driftfleet | 001 | the welcome wagon job

Entry tags:

001 | the welcome wagon job

Who: Parker and you!
Broadcast: nope!
Action: all over the place
When: from now until ~~forever~~ drift week

Bishop

[ she barely skimmed the surface of the first ship that held her - and not for lack of trying, which is simultaneously frustrating and exhilarating (she chooses to focus on the latter) - when poof, like magic she's standing somewhere else.

magic's not real though. right? is it? is it?

if hardison can find her here, he really is the best, and he really did look hard. she's not counting on it.

she's at the ready the second her feet touch down on the bridge. she's unarmed - to her chagrin - but it's okay. she may not be a hitter, but she doesn't need a weapon to be dangerous. the confetti confuses but doesn't faze her. if there happens to be a person there, on the other hand, and they get too close, they'll find themselves pushed against the wall with surprising strength, forearm digging into their neck ]

How'd you do that?

[ whos and whys are so overrated, really.

if no one is there when she arrives, however, she'll be eating that chocolatey dessert (you snooze you lose!) and making her way through the ship, mapping it in her mind, feet not making a sound on the floor. when she hears people approach, she'll try to hide - did the ceiling always have a blond woman clinging to it? ]

A ship! Any ship!

[ like she's going to just stay where they want her! there's a situation. that situation must be dealt with. the first thing she needs is a safe house, and she's going to be looking for one in every single ship (ideally, she'd like to have one on each). don't mind the stranger silently creeping on your ship, listening to walls, touching panels, trying to find a space to crawl into, and retreating into what cover there is at every approach. happens every day, right?

oh, and if you got something especially valuable lying around, sorry, she's pocketing it. look, she doesn't know you earn money just by existing here, okay, and she's not willing to count on it either, if she's been informed by now. a girl has got to eat! ]

Planetside

[ parker doesn't stay put for long. she takes the shuttle on as fast a ride as it can handle and eventually ends up touching down on kayann. wandering around, she helps herself to essentials everywhere she goes; a snack here, a taser there, ooh cool a skydiver kit! her hands grab things so quickly and smoothly no one seems to know where they've gone - or, in most cases, notice it until she's far away. you have to be looking right at her hands or know what you're looking for to understand what happened and she's already on her way. best be quick!

she perches on a private spot, high above the city, to eat some of her loot (if people don't pick up their meal order promptly, how is that her fault? gosh! it's not like she poisoned it and left it for them to consume!).

there's a reality and it must be dealt with. she needs to get to know the place she's ended up in; survival first, exit strategy second. that sure is a pretty blond woman you can see climbing the side of the building, or you've run into in an air duct, or, alternatively, you've found puzzling over which plant to buy. yes, buy. food, clothes, equipment, a weapon - they're survival necessities, they tramp morals. but a luxury, even one she doesn't fully understand (nor does she grasp why the store beckoned to her so, why she feels the need to get a plant when there's not a leverage consolidated and associates office to put it in, when she has no desire to stay here in this place she didn't choose to go to - those days were meant to have ended a long time ago! but she's not overthinking it. it did, so she went in.), that, she's learned she should pay for or leave behind. unless, of course, it's owned by a bad guy. she peeks at the guy behind the register. he does look a little shifty, doesn't he? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ oh, when she's trying to scare him he wouldn't be able to miss it, this is just her being herself.

now trouble in 'formative years' - she can understand. hers were about as messed up as you imagine a person's having to be in order for them to grow up into her. she can even understand his choice of cover - a gas mask is functional, which she appreciates, and it hides without embellishing. she gets that. ]

Can I see?

[He kind of likes it. There's no pretense or trying to be something she isn't. Most people at least act like they're afraid of him.

He beckons her to follow, figuring they could continue this enlightening conversation somewhere one can find chairs. Looma's domain on the bridge is especially good for this, as you can get a lovely view of the stars from the Captain's chair.]

No, but I'm tired of standing and you are far too interesting to leave alone. Join me? I like to look at the stars in comfort and the bridge has an excellent view.

[ she's been trying to learn how to pretend and be something she isn't, but she's not very good at it yet, especially without someone in her ear feeding her lines. she can pretend to be a waitress or anything that requires blending in without a lot of conversation - but in one on one talks?

herself is all she's got.

she looks at his desired destination suspiciously, but it's the talk of the stars that wins her over, and she joins him, taking the best seat she can find. ]

You think I'm interesting? [ most people think she's scary. or insane. interesting is such a surprisingly kind description, it knocks her more off balance than his appearance ever could. ]

[Everyone tries that at some point, and the degree of success always comes down to where the person starts at, who helps them, and how much effort they actually want to put in. Goalposts move so often, they're virtually useless.

