's what a side conversation with Tek is like.]

I was originally asking because you spoke like someone older than what I'd assumed you to be.

[proteusmoon]

[ Not for the first time during a conversation with Tek, Cecil finds herself caught off guard by his frankness with her. That actually did sound much more like a compliment and she expected him to follow-up his argument. When he doesn't, she visibly flounders briefly for an appropriate response. ]

...Let us simply say I have been through a lot.

[heresyandlace]

[yeah, taking a couple points for himself over the hitch in conversation. just quietly too-pleased with himself.]

That must be the case. Something is to blame, at any rate.

...And that means you're human, then?

[and there might be just a touch of disappointment in his tone when he asks it]

[proteusmoon]

[ She gets over being flustered quickly at that tint of disappointment. She takes mild offense to it on reflex, even though she knows she's not human. ]

Half.

[heresyandlace]

Half?

[he sounds maybe tentatively curious. or tentatively hopeful.]

What might the other half be?

[proteusmoon]

[ She doesn't understand the hopefulness. Why is it so important to him? Well, in any case, this train of conversation at least confirms her suspicions about him not being human.

Still, she prefers to withhold that information. She's only told Robin so far about her heritage and she thinks it's best to keep it that way. She doesn't trust Tek enough -- or at least can't anticipate his actions and words accurately enough so far -- to share that with him. ]

Not to be rude, but that's a story for another day.

[heresyandlace]

Fair enough.

[he's refused to discuss his own heritage often enough that he can't fault caution.]

Though, the mystery does add to my curiosity.

[proteusmoon]

I'd start taking your case of "chronic boredom" seriously if it didn't. You may ask again some other time.

[heresyandlace]

[a low chuckle. boy does he seriously appreciate a good smartass.]

I will.