002 ➛ video

[squanderlust]

Gawds! What is with everybody lately?

[seemingly oblivious to the general mood of the place, Severa's decided to lodge a complaint with the network. she looks pretty much the same as usual. maybe a bit grumpier. it seems like she's missed the general message of "keep your head down". or she just doesn't care.]

It's not like we blew up that shuttle! We can't even figure out a way through the relay, never mind how we even got here in the first place. Some of us don't even know what half the words in that last sentence were! So why is everyone pinning the blame on us? Is it just because we're outsiders? Because I don't remember being asked to come to this spinning death rock.

[she makes a sharp noise of disgust.]

This is completely unfair.

Comments

[jumpiness]

Well, I mean, not only a student -

[ he's about to go on about how he's also a player of lacrosse and a kick-ass research guy, but then she asks him what he studies so naturally, in a puzzled tone, ]

Everything? They kind of make us do that.

[squanderlust]

...Generalized? Is that the word? So what are you any good at, then? [so much for sounding friendly.]

[jumpiness]

General studies. I guess that's what it is, but they call it required education.

[ it's okay severa he's been asked that question a lot. ]

I'd like to think my qualities are under development? [ he winces. ]

[squanderlust]

Obviously. Everybody's qualities are under development. If they're not, then you're not trying. [she doesn't mean to sound so authoritarian, probably. it's just her voice.] Surely you excel at something. Swordplay, lockpicking? Gods. Music?

sorry severa

[jumpiness]

[ there's silence, and then, ] Ever heard of lacrosse? I'm not terrible at that.

[ this is kind of a lie. he does well in his classes - he just doesn't really consider ability to recite facts as a talent. ]

at least he's pretty

[squanderlust]

I've never heard of that in my life. [she sighs and dramatically rolls her eyes.] But just because I haven't heard of it doesn't make it less valuable as a skill. I suppose. Is lacrosse some kind of weapon? We may have need of it if we ever want to leave here.

lajfgs. this is true

[jumpiness]

[ oh, he kind of hates to disappoint you here. ]

No, it's not a weapon, it's a game. It used to be used to settle disputes between Native American tribes instead of fighting, like a mock war. An honor thing.

... Then some old Europeans took the rules and changed it up and hundreds of years later it's used as a game at my school.

[squanderlust]

[after a moment of processing, Severa pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales slowly.]

Whatever. If I learned, so can you. I just wish I weren't meeting so many people whose only experience with this sort of thing was a game. Does nobody take things seriously where you come from?

[jumpiness]

[ stiles rolls his eyes upward. ]

I know how to use a gun. Otherwise, I think it's more likely a case of culture clash here.

What's exactly the thing you're good at, anyway?

[squanderlust]

[people can use guns and... not be fighters? what? culture clash indeed. but it's time for Severa's pride to shine through.]

I'm a mercenary who killed a god and saved the future.

i'm not sorry

[jumpiness]

And I'm the queen of England.

[ his tone is flat and disbelieving. Yes, even after everything that's gone on. he just doesn't believe it. ]

Maybe you're a mercenary, but you've got some ego.

never apologize

[squanderlust]

[and Severa straight-up laughs, actually sounding kind of amused. it'd be the first positive emotion she's shown in a while.]

I know it's hard to believe someone as cute as me can kill a god, but I promise it's true. I did it while I was fighting with my parents before they had me.

[gods, this really does sound unbelievable.]

severa you are my favorite

[jumpiness]

[ you are getting such a look of disbelief. ]

Are you high or something? No, wait, you think I'm high and that I'm going to believe this.

There's no way that's true.

[ there's no such things as werewolves, either, stiles. or slugs in your brain... ]

stiles is the greatest normal guy

[squanderlust]

Didn't the idea of a spinning death rock hovering in nothing sound unbelievable before you came here? [oh yes, she thinks she's quite clever.]

If you don't want to believe me, you don't have to, but I was there and I know it was real. And that's what matters.

the highest compliment `u`

[jumpiness]

Actually, they're called asteroids where I'm from. And while the station bit is new, it's nothing I haven't seen on the sci-fi channel.

[ ha! her words in the second part give him pause though. it would be kind of hard for her to prove it here if that was true. ]

All right, that's fair. I won't tell you it didn't happen since I dunno either.

[squanderlust]

[somehow this victory feels... hollow. though that won't stop her from looking smug for a second or two. until that fades and she just goes back to confusion, mixed with her usual mild irritation.]

You have an entire channel overflowing with floating markets and electronic lights. This technology of yours has changed so much of the world.

[jumpiness]

[ stiles blinks at what she says, before he sort of laughs. ]

Well, it's not like it's real. The channel I'm talking about is - it's for entertainment. It's like a theatre show, but in a box and sent out to a whole lot of people. And they use special effects to show us colonies and asteroids.

[squanderlust]

[she should really be more shocked by this, but at this point she feels kind of blasé about the entire thing. ho-hum, another ridiculously magic spell masquerading as a piece everyday life. she does look offended at the laugh, though.]

I know what a vid is. [now, at least.] It's definitely not my fault that your culture appropriated that word. With all these double meanings, it's a wonder "high-tech" people like you get anything done.

[jumpiness]

[ he's not laughing at you, severa, he swears. okay maybe a little. ]

Actually, where I come from, there are so many distractions you really don't get a lot done.

[ well, not until you're older, anyway, but stiles has fallen into the trap of getting lost on tvtropes at home when he's supposed to be studying, okay.

but he was intrigued by something else she mentioned. ]

You said you knew how to fight, though?

[squanderlust]

[he's learning fast. the best way to mollify Severa is to get her talking about herself for a little while. it knocks her indignation down several pegs.]

Swords and pistols, yes. Why? [she tries to sound sly.] Does the scholar have an aggressive streak in him?