video;

[psychopath]

Ladies, gentlemen, a question: what do you look for in a significant other?

[he's grinning something fierce, like he's a host of a dating show or something. don't answer him, he's just going to use what you'll tell him against you when it suits him :c]

Looks, property, good with their hands, an excellent cook? Willing to die for you on missions? Takes a bath every week? I'm curious, this sort of thing isn't spoken about in my time!

Comments

voice, private

[velveteened]

Is it?

voice, private

[anklets]

I'm teasing.

voice, private

[velveteened]

( — that should've been obvious, huh )

Oh, of course! I suppose it could seem strange to someone from a different world, though.

voice, private

[anklets]

The organization I work for includes people from all over the world. I think the concept of exoticism was lost on me at a very young age.

voice, private

[velveteened]

It sounds like it must be very big...

( pandora is, after all, largely only made up of those from their country. the only exceptions lie with the barma duke house, exiled over a century ago from their home country. )

voice, private

[anklets]

[ lightly ] In some ways.

voice, private

[velveteened]

Is that so?

( it's a bridge and not a question; he'll not pry here or now )

It must be interesting to get to meet people from so many places!

( not unlike here, and it's still one of his favorite aspects of this place )

voice, private

[anklets]

You hear a lot of stories when everyone comes together for a meal.

[ but they've all a common thread between the lot of them, and it's so strung out with itself that the good stories sometimes stitch themselves short ]

My brother and I are from China. Allen is English. Our chef, Jerry, came all the way from India, and the head of the Science Division was born in Australia.

voice, private

[velveteened]

( he recognizes some of the country names but not others, it registering also that allen comes from an alternate of this very place, and the gist of it is certainly conveyed. )

Wow! You must've heard a lot of wonderful stories, then.

voice, private

[anklets]

They all had their own adventures before coming together.

[ there are usually also adventures when they come together, actually ]

One day we'll all be able to go back and visit those places as friends, and make new stories.

voice, private

[velveteened]

( all be able to go back — to their own respective home worlds where there's so much still to do, something it seems like he's almost forgetting sometimes with how much time has passed. leo being friendly here doesn't mean that anything's changed back in the streets of reveil where they fought, nor that the mysteries they've yet to unravel (but could, likely, if he could that step away from his own fear) have become less important, nor that any part of his identity (whatever it is) that he's set aside here like one might a frayed ribbon won't

— catch up. as it's begun to, already.

making new stories as if this place which was never supposed to happen at all, didn't. )

That'll be great. I'm sure you'll enjoy that.

voice, private

[anklets]

[Doesn't let herself think long on it long enough for it to steep her. She wants to face these realities less and less, so she'll avoid them doggedly as she can.] We will. Definitely.

voice, private

[velveteened]

( definitely, she says, and the reminder comes in the next breath, late enough to leave him appalled at his own selfishness.

one day we'll be able to make new stories.

one day, because they are at war, and the information that she's just provided has given him guesses at its scale. )

I'm sure you will.

( there's a renewed warmth in the unnecessary affirmation, a little soft, and all of it genuinely meant. )

voice, private

[anklets]

[ unnecessary affirmation is the song of her people ]

You, too.

voice, private

[velveteened]

Of course.

( there's a fairytale that needs finishing, one way or another, and secrets still waiting to be revealed, and alice, bright as the sun, another world away. )