mattersverymuch: (ɂ i've seen all that should not be seen)
the marquis de Carabas ([personal profile] mattersverymuch) wrote2014-01-06 09:38 pm

17 ɂ text & spam & video

spam } roundabout

[There are two rats. Neither of them have names but what are known to themselves, and both of them were, until recently, terrifically annoyed at being removed from their perfectly amenable existence and deposited on the Barge, where there are no other rats and also no real gravity (the kind that exists they don't wholly believe in).]

[After a significant period of negotiation, a deal has been struck: they will stay, for the purposes of errands, company, and general nuisancing, in exchange for food and protection. As such, the marquis de Carabas has placed a charm on them, so that should anyone or anything threaten them, they grow to twice the size of the threat.]

[They run around on their own a decent portion of the time, but it's more energy-efficient to ride with the marquis, so he can be seen more or less everywhere he goes with a rat on his shoulder or in one of his multitudinous pockets. The CES is a dimly-lit forest when he visits, drifting mist obscuring one's view of the path ahead, and he consults with them on the most interesting direction in which to proceed. On deck, they run the railing ahead of him and pause to criticize the others on board with their beady eyes. In the halls, they scuttle from door to door underfoot, tails twitching, seeking out shadows. In the gardens, he tends to the beehive in a distant sort of way and will definitely not tell anyone how he knows how to do this. The rats keep away in his pocket for this period, because they were not born yesterday, thank you.]


private } snow

[Someone is a terrific mood. Which, lately, makes him contemplative.]

Your gift was useful. ["Thank you." Still can't say it.]

spam } dean

[Congratulations, Dean, there's a rat in your room. The slightly smaller one, not that you'll probably be able to tell the difference. Don't ask how it got in. Just don't.]

[Currently it's sitting on the bedside table, perfectly sedate, as if waiting for something. Which it is.]


video } public

[The aforementioned rats are sitting both on one shoulder, looking with an air of intense disapproval at the communicator. Technology: fuck it. The marquis looks amused at their annoyance, as he generally does whenever anybody is annoyed about anything. At least it's friendly amusement.]

What's always baffled me about this place is how inorganic it is. No - pests. [One of them looks at him with extreme displeasure. He shrugs. What?] An ordinary ship would pick something up at port, especially with all the cargo taken on. Even for a ship that's not technically a ship, enough other things come on board - entire alternate universes, for example - this level of sterility is impractically perfect.

And boring.

At least there are bees now.


( ooc; THERE IS A BEEHIVE IN THE GARDENS NOW, I JUST FORGOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THE MARQUIS AND THE EMPEROR STOLE A BEEHIVE. yep. )
breathoflight: (♕ get you down)

private

[personal profile] breathoflight 2014-01-20 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Evil is far too simplistic.]

Ravenna sought power. She lost everything when she was a young girl and was essentially powerless, subject to whatever the men who destroyed her village were wont to do. All she had was her beauty where her power was tied. But as she grew old and her looks began to fade, her power began to fade as well.

If she consumed my heart, she would have lived forever and remained youthful and beautiful. Beyond that, I cannot say for sure.
breathoflight: (♕ get you down)

private

[personal profile] breathoflight 2014-01-23 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's surprised by the question. Most of de Carabas' questions are philosophical in nature as is this one. But they are never so simplistic. This one seems almost rigid to her for a man who lives and thrives in the grays of the world.]

I do not believe so, no. Not exactly.

I believe each of us seek power over our own lives. Some wish for more power than that, but I believe most are content with that much.
breathoflight: (♕ the ones)

private

[personal profile] breathoflight 2014-01-23 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[Snow is not so certain she would agree with him. Some do run on fear. Ravenna certainly did. But in her attempts to master it, she tried to wield it against others, inspire it within them. It was her ruin.]

And yet...?
routemistress: (o hai thar)

[personal profile] routemistress 2014-01-23 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[It takes Iris some time to refocus on the part of her mind that speaks in words, and she smiles up at the Marquis with her eyes while she does so.]

The buddleia over in the corner there's nearly in bloom. They're very excited about it.

[The smile spreads and broadens on her mouth, slow as warming honey.]


The air 'ere's a lot better'n Chicago. You did 'em a favour.
breathoflight: (♕ firing at)

private

[personal profile] breathoflight 2014-01-24 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
De Carabas.

[It's fine if he doesn't wish to discuss it. But don't lie to her. Not now.]
surfaceshine: (Eye Frown)

[personal profile] surfaceshine 2014-01-25 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
Hey! What the hell, you so-...

No. Absolutely not. I am not taking this from a rodent.

[Dean begins looking around, but he's cleaned recently; the only thing available is the trash can and it's full. He's about to consider it anyway, when several pieces fall into place at once and his eyes narrow.

In the next moment he has his communicator out, sending off a text to the Marquis while glaring at the rat.
]

Are you missing something?
breathoflight: (♕ but that's the price)

private

[personal profile] breathoflight 2014-01-25 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that so?

[There's only a small touch of amusement though not in mockery. She is still generally serious.]
breathoflight: (♕ start to fall)

private

[personal profile] breathoflight 2014-01-26 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
No. Only because you had the courtesy not to mumble.
surfaceshine: (Unamused)

[personal profile] surfaceshine 2014-02-05 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
[There's a considerable pause. Dean stares at the text, then stares at the rat, and then the text, and then decides he's not taking this from a slick sonnuvabitch, either.

The next message that pops up on the Marquis' communicator from his neighbor is a picture message. It is an overturned plastic trash can, normally situated beside Dean's writing desk, with disturbed salt kicked out around the upside down rim.

The subject is :)
]
surfaceshine: (Showman)

[personal profile] surfaceshine 2014-02-05 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
[No, this is hilarious, and this is why:

Dean opens the door at once, smiling broadly despite the narrowness of his eyes, and steps back to allow entrance. His voice is full of exaggerated, pleased surprise.
]

Sunshine! How unexpected.

[The trash can is turned up against a wall, exactly how it was in the picture.

The rat has moved busily on to the contents of one of the space under Dean's bathroom sink.

The hunter's smile fades.
] Just what did I do to you, or not do to you, today?
surfaceshine: (Skeptical)

[personal profile] surfaceshine 2014-02-05 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Dean mirrors the look back, except that he is sincerely pleased with himself; even moreso when the marquis and the rat exchange looks and he is spurned. The hunter almost laughs.

Then he notices the uncomfortable expression going on beside him and, eyebrows drawing together in concern - de Carabas might injure himself or somehow scar himself whilst imitating anathema, like a demon holding iron - pulls his head back.
]

Yeah, well, I don't speak rat. Did you happen to warn her about that?

Or just tell her I'm an idiot?

[He's still calling her Splinter.]
surfaceshine: (C'mon I'm Awesome)

[personal profile] surfaceshine 2014-02-13 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, well, who's more the idiot - the idiot, or the people that try to save him from his own idiocy.

[But Dean is gloating now, turning the situation around from one of annoyance to one of amusement with the rat's antics at the core of each. The hunter is delighted to have a partner in annoying the Marquis, even aware as he is that it could change again at a moment's notice.]

She's got awesome taste. You should take notes.

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