He sits a relatively polite distance away, but turns to face her in his seat.]

Well, not everyone is so quick to ask about my mask or to the degree in which you did. I want to know where that comes from. What makes the gears in your head move.

[ for her, the attempts have mostly been at passing as various characters as part of a con, not exactly your standard goalposts.

he earns himself another suspicious look. ]

Are you a shrink? [ she doesn't much like those, they tell her she's crazy and try to give her drugs that dull her edge. but the last time wasn't so bad. it was even kinda fun - group therapy is a lot more interesting than the one-on-one stuff. ]

[Goalposts no less, and the kind that are designed to be taken down once they have served their purpose.

Mantis doesn't bat an eye at the look, not that there is much to see. He smirks, too.]

The ship thinks I am. What I really do is more of an old habit that requires learning about people's minds. You honestly strike me as mild compared to some of the people I've worked with.

[ it's much easier to pretend to be someone you're not when there's an expiration date. ]

What do you really do?

[ it sounds to her like nate, or sophie - a mastermind or a grifter. they understand people way better than any shrink she's ever met. it looks like magic to her, she understands so little. ]

[He sits up a little, sensing an opportunity to brag a little. His head tilts a little to one side.]

I helped military forces analyse their opponents to make them easier to take down in a fight. Lucrative work, and occasionally you get to work with interesting people.

[ she knows one of those interesting people. she works with one of those interesting people. she wouldn't be surprised if he knows that interesting person because eliot spencer's reputation has reached farther and wider than any of theirs, and they're a crew of infamy. ]

So you're a mastermind.

[ like nate. called it! ]

[Mantis worked with such interesting people, although he's trying not to think of that too much.

What he does do is laugh, nasally and with a touch of wickedness.]

It has been far too long since someone described me like that! I prefer "greatest practitioner" when it comes to the full scope of my work.

[ yeah, that definitely sounds like eliot. before he joined their crew 'things-people-don't-want-to-think-about' were his specialty. ]

Why? [ she frowns at the preferred term ] It's a mouthful.

[He is one of those 'things-people-dont'-want-to-think-about', depending on who one asks.]

It's honest. A mastermind merely plans. What I do is a unique skill that few people are naturally resistant to.

[ see there had to be a reason she finds him tolerable!

merely plans? she snorts, clearly he hasn't met a real mastermind! ]

So what is it?

[A perfect lead in, if ever there was one.]

I don't know who this Eliot is, but he must be someone clever to leave what seems to be a positive impression on you. That's all I have right now. Surface thoughts are fleeting at best and therefore a bit difficult to read.

[ instantly, her eyes grow wide and she jumps out of her seat and away from him like he just bit her. ]

How'd you do that?

[ she doesn't think of the augment in her head, right this moment she doesn't even think that maybe that's proof that he's her kidnapper - that he studied her and knows her, though it'll come in a second or two.

no, the first thing in her mind is a blinding sting of fear. it only lasts a moment, but it's sharp. she hates psychics, the way only someone with too many things to hide can. ]

[He's a bit delighted with the drama of her reaction. Perhaps it was unwise, but it was such an easy thing to do. Such a fun bit of chaos to cause. He couldn't help it, honest!

He sits up fully, knowing from all the fear that he probably should have left well enough alone. Not enough to really feel bad, but enough that an apology was not out of the question.]

The same way you grow blonde hair from your scalp: I was born with these powers. The only real trick is controlling them.

You're really psychic - [ it's half question, half statement. ]

Do you know my future, too?

[ more importantly, and horrifyingly - does he know her past? she tries to decisively not think it, but that has always been and will always be an exercise in futility.

eliot. she focuses, with a growing desperation. he already knows about eliot. eliot, eliot, eliot.

what would eliot do?

he'd jam his head against the console, choke him on his own mask, he'd kick his ass is what he'd do. yeah, that's a way more fun notion. ]

[Oh boy... Bad enough that she's freaking out, but he can hear that line of logic. He agrees with it in principle. Goodness knows he's deserved far worse for the kind of monstrous behavior he's demonstrated in the past.]

Potentially. I have read the past and future of thousands, I think. You, however, have had enough of mind reading today. A lifetime, even.

[ enough for a lifetime is right. psychic, definitely psychic.

or creeper stalker kidnapper.

or both. ]

Got that right. You know what I'll do if you try. [ that's not a threat, it's a fact. if he digs into her head, she'll dig int his skull. in fact, she's not sure digging into his skull just to eliminate the threat isn't the right move here. ]

[He's met people who were less than enthused with his abilities, but rarely to this kind of degree. It's a point of pride and caution.]

