vatheon | Landed Fish

Entry tags:

Landed Fish

Who: Orphaner Dualscar, Signless, Expatriate Darkleer
Where: The plaza
When: Now! Dualscar is respawning
Style: Prose if that's OK with you guys?
Status: Closed, though I may do an open one or network post or something with DS later.

Dualscar was pretty disoriented as he arrived in the plaza. He fell to his knees, choking on his gasps, his gills opening with a popping sound and his fins stiff with terror as he scrabbled at his own, unmarked throat.

The last thing he remembered was getting his throat ripped out by the Grand Highblood's teeth. It took a few moments for his body to realize that he actually could breathe, and that he wasn't dying horribly.

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Dualscar's fins flare a bit as he looks up. He grimaces and reaches out, grabbing the towel and rubbing his face and then scrubbing his hair. With his face hidden, he manages to gather a few shreds of dignity.

"Of course. I kneww that wwould happen," he says. He had...but it'd been hard to think about when he was being menaced by the Grand Highblood. "Wwhat did I miss?"

"Nothing of particular interest. The same thing that has been happening before your absence." It almost sounds tame that way. 'Absence' instead of 'death'. Darkleer keeps his voice quiet and calm. Dualscar is going to be anxious enough for the both of them, he figures, even if he doesn't want to show it. "Another curse has happened. Minor sicknesses have been spreading throughout the city. But that is all."

Only a brief pause as he thinks this through. "Would you like to go somewhere less public?" Carefully, he offers his hand out to him.

Wait, what? Dualscar's eyes narrow and he pushes himself to his feet without taking Darkleer's hand. He's still defensive and uncomfortable, and he's certainly not sure enough of any red relationship between them to admit too much weakness, after what just happened to him.

Plus, he's sort of pissed off.

"Are you fuckin' telling me that no one has done anything about that indigo shitstain, yet?" he snarls.

Well, that works too.

Darkleer doesn't react to the snarl much. He just folds his hands behind his back as he gets up to his feet as well. "It isn't particularly easy to come up with a manner of subduing most subjugglators," he says simply, "and this is their leader we must take into consideration. Some progress is being thought of, but not everything is ready yet."

Dualscar scrubs at his arms and glares at pretty much everything but Darkleer as he gets to his feet, his fins still stiff and quivering. "Wwell, wwhatevver is bein' thought of, I had better be a part of it. I'm not dealin' wwith Vvantas' distrust anymore."

Not that he dealt with it in the first place.

"He attacked me wwith no provvocation. And he'll do it again. Don't think he wwon't!" And Dualscar is aware that most people wouldn't care about that, maybe even give the Grand Highblood a medal, but at least Darkleer likes him, right? He won't want to see that happen again.

...Right?

He watches Darkleer out of the corner of his eye.

Darkleer does care, actually, but it's mostly for the fact that he's a bit biased against subjugglator attacks in the first place. They've never been a group he's cared to work with. Not only does the general practice go against everything he was taught about the hemospectrum- highbloods were supposed to be better than this sloppy hell- but, well... Let's say 'personal reasons' and leave it at that.

Dualscar will be able to see the way Darkleer's jaw tenses and how he rubs his neck, trying to think of something, anything. Equius and Gamzee are still stuck up on that island for as long as the Grand Highblood is... unmanageable like this. "I am sorry I wasn't able to do anything," he finally decides on, mind still whirring and clicking through thoughts. "No one deserves that kind of fate."

Not even Dualscar.

Looking back up through the cheap shades he wears instead of his usual elaborate pair, Darkleer offers quietly, "If he's staying in the area near your hive, I do not believe you should return. Not until we can properly take care of him."

Dualscar's fins prick up just a bit at the apology, and he's not really sure what to do with it. "You wweren't anywwhere in the area. There's nothin' you could a done, under the circumstances."

He frowns at the suggestion. "He movved in next door, on purpose, I'm sure. But Her Imperious Condescension...she wwon't let him do it again. I'm sure of it." No, he's not sure. He's really not sure. "I'm not sure I'm inclined to run and hide. But for the sake a argument, wwhere do you suggest I go?"

