02 | Audio

[implying]

Well, that was something of an adventure! Between the Russians, the newest arrivals, and our monstrous friends, why there's been quite a few things to keep track of. An awful lot of people. One of which in particular I seem to have misplaced... I don't suppose anyone has seen Bela lately? Bela Talbot?

[ A pause, as if he's actually listening for a reply. Or maybe just asking a completely rhetorical question and taking a moment to gather himself afterward. ]

Well, it was always difficult to keep her in just one place. Not like Sierra, Annalise, and Adamo, three natives caught by the UE bombs, near a month ago now. I would say they were entirely too — too stationary. That old woman in the market, too— with the jerky stand? She always claimed it was dog meat, but I really had to wonder. But she always had a kind word for anyone who stopped to chat, didn't she? I found a bit of her stand some time ago, but no sign of her. Maggie, she told me her name was...

My apologies, to anyone who knew any of those caught in disaster. At least we've managed to turn this latest one back to the status quo, mm? We have that much.

[ Another pause, and this one comes with a slow breath out. So... that's awkward. But! He can make it better. When he speaks again, he sounds just as cheerful as he had at the beginning. ]

You know, for all their flukes and faults, I would say there's one thing the Initiative is truly bad at. They can throw our lot into a room with food set out, but that's not any sort of party. So I propose we arrange one ourselves! We've the musicians for it, don't we? The cooks, surely! The tailors, seamstresses? We certainly have the headcount for it, by now!

Any opinions, mm? I'm thinking, perhaps, a masquerade. A ball! We kitrites excel at the organization of them, you know. I would be pleased to offer my services to a properly interested crowd! Have I any takers?

Comments

[implying]

[ For the life of him, he can't figure out why he thought it would be a good idea to have this conversation here. There's no leaving when he's already in what serves as his own home. But he can at least run away by means of occupying himself, so for lack of anything else to do, he pours a drink from the vodka on one of the top shelves. ]

Of course. [ Two of them, while he's at it. ] Do you like cranberry juice?

[seamend]

[ Really, a part of Aileen is starting to regret coming here but... now she can't leave. Not when she's got the poor guy so dejected. So when he offers, and with that darn hat still taking up a good portion of her view, she figures saying no would only worsen his willingness to talk to her. ]

Yes that's... that's fine.

[implying]

[ When the drink is ready, rather than handing it to her, he instead slides it down the counter toward her, and gets to work sipping his own. Not that he'll feel any of the effects, but at least the taste is pleasant.

And it gives him something to do with at least one of his hands, and a reason not to speak. So, yeah, that'll do. ]

[seamend]

[ She takes the drink almost gingerly, and gives it a good sip. She was honestly paying more attention to the floor than to what he was mixing and isn't focused on it really. So someone is unaware there's any vodka involved... oops. ]

Look, Vanadi... I'm sorry to upset you. If you want I'll stop pressing you about it. I can't tell you how to handle your own emotions.

[implying]

[ He's quiet for a few seconds more, sipping, until he pauses just above the rim of the glass. ]

What use is it to say I miss Bela terribly, from her laugh, to her smile, to her body? She would know it, if she were here. She may even know it where ever she is now. Or perhaps she's forgotten all about me. Perhaps she's dead. None of these options are made any better by my saying it.

[seamend]

[ Aileen works at her own drink, looking up at him when he begins to speak. There's a silence afterward, and then she shakes her head. ]

Yes, it is. Because you're still here. And you're in pain over it. Pretending like she's gone no where will only make it hurt more the longer she's not with you.

[implying]

No. [ That comes out a little sharper than he'd intended, but he doesn't stop. ] Things are precisely as they were before, with the sole exception being that now more people know that I'm unhappy. I see no benefits in that, my dear.

[seamend]

[ she doesn't seem bothered by the change in his tone. Her own voice remaining level. ] And what good does it do you continuing as you are? In what way are you any happier when you force yourself to pretend? I'll tell you right now that you don't deserve that kind of torment.

[implying]

Because, sooner or later, I'm not pretending.

[ He sets his drink down again, slumping with a sigh against the counter. ]

Please, I'm sorry. Truly. You've come here out of concern, and all I do is... [ He waves a hand vaguely, to indicate the situation. ] I appreciate it, I do.

[seamend]

No, that's not-- [ She let's that taper off. A hand going up to massage the bridge of her nose. ]

It's just difficult to ignore. This sort of thing, I'm sure any number of your lovers have brought it up before... [ She pauses to take a good long drink. ] I'm aware this is all terribly intrusive, but I hate sitting back and--

And hiding so much of yourself, it's so lonely. [ Huh, that sounded just a little bitter. And at this point she leans a little on the counter too. Free hand resting on her other arm in a show of discomfort. ]

[implying]

[ Man, she's downing that drink pretty fast. And something about that has struck a chord in him, given him the idea that maybe he can shift this conversation around a little. He's more than happy to give up the spotlight of it. ]

That very nearly sounds as if you're speaking from experience, my dear.