I'll even swear it on my mother's grave, if it helps any.

[He's not in any kind of mood to figure out just how fast she swings and staying on her good side also keeps him in Looma's good graces. It's all fun and games until someone loses respectability.

Then he lets out a quick breathy laugh.]

And yet still I don't know your name.

Why would that help? She's already dead. Unless - is your mom a ghost?

[ and did he like her - that's a big factor here. if she swore on her father's grave she'd want to break the oath just to see if something happened to it.

her first instinct is to say 'good, don't', punch him and run away.

it's a good instinct. yeah. yeah. let's do that!

but what if he lied and is still reading her mind? it's what she'd do, for sure. she eyes him suspiciously. ]

And I don't know your face. [ guess which is a bigger disadvantage. everything about this sucks. ]

It's meant to be a gesture of good faith. If she ever did become a ghost, I never knew of it.

[He's uncomfortable with the topic, though. His shoulders are hunching up a bit and his voice lowered slightly.

He'd read her mind to try and find a means to calm her nerves, but that would only make things worse. Dilemma. Still, there had to be something. Even the most wound up bundle of nerves could be unwraveled with the right words and time.]

No one knows my face. [Sigh.] It's easier that way.

Edited 2017-08-29 08:14 (UTC)

Does it cast a spell or something?

[ she doesn't get this 'gesture of good faith' of his - he's not giving her anything, he's just saying some words that so far seem pretty meaningless, unless she's missing something.

she's never been any good at reading people. she's been improving lately, under her team's tutelage, but she still has a long way to go, and 'uncomfortable' is pretty much the default setting people seem to have around her so to her - it looks pretty normal.

he's right, of course, there has to be a way to sooth her. but she doesn't know what it is either. ]

Yeah - obviously. [ that's her point, he has all the cards and he's asking for more. not very sportsman like! ]

[He raises a brow.] It means that I am trying to...show that I mean you no harm.

[It's fairly obvious now that she isn't the kind of person for whom idioms and similar phrases hold a lot of meaning. The mystery of trying to talk her down is a fascinating puzzle for him. Since arriving, he hasn't had much opportunity to really sit down and try and figure out how someone's mind works.

He makes a questioning noise and crosses his arms. Redirection might be in order.]

I can tell you more about the rest of the crew if you want. Our captain is quite memorable.

Oh. [ she tries to turn it over in her head. nope, she really doesn't see it. ] You're bad at it.

[ even if she had sworn over the grave of someone she truly loves - it wouldn't keep her from hurting someone for survival. the dead are dead, and their grave - a pile of dirt over a casket with a rock on top. life is more important.

she doesn't miss how he, once again, diverts attention from his face. she may have to sneak into his room while he's sleeping and take a peek. that is, if he even sleeps. ]

Memorable how? Do they also read minds? Do they eat people?

001 | the welcome wagon job

[action] ahh thank you <3 I'm so glad you enjoy her! I already love this cr sfm

[action] She's this perfect out of left field kind of personality.It contrasts wonderfully with his

[action] and he has patience for dealing with her which she honestly really needs

[action] He does like to poke around people's brains... Her's is very poke-able.

[action] poke with caution, she pokes back with very sharp tools

[action] That could be a fun fight. She'd have to catch him first.

[action] that sounds like a challenge~

[action] He probably won't risk setting off a new crewmate, but it could be interesting.

[action] we shall see where the wind takes us!

[action] Like a gentle breeze or a typhoon! :3

[action] I wouldn't put my money on a gentle anything

[action] Between the two of them? Probably not

[action] therein lies the fun, my friend!

[action] They're like two territorial cats.

[action] /hiss!

[action] Meow

[action] warning for murderous thoughts

[action] She really swings fists, I like it

[action] she has one setting: extreme

[action] Her imagination is incredible

[action] so is his attitude!

[action] He was never a particularly nice person in the games

[action] niceness is overrated

[action] it's nice, but he can't make much use of it

[action] practicality is key, you gotta travel light!

[action] no one wants kindness to turn into regret on accident, that weighs you down

[action] she can't be weighed down, you weigh her down you kill her

[action] Like a grape? Also, sorry about the late reply! Work started a little early.

[action] sorry about all the late replies, things keep happening sob

[action] everyone gets busy around this time of year

[action] hopefully I can get my speed back at some point

[action] Same! I'll be tagging in the evenings with my work.

[action] I hope work is going well <3

[action] I've already met some of the kids I'll be working with. So smol.