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Okay, I was warned this spaceship is creepy, but it goes straight for the visual distortions?

I guess I should introduce myself. Detective John Kennex. If you've come across a synthetic named Dorian with dark hair and blue eyes, a woman named Anna with dark hair and brown eyes, or a small but authoritative woman named Maldonado, let me know. It's important.

Anyway, I'm new and I could use a tour guide. Any volunteers?

[He usually wouldn't ask for a tour guide, but he really wants to learn more about this place.]

[ooc: Just in case you were wondering, in regards to the visual distortions, John's having side effects to a drug.]

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[He's reaching for a box and starts when he hears her voice. The box falls and scares him, and he jumps a second time.] Oh! Yeah, I... wow, you're...

[very fancy and pretty. He clears his throat.] You're very beautiful, is all I was saying. But I'm not hitting on you. Not that I don't want to hit on you, but I mean-...

[He sighs and holds out his hand to shake.] I'm John.

[ her smile stays put, at him or for him, well that was to be decided later. ]

Thank you, John. [ she's clearly used to it, and her head tilts. ] Do not worry, I will not take it as any more than a compliment. [ whatever 'hitting on' means, but she could hazard a guess it had to do with intentions.

Really it was a little too easy. But she's perplexed when he extends his hand to hers, looking at it for a moment. But all the same, she takes it, fingers curling lightly against his, waiting for whatever it was he was to do. ] Elizabeth Tudor, for now.

Good. Thank you.

[That actually gets a smile from John, a rare thing. He realizes too late that she probably doesn't know what a handshake is, but he shakes her hand anyway. His hand freezes, though, right as she says her name. There's a short pause where he's staring at her, open-mouthed, until he regains what little composure he had, his eyes wandering away with embarrassment.] I'm sorry. I just... you're the Queen of England. [And then he murmurs to himself:] I just flirted with the Queen of England.

Um... I... [He takes a calming breath and lets it out.] I swear I'm not this stupid all the time, Your Majesty.

[But he's so flustered that he forgot he's still holding her hand.]

[ A smile is all she could ask for. But all the same she went to hide her own, habits gotten long before him to ever be discreet, no matter the emotion. ]

On my last counting, yes I was. Though I would dare say I am less now, since I have no kingdom. [ it's not bothering her at present though. ] No, I hope not, I certainly cannot abide dull men, and you already gave me such hope of decent company too. Do not disappoint me now, John.

[ rather than call attention to his still holding her hand, she merely squeezed it comfortingly. ] Now that we have that nonsense out of the way, is there anywhere in particular you should wish it see? I only know a little myself.

So you wouldn't mind it if I called you Elizabeth? I don't want to be presumptuous...

[He smiles again, just a small one.] Oh, well, I can't disappoint you.

[He lets go of her hand.] Should we look at this floor? Or we could go back to the gardens?

Of course. [ she withdraws her hand. ] Though don't let anyone else know I allowed you as much, I've a reputation to consider after all. I can't have them thinking I am any less arrogant than I am most of the time.

See that you don't. [ she gestures onwards, stepping back to let him walk beside her. ] The gardens, if you like. I can show you what my family grows there, if you wish. It has a beauty in its own way.

Oh, of course. And don't let others know how soft I am. I'm a big, tough officer of the law.

[He would have said just 'cop' but he's not sure she knows that word. He falls into step with her, not limping, but putting more weight on his left foot.] You have family here?

Do not worry, my lips are good at keeping secrets to themselves. [ her eyebrows went up when he said his work, filed away for later questions. ] And I shall not say a word to the counter, of course. Your honor is safe with me.

[ she nodded as she walked, heading back towards the escalators. ] Indeed so, my grandmother, though she is much younger than I, and my great-grandmother.

Well, good. I like your lips.

...Which isn't entirely untrue, but I swear I didn't mean it in a romantic way.

But my lips are good at keeping secrets, too.

[He listens about her family and whoa.] That's amazing. Well, not that they're on a creepy spaceship. But that you get to spend time with them.

[ he made her laugh easily. ] If you're going to keep apologize each time you give me a compliment, I worry what you might do if I were to give you one in return.

