Landed Fish

[devwocean]

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.

Comments

[withoutasign]

"Why don't I make us some tea, then?"

Signless bites the inside of his cheek, trying to hide the smile that's trying to spread across his face, and makes his way to the kitchen. There's a kettle already there, fortunately, and some mismatched mugs, but no teabags. Good thing his best friend is a tea addict and he never leaves the house without several teabags of assorted flavors tucked into his sylladex.

[devwocean]

"Fine," Dualscar replies, leaning his elbows on his knees and gazing moodily at the coffee table as he waits. He's going to need his drone back, so perhaps a quick nip over to his hive would be worth the risk.

Or perhaps he'll wait a couple of days, see what happens. He can have Signless and the Helmsman do a few chores for him, in the meantime, since they're right there. The Condesce isn't here, now. He can do what he wants.

[withoutasign]

If Dualscar just asked, Signless would go collect his robot drone for him. That would be much easier than finding out the seadweller was ordering around Psii and having to get angry about it.

Or disappointed, rather. Signless doesn't really get angry.

He brings out the tea on a tray and sits across from Dualscar, offering him a mug with brightly painted fish on the sides.

[devwocean]

Dualscar eyes the mug, feeling like this is possibly a joke at his expense. He sips the hot liquid and sets it down, then rubs his hand on the scar that crosses his nose.

"You trust me."

[withoutasign]

What, should he have picked a different mug? He just thought that one was cheerful and that Dualscar would like it, gosh!

"Here, you've given me no reason to not trust you." Signless looks at him pointedly. "I'd rather you didn't."

[devwocean]

"Don't trust me that much, then, or that last wwouldn't a been necessary to add on," Dualscar retorts with an almost smug smile. He doesn't understand how Signless can be so trusting. It messes with his worldview.

[withoutasign]

"I'm hoping someday it won't have to be." Signless takes a sip of his tea, watching Dualscar with vaguely amused eyes. He trusts the highblood... somewhat. Not enough that he's going to let him anywhere near Psii, that's for sure.

[devwocean]

"Yet you brought me practically to your fuckin' doorstep," Dualscar points out. That's exactly what he means - close to the Helmsman, close to Signless. Close enough to kill, if he has the urge.

[withoutasign]

"Are you planning on doing any culling, Dualscar?" Signless asks it point-blank, setting down his teacup and looking at the highblood seriously. "Now that you know what it's like, are you going to be so quick to inflict it on others?"

[devwocean]

"I havve no plans in that area. I already told you I'm not about to start cullin' wwhen there are so feww of us." Dualscar replied stonily, his eyes narrowing at the implication.

It's entirely different, Signless. Completely.

"But not to nit-pick, but I'vve nevver been culled. Wwhat the Subjugglator did wwas murder, plain and simple. I'm higher blood than he is, and besides, I'd broken no lawws nor done anything to deservve it."

[withoutasign]

Signless nods, reassured.

"Of course, I would consider any taking of life to be murder, regardless of spectrum differences. It's something we should be moving away from. Either way, I'm glad it's not something you want to pursue."

[devwocean]

He rolls his eyes, but refrains from making an issue of it. There's no point in making things weird at this stage.

"I don't see any benefit in culling anyone at this point, all right? All it'd do is turn evveryone against me, and you're the only trolls in the city," he said with calm frankness. "Wwe ought to focus on the real enemies."

[withoutasign]

He saw that eyeroll, Dualscar! He's just too much of a gentleman to comment on it!

"I just hope you continue to not see any benefit in murder." Sip of tea. "But I agree. Have you done anything further with the defense force you were trying to get together?"

[devwocean]

He cocks his head at the odd change of subject. "I havven't had a chance, yet. But I plan to start havving training sessions soon. Wwhy?"

[withoutasign]

"Just curious. It seems like a good idea, and also something you have some experience in."

[devwocean]

"That's the idea." He settles back. "I don't suppose you'll consider joinin up, after all."

[withoutasign]

"I'm not much of a combat specialist, I'm afraid. I can defend myself when I have to, but I prefer nonviolence."

[devwocean]

"You wwon't evven fight to protect your home and the ones you lovve?" Dualscar asks pointedly, searching Signless' face.

[withoutasign]

Signless puts down his teacup, and looks Dualscar full in the face.

"I would give my life for the ones I love. I've done it before, and I'd do it again."

[devwocean]

"So I thought," Dualscar returns, lip lifting in a smirk.

[withoutasign]

"You think love is a weakness." Signless says it as a statement, not a question.

[devwocean]

Dualscar freezes at the direct question, his fins flattening a little. "Lovve isn't a wweakness, but it creates and revveals wweaknesses," he says carefully. "I'vve got nothin' against a torrid and passionate lovve affair."

[withoutasign]

"I'm afraid we're going to have to disagree there, Dualscar." Signless smiles disarmingly. "You see, while I admit that love does sometimes expose weaknesses, it more than makes up for it in the strength it grants in their place."

[devwocean]

"It exposes wweaknesses to the other one," Dualscar growls, sitting back and scowling down at the coffee table. "Each a you are expected to be wweak and vvulnerable to one another. I don't do that."

[withoutasign]

"Why not? If it's with someone you care about and trust, letting them know your weaknesses and help you through them only makes you stronger."