[seamend]

[ There's almost a cringe in response to that. She sighs miserably and glances away from him. ]

Yes well. Everyone has their fair share of secrets, don't they?

[implying]

We do, I suppose.

[ He watches her for a few seconds longer before letting out a quiet breath. Both hands reach up, and the mask pulls off with a quiet metallic click. He sets it on the counter beside him, and the small smile that he aims at her, with the benefit of the rest of his face involved, looks tired. ]

I don't suppose it would help if I told you there's no need of them between us?

[seamend]

[ Well. That certainly gets her attention back on him, and for a good moment she just takes in his features, eyes landing back on that scar several times before becoming more distracted by the ears. Oh. Well... damn it.

She takes another drink then sets the glass down, returning his smile almost apologetically. ]

Fine I... I see what you mean.

[ So off comes the hat, too. Webbed ears pointing out for the world to see. She pushes her hair back behind them, revealing little green scales leading from the base of the ears towards her eyes.

Showing him this is stupid, ridiculous. And she can't help the small laugh that follows, which is also ridiculous. There shouldn't be anything funny about the situation at all. ]

[implying]

[ There's an immediate, brightening curiosity at the sight of those ears and scales. He recognizes those! The merfolk of his own world have something similar. But she hadn't had that earlier, had she? He thinks back to their encounter near the lake, and doesn't seem to remember anything of the sort.

But at least now the hat-related-flinch makes sense. He smile grows warmer, and after snatching up his mask from the counter he starts out toward her, an arm out to gently corral her. ]

Lovely as these roommates of mine are, I haven't quite pinned down their schedules for myself yet. If you'd like to be assured some privacy for these secrets of ours, we'd probably best take this to my room.

[seamend]

Really Vanadi, if I didn't know any better I'd say you're treating this like a date.

[ The alcohol is beginning to kick in, so she can't help the next bubble of laughter that follows her words. But she doesn't protest, leaving her drink behind and taking his cue to head back into the living room. ]

The mask though, not so much a kitrite thing, huh?

[implying]

Well, it's not out of the question, I hope!

[ That giggle doesn't go unnoticed, and after a short pause he puts the mask under his arm and grabs her drink as well as he follows. ]

It's... ah, not, no. [ That's... kind of embarrassing. Aileen is now the only person to know that outside of his world. He adds, a little hastily: ] But it is still fashionable.

[seamend]

It's flattering but not something I'm looking for, dear.

[ She pauses near the couch and gestures vaguely down at her legs, looking back at him with a cocked eyebrow. ] You do realize I can't fault you for hiding a scar?

[implying]

[ It'd been mostly a joke— he'd already pegged Aileen as someone to take a little more effort than that. He closes the door behind them, already feeling a little more relaxed for the privacy. ]

Ah, yes... I'd noticed that. [ He offers an apologetic smile. ] But of course, it's somewhat more than just a scar, under my mask.

[seamend]

[ She seats herself down at the end of the bed -- something that normally she'd ask first but, well, she's feeling pretty comfortable just now and not giving it much mind. ]

Oh come now, I don't see what's to hide. You fit right in with all the elves that have come in, at least your ears aren't webbed. [ And to punctuate that sentiment, she reaches up a hand and flicks her right ear from the base. ]

[implying]

[ Of course, the elf-ears. He means more along the lines of how he's grown gaunt, how his hair has silvered and thinned from the original thick back... but he smiles, taking a seat next to her, and holds her drink out to her. ]

And a shame, at that! [ He reaches to trace a gloved finger lightly down the edge of that webbing. ] They're quite lovely.

[seamend]

[ If she wasn't already trying to keep track of all the elves and the apparently many differences between them, she might have assumed his appearance was the result of shock, she might still if she bothered to think on it more critically. However.... yeah with that drink back in her hand she goes right back to sipping it.

The touch causes her ear to twitch, and suddenly she's trying to hold back more giggles. ]

Stop, they're very ticklish! I'm surprised you aren't... asking the obvious question by now. It's not as if this is our first meeting.

that was supposed to be *black not back, but you... seem to have gotten that...

[implying]

[ He has to grin at the giggle, really. Adorable. But he does drop his hand, even if he doesn't move back again any. ]

That being, ah... "where is the fish tail"?

nah man vanadi totally has back hair

[seamend]

[ WHA- Well that gets him a surprised stare, which slowly mixes with suspicion. She frowns, ears drooping a little. ]

...Who told you?

[ It was Artemis, wasn't it? She bets it was Artemis. ]

and that's his REAL secret

[implying]

No one.

[ His smile looks perfectly innocent. ]

We have a few mermaids in my world, is all. Ah, although… [ He reaches to pat her thigh fondly. ] None with legs quite like these. They’re very nice.