[ it's easier to go with that, than the true issues of just what it means. ] It is quite the opportunity. They were long dead before I was ever born.

Then I'm lucky there's nothing to compliment.

[He's teasing, but he really doesn't think there's much to compliment. Maybe his hair. He likes his hair.]

They were? [He pauses for solemnity.] I'm sorry. But I'm glad you get to see them and know them.

[That makes him wonder if his dad could come here, but he holds that back.]

I am quite sure there is, [ and her eyes look him over rather obviously. ] perhaps when I find it, I shall tell you.

[ she nods, and is a little stiff, almost as if to shrug about it. ] As am I. It is the plight of Kings, we are only ever to fill dead men's shoes, I'm afraid. So I am glad for this chance, though perhaps less glad of the rest of it.

[ perhaps, but Elizabeth is wary of it, if only because she wonders if her mother would ever come. But what then, would she say to her? ]

[He pretends he's looking at something very interesting as they approach the elevator.] I wish you would. Sometimes I look in the mirror, and there's nothing redeemable.

I never thought of that. That's true. It must be a heavy burden, what you do.

[ she's keeping her laughter down as they keep it. A soft tsk for him at that. ] Come now, you see nothing in yourself, Detective John Kennex? [ she draws it out carefully, like she might weigh him by that alone. ]

Almost as heavy as a crown, but no one ever warns you what wearing solid gold for several hours might do to ones neck. [ she won't linger on the bitterness, it has no place in their conversation at present. ]

[Her laughter makes him smile just a little.] I feel like you're making fun of me. But I can't say I'm offended, after a line like that. I see the possibility of redemption in myself, at least.

[He's not sure what to say to the last part, so he pushes the button for the right floor.]

What cruelty you accuse me of. [ her hand lifted, as if to brush his cheek, but it was forgotten half way, when the doors opened on the elevator and she turned to that instead.

She lets out a breath of laughter when they open. ] For some reason, I always expect them to be at the pace of horses, and never quite as quick as they are.

[ADFJK ELIZABETH you tease ;;

He lets out a soft breath, disappointed, and gestures that she can go first, his hand holding the elevator door.] This all must be so strange for you. At least this kind of looks like home for me.

[ oh and she knows it to, at least by the smile she gives him over her shoulder as she steps past him. ]

I am not sure if that means better or worse things for what is to come after me?

I don't know either.

[He follows her out of the elevator and waits for her to pick a direction.]

I like it, though. But tell me more about you. What do you do for fun? Other than teasing people.

Do you object to my teasing? [ And carefully after a moment to be sure she's done it correctly, picks the one to the gardens. She has no desire to end up somewhere she did not know, after the previous months hell. ]

But you are quite right, teasing is much more of an obligation. But as to my pleasures themselves? [ as the elevator begins to move, she thinks on it, and the answer is quite earnest. ] To ride, for hours if I am let.

No. Can't say that I do.

[He falls in step with her.] Horses? I've only ridden once.

And if you're let? Aren't you the queen? Can't you tell them to stuff it if they tell you to stop?

[ she gives him a look as if he's clearly missing out. ]

It is a shame, there is nothing quite like it. It is almost freedom itself. Especially so if it is a hunt. [ and she could lax lyrical for days about it. But his question gives her pause. ] They can. But ignoring parliament does not affect them, it effects my people. [ it's quieter, almost more serious than before, and as much as fun as teasing him is, one fact remains the same. ] And my people will always come first, for I am nothing without them.

Sounds like driving a fast car. Have you heard of cars?

[He nods respectfully at the second part.] I can understand that, as an officer of the law. The people come first.

No, not as of yet.

[ She measured him a moment, took full stock of him. Far more and less than the way she had before, and then as if his complete measurement had been found, she lips parted in a bright and sudden smile at him. ] Then we shall be friend, Master Kennex.

[The smile draws one from him, and the words brighten it.] Good. I'd like to be friends with you.

[He walks with her toward the gardens.]

Cars are pretty great. They're like... metal horses, like a spaceship but on the ground. They're fast and a smooth ride. It's like riding the wind.

[He steps into the gardens and he looks around.] Wow. This is nice.

action foreverrrr

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