exsilium | 05 | Audio + Encrypted Audio

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05 | Audio + Encrypted Audio

It… seems to me that the lot of us have returned to ourselves, yes? No more five year olds wandering about, thank gods.

[ He clears his throat a little awkwardly. ]

I used to be somewhat… ah, forthright, I suppose, which is the age I've lately been entertaining. My apologies to anyone I've been untoward to.

[ To Equius: ] I'd like to see you, my dear, if you don't mind. As soon as you have the time.

[ To Collette: ] Are you available? I, ah, believe I'd left something with you.

[ To Aileen: ] You've… survived the trip back to your proper age, I hope? [ There's a weak smile in this. ] How are you doing?

[ To "Hadrian": ] I hope you know I meant none of it, yes? That was only — well, I didn't know you at the time, you see. [ A beat. ] I'm sorry.

[ To Stephanie: ] This is somewhat awkward, but— well, I do apologize for the excessive attention. Somewhat out of line, I feel.

[ To Bucky: ] You are, of course, welcome to take your belongings back. …Sorry about that.

[ To Calhoun: ] I believe I owe you an apology, yes? And a dinner too, I think.

[ To Nananea: ] My dear, are you free tonight? I wouldn't at all object to some company.

[ To Sharpe: ] [ Just a pause, then a sigh. ] I'll teach you about condoms now, if you like.

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[ Well, lucky for Steph, it's the same sense of humor that Vanadi has. So he quirks a grin and sticks a gloved hand out to meet hers. ]

Why, the pleasure is all mine, Stephanie. [ a beat. ] That's quite a lot of syllables. Does 'Steph' suit you, by any chance?

[She'd already noticed the gloves, but they draw her attention a little more when she's actually shaking his hand. Between them and the mask, she's starting to wonder if something happened to him (there's a reason she always wears pants and long sleeves, after all).]

I usually only get Stephanie when I'm in trouble, so, yes, Steph is perfectly acceptable.

[a beat] I will hit you if you try 'Stephie', though. I don't know why anyone thinks that's an acceptable nickname.

[He doesn't seem like the type for "cutesy" nicknames like that but she just has to put that out there because it's happened too many times.]

Well, if you think you can refrain from 'Nadi, then I think you and I might be able to come to an accord.

[ He takes another sip from the coffee, feeling oddly a little better already for this fresh start. He settles more comfortably into his seat and glances over. ]

You're from Earth, then, I take it?

[No that's terrible. Her expression communicates her feelings on that clearly] We've definitely got an agreement there.

[No stupid nicknames, that's a good start to a friendship.]

Born and bred. [Well, her Earth has contact with other planets, so that comment isn't as odd as it might seem] Gotham City, specifically, but you probably haven't heard of it.

[She's noticed that some places (New York, for example) seem to show up on every Earth, but a lot of people don't know Gotham.]

Well, we haven't any Gothams in my world, nor have I visited any Gothams in others, but I've heard of it. We've a few residents here relocated from Gotham. [ His head cocks, interested. ] Have you found any of them yet? Perhaps you know each other!

I've found one of them, and I know of her, but we'd never met. [That's a lie, but she tells it easily. She's going to keep her connection to the Robins as minimal as possible, for safeties sake.] I'll have to keep an eye out for more, though it's a big city, I'm not sure I'd know whoever else got stuck here.

[She actually feels a little guilty for lying, but. Bat stuff.]

Well, best of luck to you, then! And do let me know if you see anyone from Aluthsa, yes? Or even Wyander. [ An amused little smile here. ] Though I've been to quite a few worlds by now, and I remain the only one ever to have heard of either.

[ Not that he minds all that much. If never seeing anyone from home again means never seeing one particular woman again, he'll take it. ]

Aluthsa and Wyander. [She says the words like she's testing them out, committing them to memory in case she does run into anyone from there.] Maybe it just means you're special, if you're the only one from there.

[Her grin is a little teasing, though hesitant around the edges when she speaks again:] Have you been here for long?

Well, really, I'd quite already known I was special, but thanks for saying so.

[ His grin is probably teasing right back, and certainly wide enough to be, but it's hard to know for sure with the mask. ]

I've seen... oh, six months here? I believe this is my seventh. I can safely say it makes me quite an expert on the local cuisine, if ever you're looking.

You're welcome, compliments can work both ways, after all.

[The hesitance is definitely there now, and she hides it by finishing the last of her coffee, swirling the dregs in the bottom of the cup for a moment before looking up again with her smile back in place.] I'm trying not to go out too much, but I'll keep you in mind if I decide to throw my budget out the window.

[One month has been too long, she's not sure how she'd cope with six.]

[ He doesn't miss the hesitation, and his attention is close under the mask. Where as before he read people the better to lie to them, now he reads them simply to understand. ]

Good! I'm also quite a cook, if your stay here leads you to crave anything a little less bland than human food tends to run.

I'll definitely take you up on that offer sometime. [She probably wouldn't have agreed if his younger self had been asking, but she feels more comfortable in his company now. And it'd be nice to do something other than patrolling or sulking in her room.] I can get by, but I've been recycling the same recipes since I was five, something more interesting than human food would be a nice change.

[ It's significantly dampened, but the downturn of his mouth along with the hand to his chest definitely suggests horror, here. ]

You're still making dishes a five year old could make? My dear, we really must fix that immediately!

I've improved them! [Cue somewhat dramatic hand gesutres as she tries to defend her honor] I just, you know, use the same basics that I learnt when I was little.

[She's probably underselling herself a little there, though:] I probably shouldn't tell you how often I just give up and make mac and cheese.

[ and he just. sighs heavily and shakes his head. ]

No, my dear, you shouldn't. You really shouldn't.

At least it's not spaghettios? I used to live on that stuff.

[Now she's just being mean.]

Spaghettios? [ oh god it sounds horrifying, but he has to ask. ] What is that?

Little circles of cheap pasta and even cheaper sauce that all comes in a tin. It's meant for little kids.

[Steph is mean.]

[ was that a shudder? that might have been a shudder. ]

There won't be any more of that in your life, if I can help it.

[She's far too amused.]

I'm not sure you can even buy the stuff here, so that'll be fairly easy.

[ okay so he might be hamming it up a tiny bit, by why not? it's pleasant conversation. ]

Well, thank the gods for small favors!

[Dorks, the both of them]

But you know, don't let that stop you from trying to expose me to more cultured cuisine.

[Not gonna complain about potentially delicious meals]

Why, it's only twice the motivation! Have you ever tried mer-based dishes?

I'm not entirely sure what those are, so I'm gonna go with 'no'.

[She can't help thinking of fish people food he mentioned, but apparently he dislikes that so she's not sure.]

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