mattersverymuch | o3 ɂ spam

Entry tags:

o3 ɂ spam

[Confusion is not a natural state of the marquis de Carabas, and he would hesitate to term what he is currently experiencing as confusion. After all, one can experience two contrasting reactions; one of them will be less adaptive than the other and thus will be dismissed.]

[Thus it is that he pushes away his jealousy, his (in truth and fairness, neither of which he has or wants to give away) fury, at the fact that someone, he doesn't know who but someone, has power at their fingertips that he had, would still have were he at home. Clumsy and inelegant, crude, no showmanship - but it's power, and that's what he misses.]

[He focuses instead on the pleasure of having been, once again if briefly, in a place where magic and chaos reigned, and offers silent congratulations to whoever it was that did it. The rules mean nothing, restrictions mean nothing, nothing means anything if there's someone out there more powerful than oneself - and there is someone out there cleverer and more powerful than the Wardens, or at least less concerned with repercussions.]

[It's in this forced state of mind that he paces the halls and the deck, keeping to corners, places with low ceilings, and rooms with clusters of concerned people standing around. He is aggressively cheerful, though he moves too quickly and abruptly to entirely hide his agitation. Still, he doffs an imaginary hat at those who look upon his good cheer with irritation and smiles at absolutely everyone.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Out of costume and just Chris for today, the seventeen-year-old is frowning down at the crude map he's been drawing of the Barge to try and find his way around and just where in the hell the library is. That, at least, sounds like a good place to hide out but he hasn't had much luck searching for it. On the flip side of his notebook is a checklist of people he recognizes, with names to watch out for underlined in furious black marker.

A lot of names are listed under black marker.

He's distracted, however, by some really creepy guy whose idea of friendliness is to send aggressive smiles at everyone who passes him.

What the hell. Who does that?!]

Dude. Somebody's going to kick your ass if you keep doing that.

[ He supposes, as he turns to scrutinize Chris, worse first impressions have been made upon him in the past. Probably. Still, the fact that the first word he hears out of this boy's mouth is 'dude' means that he does not have high hopes for this interaction. ]

[ With a pointed look up and down, he lets his smile slip from aggressive to painfully smug. ]

What a charming life coach you make. Please continue to give advice. I'm all ears.

[And there's that smugness that Chris has come to loathe from the other members of the Barge. The slightly serene, slightly cocky smirk of "You have no idea of what shit is coming down the pipes for you, my friend." Which, given the caliber of things he's experienced so far, makes Shit To Come look worse and worse by comparison]

Yeah. Try not to act so much like a tool, you're giving people the wrong impression. Guys don't smile like that at other guys, y'know? It's. It's pretty gay.

[ If Chris were to voice that concern, the marquis would comfortingly assure him that no, this is just what he's like. Because he's better than you. Of course, given such obvious ammunition, he wouldn't be able to help himself even if he wanted to. He widens his eyes and touches the tips of his fingers to his chest, deliberately effete. ]

Is it? That's simply unacceptable.

[Chris' eyes widen slightly, and he immediately goes into Saving Face mode, stumbling over his words and caught in between Tough Guy Persona and Don't-Want-To-Be-An-Asshole]

Not that. Fuck, I mean. Look, it's just. Don't fucking smile at people, all right? Going to get picked over like it's fucking lunchtime by a bigger fish. Fucking just. Stop, all right?

[Best of luck deciphering that incoherent mess, sir]

[ It's so hard not to laugh at him outright. So hard. But he doesn't, because this is a fantastic diversion from anything even remotely important. ]

I hope you're implying I'm the bigger fish. Otherwise I'd say you need your eyes checked.

[ S M I L E ]

...That's not funny, dude. I'm not. I don't swing that way.

[Oh, lord save this poor man from the homophobic teenage boy]

[ He spreads his hands in an elaborate shrug. ]

As I recall, you brought it up. It was on your mind. I was being friendly.

You were being creepy. Who the fuck goes around smiling at people? Why don't you mind your own fucking business?

What a philosophical question. You're a regular Kant. Why indeed?

Are you trying to start something? Piss off enough people to distract them? Fucking what do you have here that makes you so much happier than everybody else?!

[The marquis' general air of pleasantness was beginning to get under Chris' skin, who refused to believe under any circumstances that anyone could be happy while on this boat]

[ He counts the questions off on his fingers. ] No - please, why would I? - and -

[ Sucking in air, he tips his head to one side and half-smile, a touch manic. ]

Why wouldn't I be happy? We're living on a magical ship in space. We're all going to be getting better. I'm shocked you're not dancing.

So you're high.

Dude, you could have just said you were high to begin with.

[Agitation that would have fooled Bruce had he not seen this behaviour before. Immediately he suspects the mandrake root - the hallucinations had been severe for the people he knew who'd been affected, goodness only knew what de Carabas had seen.

It's hard to get an honest answer out of the Marquis, but that's not about to stop him.

He lurks in one of the quieter corners.] You'll have to work harder than that.

[ Bruce manages to half-surprise the marquis (three-quarters if he's being honest, which he's not). This is a usual occurrence by now, which in no way stops it from being annoying. ]

I can't imagine what you think I'm working hard for here.

Fooling people, I imagine. [As usual, he's not terribly impressed by you, de Carabas.]

[ It's a two-way street, Bruce. ]

Do you count as people?

Occasionally. [Yep, he goes for the truth with you.]

I would categorize you as a challenge, actually. Not the same.

And what am I covering up, if I am trying to fool people?

[Interesting. This is why he likes the Marquis - keeps him guessing.] You were in the mess hall when it happened, weren't you?

[ He chuckles, pleased. ] No. Try again.

[His eyes narrow slightly. This guess is far more shaky, but he tries it.

Detective, after all.] The chaos reminded you of home, did it?

[ That elicits the briefest of pauses, then a shrug. ]

A hair closer.

I have all night to play guessing games, but I think your time is more valuable to you. [He shrugs, slightly.] You're either genuinely confused and pretending not to be, or you think this is hilarious.

As I recall, you're the one who stopped me. You're the one who stands to gain something from this interaction. I truly can't fathom what.

If I told you the truth, you either wouldn't believe me, or laugh at what you think is my naivete. [Beat.] Probably both...

And what I think of you is deeply important to you, of course.

[It really wasn't. He considers this thought, and then quietly files it away, perhaps a little more affected than he should be.] Take a guess.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

o3 ɂ spam

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject