[ Hello? Malkuth's been going off about him??? This requires further investigation. 🔎 ]
I wasn't aware Malkuth had a vested interest in the man. But no, nothing of the sort. I simply wanted to report back that you should be safe if you ever decide to take him out for drinks.
Haven't you met him? I think it was you who said he looked like he swallowed a lemon. He's always had a dour look on him, and his personality isn't any better.
And besides... we actually fought a little during the mission. I think he's still mad at me for talking back and insisting that I fight. [ a beat. ] That wasn't the first time.
Yes. It's not just me, though. But I'm probably the one one who does it more often than not. [ sometimes when you encounter the unimaginable horrors of the sea, being beat up to death by a color isn't half as scary. ] Anyway, I'll figure out a way to talk to him again. I can't just not talk to the guy forever, you know?
[ can't believe they're going to drunkenly make out in her room 😳........just kidding ]
Five minutes it is then.
[ Though he shows up closer to seven minutes in, eschewing the traditional knock on her door for a quick text announcing his presence outside. Let him in. :( ]
[ her room, like everyone else's, is plain aside from the small personalized touches she's acquired over the past few months; like a blanket draped over a bed where a donald duck plushie reigns over it, and a fishbowl already filled with colorful rocks and plants on her desk. still no fish, though.
she turns off the roomba that's been cleaning her floor and turns to him. ]
Um. You can sit anywhere, if you like.
why tf did my computer decide to send that so early
[ if i don't joke about it i will have nothing...................
Cute room though. He follows behind, eyes glancing around to take note of all the accoutrements all set up.
There's a plastic bag dangling off one arm, from which he pulls out several bottles of soju (because the flavors are fun and he prefers his drinks a little sweeter) and two small glasses. She doesn't need to use them though. ]
But he follows her lead to take a seat on the floor, criss-crossing his legs in front of him. It's been a long time he's sat around so informally; turns out, it's a nice change of pace. He sets his stash on the ground, letting her take first pick of the assorted flavors before grabbing a bottle for himself, cracking it open and then filling up his soju glass. ]
[ a shake of her head. ] Can't really afford to get drunk back home. I was... very busy.
[ very busy having a mental breakdown, but um. that's a story for later, maybe. anyway she picks out peach for herself and fills her glass up, holding it out to him. ]
But he'll give her a small smile, clinking his glass against hers. ]
Cheers.
[ Down the hatch it goes! And now that he's got some liquid courage in him (unnecessary but still appreciated) it's time to circle back to the original reason he'd paid her a visit. After he stares into his glass for about ten more seconds, the smile slowly fading off his face. ]
You asked me a long time ago where I got my scars from.
Edited (i'm turning into you with these edits) 2024-04-12 23:08 (UTC)
[ she takes the shot and -- oh. the atmosphere turned a little somber all of a sudden. she was planning to hold back on the drinking anyway in case there will be another repeat of the sapphire room incident, but she intends of giving him her utmost attention all the same. ]
I remember. You told me that you'd gotten them from some fights.
[ and not from some undersea monster... tch :/
but they must've come from something else, then. something much more personal, if he's finally coming around to telling her today. ]
[ He continues staring into his glass, tilting it this way and that just for a small visual distraction, the indifferent look on his face matching the dispassionate tone of his voice. Might as well be talking about the weather instead of one of the most unpleasant periods of his life. ]
Before I became the warden of the Fortress of Meropide, I was an inmate there. There was, and still is, a place called the Pankration ring. A sort of fighter's ring for people to let off some steam, or earn some extra Coupons.
[ The abrupt mention of coupons sounds so unhinged out of context.....But he will not elaborate, choosing instead to pour himself some more soju and take another hefty drink. ]
I spent most of my time fighting there. It was the easiest way to survive.
[ in hindsight, this shouldn't be a huge shock to her, but she's blinking at him in surprise anyway. all this time, she'd thought he's too nice to be working in a place like that, but...?! ]
Really?
[ she takes another good look at him. the scar under his right eye, the ones that go down his neck, the various nicks and scratches on his arms -- she can only imagine what kind of opponents he had to fight through underground, just to get a scrap to eat, presumably. coupons sound odd out of context, but it doesn't really take a genius to figure out that they're probably used to redeem things, like food or whatever. she's an honor student that way.
still, she has to ask now that he brought it up. she pours herself another glass and braces herself, her voice quiet. ]
[ There it is, the million dollar question, and a vague look of distaste flickers across his face.
Give him a moment to take another sip, even if he's suddenly wishing he'd brought something a little stronger so that the sting of alcohol against the back of his throat can truly snap his senses awake. Well, it's not as though there aren't people already aware of his criminal past, even if he can count the number he's told personally on one hand.
And then he's looking up, meeting her gaze as he answers evenly. ]
[ and there it is. ishmael doesn't show any outward reaction to the loredrop, but she is pretty floored by the revelation on the inside. it's not uncommon to kill in the City -- at least in the Backstreets where it'll forever be lawless compared to the safer Nest she lived in -- but family is another thing. not that she feels any real emotional attachment to hers either, but...
she nods solemnly, takes another shot. it must've been hard for him to spill something like that to her, what with how awfully secretive he can be, so to hear this from him now is... ]
They did something to you, didn't they.
[ he's always been a rational guy. something must have pushed him to the edge, even if it is the people who took him in. the fact that she would know this is making her a little heady. ]
[ His fingers pause in surprise at the question, an unconscious frown springing to his lips. Not why or how come, but an allegation directed at the deceased rather than the one that had murdered them. ]
What makes you say that?
[ It's more of a pointless quip than a question, and certainly not one he expects an answer to—or one he gives her much time to answer, his own reply coming hot on the heels of another large gulp. This is the most he's drunk with anyone since arriving here.
He glances back down at his glass, swirling the last dregs of his drink around. ]
Technically, they never physically hurt me. They always treated me quite well, in fact. [ For a moment he almost sounds like his usual self, voice lilting upwards before it hardens again. ] It's just a shame that they never saw me as anything more than currency, an animal to be raised and then sold to the highest bidder.
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I wasn't aware Malkuth had a vested interest in the man. But no, nothing of the sort. I simply wanted to report back that you should be safe if you ever decide to take him out for drinks.
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[ but she is relieved that he wanted to talk to her again after everything that happened last time, so she's going to waste no time in yapping. ]
It's... whatever. I shouldn't have blabbed. We were just talking about some things with the other girls a couple of nights ago.
She... thinks he's hot, apparently. I just can't see it, but it's probably because I see him as my boss and nothing else.
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If you're into the older, dignified look, maybe. Are you sure she doesn't like him for his personality?
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And besides... we actually fought a little during the mission. I think he's still mad at me for talking back and insisting that I fight. [ a beat. ] That wasn't the first time.
[ she's a rebel and a fighter, ok u_u ]
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[ The power of booze........Though now that Ishmael's elaborating on thes subject more, he's a little concerned. ]
Does he usually get mad at you for talking back?
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[ sigh. ]
Yes. It's not just me, though. But I'm probably the one one who does it more often than not. [ sometimes when you encounter the unimaginable horrors of the sea, being beat up to death by a color isn't half as scary. ] Anyway, I'll figure out a way to talk to him again. I can't just not talk to the guy forever, you know?
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[ based on empirical evidence. ]
Actually, speaking of drinks, are you busy?
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[ it's still a little scary but she'll be real brave about it u_u ]
No, not really. You want to do it now?
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[ he believes in you, girl 🥺 ]
And there's no time like the present. Though I hope you don't mind if we stay inside today.
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I don't mind. I'll just drop by your room, then?
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Well, we've already had tea in your room before, so it's only fair that you visit mine this time? Give me at least 5 minutes to clean up.
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Five minutes it is then.
[ Though he shows up closer to seven minutes in, eschewing the traditional knock on her door for a quick text announcing his presence outside. Let him in. :( ]
> action
anyway she's here, opening the door. ]
Hey. Come in.
[ her room, like everyone else's, is plain aside from the small personalized touches she's acquired over the past few months; like a blanket draped over a bed where a donald duck plushie reigns over it, and a fishbowl already filled with colorful rocks and plants on her desk. still no fish, though.
she turns off the roomba that's been cleaning her floor and turns to him. ]
Um. You can sit anywhere, if you like.
why tf did my computer decide to send that so early
Cute room though. He follows behind, eyes glancing around to take note of all the accoutrements all set up.
There's a plastic bag dangling off one arm, from which he pulls out several bottles of soju (because the flavors are fun and he prefers his drinks a little sweeter) and two small glasses. She doesn't need to use them though. ]
I see you've been decorating.
[ but why tf is the fish bowl empty? ]
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[ that's like her bestie okay :/ also it's bc she's been busy decorating it. she'll find a fish soon, dw.
anyway, she's just going to sit on the floor for this. this is where she and izou drank last time, and it was a nice compromise. ]
Soju? [ she beams. ] It's been a while since I had those.
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[ His picky princess drink palate... :/
But he follows her lead to take a seat on the floor, criss-crossing his legs in front of him. It's been a long time he's sat around so informally; turns out, it's a nice change of pace. He sets his stash on the ground, letting her take first pick of the assorted flavors before grabbing a bottle for himself, cracking it open and then filling up his soju glass. ]
You don't buy any for yourself usually?
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[ very busy having a mental breakdown, but um. that's a story for later, maybe. anyway she picks out peach for herself and fills her glass up, holding it out to him. ]
Cheers?
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But he'll give her a small smile, clinking his glass against hers. ]
Cheers.
[ Down the hatch it goes! And now that he's got some liquid courage in him (unnecessary but still appreciated) it's time to circle back to the original reason he'd paid her a visit. After he stares into his glass for about ten more seconds, the smile slowly fading off his face. ]
You asked me a long time ago where I got my scars from.
wtf
I remember. You told me that you'd gotten them from some fights.
[ and not from some undersea monster... tch :/
but they must've come from something else, then. something much more personal, if he's finally coming around to telling her today. ]
What... happened?
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I did.
[ He continues staring into his glass, tilting it this way and that just for a small visual distraction, the indifferent look on his face matching the dispassionate tone of his voice. Might as well be talking about the weather instead of one of the most unpleasant periods of his life. ]
Before I became the warden of the Fortress of Meropide, I was an inmate there. There was, and still is, a place called the Pankration ring. A sort of fighter's ring for people to let off some steam, or earn some extra Coupons.
[ The abrupt mention of coupons sounds so unhinged out of context.....But he will not elaborate, choosing instead to pour himself some more soju and take another hefty drink. ]
I spent most of my time fighting there. It was the easiest way to survive.
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Really?
[ she takes another good look at him. the scar under his right eye, the ones that go down his neck, the various nicks and scratches on his arms -- she can only imagine what kind of opponents he had to fight through underground, just to get a scrap to eat, presumably. coupons sound odd out of context, but it doesn't really take a genius to figure out that they're probably used to redeem things, like food or whatever. she's an honor student that way.
still, she has to ask now that he brought it up. she pours herself another glass and braces herself, her voice quiet. ]
...What were you in for?
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Give him a moment to take another sip, even if he's suddenly wishing he'd brought something a little stronger so that the sting of alcohol against the back of his throat can truly snap his senses awake. Well, it's not as though there aren't people already aware of his criminal past, even if he can count the number he's told personally on one hand.
And then he's looking up, meeting her gaze as he answers evenly. ]
I killed my foster parents.
[ sometimes you do a little murder, as a treat! ]
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she nods solemnly, takes another shot. it must've been hard for him to spill something like that to her, what with how awfully secretive he can be, so to hear this from him now is... ]
They did something to you, didn't they.
[ he's always been a rational guy. something must have pushed him to the edge, even if it is the people who took him in. the fact that she would know this is making her a little heady. ]
cw: mentions of child trafficking
What makes you say that?
[ It's more of a pointless quip than a question, and certainly not one he expects an answer to—or one he gives her much time to answer, his own reply coming hot on the heels of another large gulp. This is the most he's drunk with anyone since arriving here.
He glances back down at his glass, swirling the last dregs of his drink around. ]
Technically, they never physically hurt me. They always treated me quite well, in fact. [ For a moment he almost sounds like his usual self, voice lilting upwards before it hardens again. ] It's just a shame that they never saw me as anything more than currency, an animal to be raised and then sold to the highest bidder.
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