╰x12╮[video]

[lacksgrace]

Hey, uh, ship.

[ Well, that's one way to start this out. Good job, Bells. His face is a little scrunched up, annoyed, and he looks like he's not really enjoying the weather all that much either. ]

Guess they thought we didn't have enough problems to worry about or something, right? But I've still got a couple questions, and it's gonna take more than a little heat or cold to keep me from asking 'em. [ There's a pause. ] Yeah, so.

Anyone else not all that human feeling this like I am? I'm kinda built for hot, but I don't think my body's getting the message. Hell's never frozen over either, so I dunno if that's a good thing or not.

[ At least there's no condescending tone in his voice this time. He just looks a little worn out and tired. Maybe there's the slightest shiver he doesn't bother suppressing as he continues, grin plastered to his face. ]

And are we still doing the pairs thing? 'Cause I might need a buddy to help me out. [ The smile only widens before he ends the message, vague as ever. ]

Comments

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[acapriciousthing]

I don't even have nerves and I'm feeling this.

[Figure that one out.]

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[lacksgrace]

How's that supposed to work?

[ Yeah, he's got nothing. ]

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[alsohawkeye]

What's "the pairs thing"?

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[lacksgrace]

Everyone kept saying that if we wanted to go anywhere, we should go with someone. You know. Pairs.

[alsohawkeye]

Really, it's so bad around here they're pushing the buddy system? Worst field trip ever.

[lacksgrace]

It's kinda lame. But I guess I can see where they're coming from. [ He gives her a grin. ] Don't think I've talked to you before.

[alsohawkeye]

[ She smiles back, and shrugs. ] I'm new. Kate, nice to meet you. What happens to people who ditch their buddies?

[lacksgrace]

Bells. [ This time, he shrugs. ] No one's really mentioned it before. The ship probably gets 'em or something. Certain parts of it just go on and on.

[ He'd know that better than most considering he still goes down there sometimes and gets lost on his own. ]

[alsohawkeye]

[ It takes her a second to figure out Bells is his name and not just a comment even more random than everything else in this strange place. ] So this is basically one of those giant Halloween mazes but actually haunted. Great. [ Sarcasm. ]

[lacksgrace]

Not sure about Halloween, but yeah. It gets sort of tricky if you end up going the wrong way. The ship likes to fuck with everyone. [ He rubs at the back of his neck. ] So. You, uh, got a partner?

[alsohawkeye]

No Halloween on your world? [ The horror! No pun intended. ] I guess you did say you weren't quite human. But no, [ she shakes her head ] I haven't got a hall-partner. Haven't had much chance to explore yet. Where were you planning on going? [ She pauses a moment, eyes narrowing very slightly. ] You're not Kree, are you?

[lacksgrace]

[ He doesn't know if she'd meant that to be funny or not, so he stares a second or two. ]

Just around. No place I haven't gone before, so it should be okay. [ A squint. ] What's a Kree? I've never heard that before. [ To be fair, there's a lot he hasn't. ]

[alsohawkeye]

[ She didn't. Awkward. ]

The Kree're an alien race in my world. Some of them look a lot like humans, but they're from this giant space empire. Sometimes they're allies, sometimes they're enemies, sometimes they're leaving you in the middle of a battle for their murderous dominatrix exes. Anyway!

[ She smiles brightly, but there's a self-deprecating edge to it for a second; that was weird, and she knows it. Moving on. ] What floor are you on?

[lacksgrace]

[ ...right. ]

Sounds complicated. I'm not one of those anyway. [ The smile's returned, just a bit short on the bright but plenty welcoming all the same. ] I'm, uh. I'm on nine. But I can meet you wherever you wanna meet.

[alsohawkeye]

Don't worry about it. [ She waves it off with a twist of one hand and a shake of her head that sets her ponytail bouncing. ] I'm on twenty-seven. Want to split the difference and meet on eighteen?

[lacksgrace]

Yeah, sure. I'll be there as soon as I can.

[ Which won't matter anyway, if they're going to explore. Most of it depends on this hot and cold thing the ship's got going on. But he cuts the message off there, heading out to meet her. ]

[alsohawkeye]

[ The lift stops on eighteen and the doors slide open to reveal Kate, dressed in dark jeans and a dull grey hoodie that hangs unzipped, communicator sticking out of one shallow pocket. More notable is the bow and quiver slung across her back. She plucks at the neck of her purple tee as she steps out and heads towards Bells, offering a hand when she's nearer. ]

Kate Bishop. Nice to meet you in person.

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[parallels]

Pairs thing?

Things were bad enough they used to have a buddy system?

[Which she sounds kind of amused about all things considering.]

[lacksgrace]

[ Bells, however, is completely unarmed. In fact, he doesn't say a word about the bow, thinking it pretty normal. He's been around for a long time considering half the faces on the ship come and go too fast, seen plenty of things. Besides, who is he to knock whatever makes people feel comfortable? He's dressed in his jumpsuit, arms tied around his waist. With the flux in temperatures, he's been forced to throw on one of the few t-shirts he has rather than go without.

A look at her hand, and slowly, he takes it. ]

Beleth. But I usually go by Bells. [ He smiles. ] And yeah, it's definitely nice to meet you in person too. Not much for those device things.

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[lacksgrace]

Probably still bad. I dunno if they want us to keep using it or not, which is why I asked. [ He pauses. ] You new too?

[parallels]

Yeah.

Just woke up here jump. Still getting used to... everything.

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[inspirited]

It's affecting you too?

[lacksgrace]

There's not a lot to get used to once you learn the rules. I'm sure you've heard enough about those from everyone else by now.

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[lacksgrace]

Yeah. [ He says it reluctantly. Don't you know how aggravating it is for someone like him to be cold? ] Kinda sucks, but I'm hanging in there. What about you?

[parallels]

"Don't approach the shadow monster" and "get into your pod before the jump".

Sound about right for the rules?