"For now? I would suggest a hotel of some sort. Something temporary you can move in and out of quickly enough. It would also allow us the... chance to speak about more things." That's just Darkleer's way. He doesn't particularly care for serious matters like these to be discussed out doors, in public, like this. The date had been an exception.

Bowing his head slightly, he offers, "May I make a suggestion, if only for the afternoon?"

Dualscar nods, glancing sidelong at Darkleer with curiosity, wondering what he wanted to talk about. Probably something to do with the Grand Highblood, but maybe not. "You can make a suggestion, of course."

"Thank you." Bowing his head politely, he turns and begins to guide Dualscar along the streets to the hotel he remembers as being one of the better ones in the city. He knows because, early on, he scouted out the area and briefly entertained the thought of moving out on his own. Clearly, he's abandoned that idea.

The walk there also allows him some time to put his thoughts together and he's more than well aware that he should probably stop putting himself in a position where he's continuously alone with the seadweller but, really, what can he do? They need to deal with one another so long as the Grand Highblood is in the city.

When they finally arrive to one of the taller buildings within the city, it's lobby clean and elegant, Darkleer holds open the door for him quietly.

Dualscar follows in silence, more comfortable that way, anyway. It gives him a chance to sort through his feelings and compartmentalize, too, so that he feels far more in control and balanced by the time they arrive. As a result, he inclines his head at Darkleer and strides into the hotel as if he owns the place, then walks up to the front desk to arrange a room.

He pockets both keycards automatically when they're handed to him, then rides the elevator up to his floor. He knows Darkleer isn't staying with him, after all. Though he sort of hopes perhaps he'll stay a while.

Once in the suite, he settles onto the sofa and nods to Darkleer. "Havve a seat, Darkleer. You mentioned that you wwanted to talk in privvate."

Well, if he insists.

Glancing over the suite, Darkleer settles for an armchair that seems large enough for him. It still feels too small, but then, everything in this city does. The only place that feels proper is back at his hive with the children... or in the forest. Sometimes even that small cafe with the chamomile tea, even though the furniture there is also small for him depending on the table.

Clasping his hands together on his knees, Darkleer clears his throat. "Her Imperial Condescension made an announcement over the communication device but vanished shortly afterwards."

"Vvanished?" Dualscar sits up, eyes widening. "You mean, she's gone? Right noww, she's gone?"

He pauses, gritting his teeth. Perhaps his reaction was a little too strong, all things considered.

In contrast, Darkleer stays as stiffly calm as possible. His own feelings are divided and muddled. He doesn't know how to act in response.

"You may check the listing within the SFc if you desire."

There's a frozen moment as he considers doing just that, but then Dualscar shakes his head. "Not necessary. I believve you." He'll check later, no doubt, but not in front of the blueblood.

He frowns down at his hands, resting on his knees. Without the Condesce, he has no protection from the Grand Highblood. None at all. And he really doesn't know what to do about it.

"Is that all?" he asks, not looking up. Though he'd been trying to be open and friendly with the blueblood ever since he concluded he must be flushed for Dualscar, he's closed off now - protected and cold.

After everything that has happened, Darkleer understands that need to shut into ones self. Out of everyone in Vatheon, perhaps he would understand it best. Not the dying part, no. So far, both in Alternia and in this city, he has managed to avoid such an unpleasant fate. But exile is just as an uncertain future to face as a live with the Grand Highblood in the city.

Staring at Dualscar, he finally sighs. "Actually, sir, there is. I was wondering if you would care to test out a device of mine."

Of all the things Darkleer might have wanted, this was not on the list. Dualscar lifts his head and eyes him narrowly, his instincts telling him to be suspicious.

"Wwhat kind of devvice?"

"Something more effective than the communicators, if all goes well." A small box is pulled from his sylladex, and Darkleer opens it. Very, very carefully, he pulls out a small little thing of metal, miniscule in his large hand. Setting the box to the side, he goes to kneel before Dualscar.

