two ☀ video / action

[deshabille]

Who: Mal & YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Cargo bay of the SS Caprine.
When: Friday all day!

I woke up this morning [from hanging upside down, as one does] and thought: what haven't I done since I got here?

[A pause for effect.]

Well, I'll tell you. I haven't gotten into any good fights. And I think that ought to change.

The cargo bay of the Caprine's open for sparring all day. Come on if you think you're hard enough.

Comments

[deshabille]

[She just arches one brow. A little offended, Cassandra. A little offended.]

What exactly was described to you?

[openhands]

[She's not sorry about bruising your fragile ego, Mal.]

I was told vampires are undead that feed upon the blood of the living and that they are difficult to hunt not just because they are difficult to kill with strength and skill beyond the average person, but they hide in plain sight and do not often reveal their true nature.

[Although Mal has clearly let the cat out of that bag without much fuss, so...? Cassandra adopts a more relaxed stance although still somewhat guarded seeing as how it is Cassandra we're talking about here. And she was just trying to beat the snot out of Mal not more than thirty seconds ago.]

[deshabille]

Well, most of that's correct. Undead, yes, feed upon the blood of the living, mostly, although I don't. Difficult to hunt mostly because we're great bastards and we cheat, that's true.

I think people tend to feel better about things when I'm open about what I am, though. Where I come from, people are afraid I'll bite their necks before I say hello. It's a misguided impression I'm more than happy to disabuse people of.

[openhands]

It wouldn't have crossed my mind. Even if I had known before now.

[Which Cassandra realizes may seem somewhat like a backhanded compliment, but she means more the compliment than the backhanded part of it. So rather than try to clarify (Mal will either understand her meaning or not), she simply moves on.]

There is at least one person aboard this fleet who hunts your... [Kind? Species? Race? Cassandra isn't sure what the term is and, believe it or not, despite some of her clumsiness in social situations rarely ever means or intends to offend. She settles for the somewhat neutral,] people. I cannot say they would react quite the way you are used to when you are open about what you are.

[Or the way Cassandra is now.]

[deshabille]

[Honestly, Mal doesn't take it as anything at all. It's simply a statement. Cassandra seems to tend towards honesty when she speaks, and so Mal takes her at her word until proven otherwise.]

[The warning gets a raised eyebrow. Something crosses her face . . . it's not quiet worry, but perhaps disquiet. She had no intention of getting caught in space with a vampire hunter, of all things. Something to look out for.]

[She cocks her head.] Thank you for the information. I don't think I'll change my behavior; at least this way I'll know when it's coming. But it's good to have warning all the same.

[openhands]

I will admit, I am not overly fond of you. [Mal, don't you dare imply that there is any existing fondness if not overly, or Maker help you, she will deck you again.] But you have not caused any harm and you seem earnest in your intention to help in whatever ways you are able.

Simply because you are what you are is not enough to condemn you to death.

[And Mal has Cole to thank for that. If you had told Cassandra that she would be friends with a spirit, she would have thought you insane. But Cassandra is a little more open-minded and accepting than she used to be.]

Should that change, however, I will not hesitate to put you down myself. I will not allow anyone to endanger the lives on this fleet from within or outside.

[deshabille]

[If Mal were interested in being as honest as Cassandra is - which will, let's be honest, never happen - she would tell Cassandra that she is quite fond of her, and would honestly not be giving her nearly as much trouble if she didn't like her. But as it is, she bites her tongue and simply listens.]

[She likes what she hears. Even if she is a liar, she's earnest; even if she is a vampire, she isn't a threat, or not much of one besides the dangers that come with ordinary recklessness. She's just as human as anyone else, and just as dangerous as any human.]

[A soft smile fades in and out, quick as a blink.]

I have a great respect for you, Seeker Pentaghast.

[openhands]

Corporal, if you think that this is something--

[And then her brain catches up to her mouth. He's not being facetious or otherwise mocking. Instead, Mal is treating it seriously. That smile there, regardless of how brief it was, was communicating as much.]

[Her jaw tightens ever so slightly as she never knows what to say or do when people tell her things like this. The Inquisitor says she looks to her for inspiration in trying to make decisions and Cassandra can't begin to fathom why when she's tried to take from the Inquisitor's example and found herself struggling.]

[She fumbles silently for the right thing to say for a moment, gaze dropping to the floor before she looks back up at Mal once more.]

I am only doing what I believe to be right. Anyone with sense would do the same.

[deshabille]

[The fact that she has no idea what to say about this is somehow the most endearing thing she's done thus far. What passes over Mal's face now is a smirk, not a smile. They've had their tender moment; now she's ready to be as obnoxious as possible all over again.]

I don't see too many people around with sense. So I can still respect you for it. Anyway, how many people can say someone's willing to kill for them? Even if it is you killing me for me . . . it's touching. Really.

[And she means it. Really. Not that you'd be able to tell.]

[openhands]

[Maybe on some subconscious level, Cassandra is aware that Mal's shift in tone is entirely intentional, but as it is, she just rolls her eyes and is once more exasperated.]

And I'll respect you more if you talk less and work on your technique. Not that you appear to have any.

[deshabille]

What, you mean you respect me at all?

[She puts a hand to her chest, shocked and awed. She's practically about to fall into a swoon.]

Why, Seeker, I had no idea.

[openhands]

Don't twist my meaning, Corporal.

[Shut up.]

[deshabille]

I think if anything I was straightening your meaning out.

[No. c8]

[openhands]

[Nope, we're back in it. Round two, jackass. She's coming at you swinging again.]

[deshabille]

[Once again she blocks, dodges, keeps just far enough ahead of Cassandra that she can't get a solid swing in, but close enough that she can taste it. Teasing, in other words, and very much enjoying herself.]

[openhands]

[This probably should be incredibly frustrating for Cassandra the longer she goes without landing a hit, but perhaps it's the knowledge that Mal is more than human that keeps it more an interesting challenge rather than an endless frustration. Cassandra doesn't work harder, she works smarter with each near-hit, or slight graze of a fist and she is entirely tenacious about it. There's hardly a break in her movements. Years of training keeps her ready, but never too tense and always moving with fluid, strong motions.]

[By the time she does relent and she allows Mal to completely step away, she has to wipe the sweat from her eyes. Her breathing is hard, but she's not gasping for air either.]

Not bad. Maybe there is some small hope for you after all.

[Cassandra rolls her shoulders, tipping her head from one side to another. She is not smiling, you're smiling.]

I should get back to my ship.

[deshabille]

[It's a good fight. Mal's more than content to keep it up as long as Cassandra's willing. By the time they stop, she's feeling a little tired as well, though by all appearances she's looking exactly the same, pale and cool and unruffled.]

[She will, at least, admit to smiling, her sharp eye teeth showing through her grin.]

Don't flatter me. It'll go to my head.

[With a sharp nod, she takes a few steps back, ready and waiting on the next challenger.]

Until next time. I'll practice. [On other people's heads.]