The object is a robot of some type, and it uncurls from Darkleer's palm. Long, delicate mechanical wings unfold from its back and it hovers into the air- a kind of mechanical dragonfly, only much smaller than most others.

"It's something I plan on mass producing, for the citizens of Vatheon in case they are unavailable to reach their SFC for assistance. It sends out a signal and alerts other in times of danger."

Dualscar eyes the thing uncertainly. Just the very idea of being a test subject is somewhat repellent to him. It brings up images, things he's seen and done, where he would never want to be on the other side.

But as Dualscar explains, he relaxes and reaches out cautiously, holding out his hand palm-up and trying to tempt the robot into his hand.

"Thank you," he says quietly, and with his other hand he reaches for the kneeling troll, curling his fingers around a lock of that long hair and smiling faintly. "I'd be happy to test your devvice, though I hope I wwon't need it."

The fact that this is still a relatively new invention and the look on Dualscar's face is a bit worrying The nervousness in his chest makes him feel almost as if he's right back in Alternia, as if he was never exile and is before one of his superiors, trying hard to please so that he isn't culled. Not that he thinks Dualscar would necessarily cull him, especially when he's one of the few who are willing to work with him.

But then his expression relaxes, and the robot, after some apparently careful consideration, hovers down to land obediently on the tip of the seadweller's fingers. Things are going well. Darkleer can't help the small bit of pride which blossoms in him at the knowledge. Still various other things to test out, this is just a trial run, but-

Oh blast and brimstone and ash, his hair is being touched again.

Darkleer stops breathing briefly and goes still. "Yes, well, it is always the hope in testing an invention that it is not actually needed right at that moment."

He smiles faintly as the tiny thing sits on his fingertips, glancing from it to Darkleer's face and then to his own fingers, tugging very lightly on the smooth, dark hair.

"You'vve done wwell, today," he murmurs, almost a stock phrase. It didn't occur to him that it might not be appropriate in this situation, with Darkleer literally kneeling before him and looking so eager to please.

His fingers slip to the nape of Darkleer's neck and he leans forward to bestow a light kiss.

Has he? Darkleer supposes he has. He also supposes that this is the end of their meeting and is just about to ask when he feels those fingers slip away from his hair and to his... neck? Suddenly a dear in headlights, Darkleer freezes up.

Oh dear. Oh fiddlesticks. This was a bad idea and he should have listened to his past self.

Very, very carefully, he pulls back just enough to avoid the kiss. "Sir?" Oh god how is he supposed to explain this.

Oh, too much? Dualscar draws back and releases him, frowning in confusion and a little out of sorts. Darkleer was the one who kissed him first, but that's the only thing they've done, and he's sure he must be doing things wrong.

"I just mean, I appreciate all a the help you'vve showwn me today," he says awkwardly. "Noww tell me howw to use this little devvice."

Oh thank any gods that actually exist. Darkleer realizes that this has most certainly evolved into a horrible, horrible problem that he really should fix but he just... does not know how. Darnit.

Breathing in quiet and deep, he nods. Right, explain the robot and then abscond.

"It's mostly self-automated. It recognizes the specific individual it has been assigned to watch and makes sure to stay in close contact and visual range. I'm still working on the AI- it's nothing extraordinary, simply enough to recognize when its charge is in danger or is in physical pain. I'm going to make changes so that it can be changed briefly for sparring sessions or duals, but that is still a work in process. This is simply a beta."

Dualscar nods. It looks like Darkleer is nervous, and perhaps that's the reason he's being so skittish. But he doesn't really know how to reassure him, or even if he quite wants to do that at all.

"Wwhat kinds a information does it transmit, and wwhere?" he asks, because the fact that Darkleer might want to spy on him for more than just his physical safety is certainly a possibility. He sneaks out a foot and rubs it against Darkleer's leg where it's folded under, just a subtle caress.

Landed Fish

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