Hmm... [He thinks about that statement again and runs over their conversation.] Yeah, you did say something about not being like most goblins, on account of them being gung-ho about performing unwanted phalanx rearrangement. Glad you like weird, though! I'd hate to NOT like weird. How boring would that be?
[He gives her a smile coupled with a more subdued laugh, not one of his raucous ones.]
What made you decide to be the black sheep, anyhow? Just curious.
[Yeah, she whips out her flask again and takes a long, long drink from it. She'll need more whiskey if they're going down this line of conversation.]
I'm weird in more ways than just as a goblin. Anyway, I just don't have the stomach for... torture and stuff. I don't like it. Is that so bad?? Most humans are pretty glad to learn I'm a piss poor goblin.
[More. More drinking. She misses her mouth at first and knocks herself in the chin.]
I think most people don't decide to be weird, they just are and hide it or they are and let it happen. Or they do whatever you're doing.
[She gestures vaguely at his... all of him.]
Or they're not weird at all, I guess. That happens, too.
[A dedicated drinker, even if she misses the mark... Henry folds his arms on the table. Fortunately, the majority of the bargoers are drunk enough to have seamlessly moved onto the next shiny thing; their attention's fixed on The Sport, giving Henry and Nott both some room away from their earlier demands.]
I'll say. I never signed up, myself, but lots of folks consider me to be weird. Weird for a human weird, too. I guess. Not that I really understand the normal way to be a human!
If torture's the norm for you goblins, what happened to make it so torturous for you in particular? Scarred? In a non-surgical way, I mean. [Leave it to Henry to crack jokes about serious things.] Or is it just a natural aversion?
[She doesn't wanna go deeper into it than that, but it's immediately what Henry focuses on. He puts himself in the shoes of one expected to torture "captives" and finding it counterproductive to befriend them. He crosses his arms and puzzles over this matter, trying to envision how it might go to be a victim with a benevolent and friendly person in charge of the ministrations.]
If you knew you had to hurt 'em, why pursue the niceties if that made it harder? Chatting up a customer makes sense, but I doubt these people signed up for their daily dose of torture. Nobody in charge of torture's ever said so much as a peep to me, so what made you decide to ask how their day was going?
[OH NO... leg kicking?! Now he's seen it all. It't an interesting look on somebody with a humanoid form, but Henry isn't judging. It's endearing! He can't judge when he wanted it so much to begin with.
He wonders if "careful" is a bad thing, but then takes notice of Keaton's tail. He smiles wider, as if it were possible, and laughs.]
Then I take it careful's the way to be, since your tail's wagging! [He's gotta point it out... once again, he has no radar for shame.] As if I'd wanna do anything UNcomfortable when I'm trying to pet you. You'd never let me do it again if I made a bad impression.
[ nooooo his tail has betrayed him... again and again, it never really learns its lesson? but then again Keaton's facade is basically that anyway: despite his words, the meaning can only truly be discerned through that tail of his... ]
Well. I'm sure that if you were sorry enough, I could probably forgive you.
[ but he'd never want to be at that point? besides, Henry's enthusiasm towards wolves already earned him his trust, albeit very quickly. ]
You've got good hands. What do you normally do with them?
[Maybe he's looking for some answer like sculpture, intricate swordplay, or something that would actually contribute to good dexterity. All-in-all, Henry laughs at the question.]
Aww, shucks. You'll make me blush. Nothing that makes me good at petting, though. I'm just a natural! The most I do with my hands is draw sigils or leaf through dark tomes, so unless that contributes to being a master ear-scratcher, that's all me.
[ but he didn't smell dark magic! no, he smells... like a human. maybe a faint whiff of bird? maybe some blood? it still requires some further exploration, as he's now firmly entrenched in Henry's personal space. ]
... I knew mages. Some used weird scrolls with animals. Some used books. Didn't like getting hit by any of those.
Weird scrolls with animals? I'm afraid I don't follow. But I'm totally a dark mage, through and through! So yeah, I use books like regular mages, only dark magic's my calling.
...His smile becomes strained, and he takes in a long, steady breath through his nose.]
...See? Nothing to—
[He hacks, but he tries to cover it up with the back of his wrist.]
Nothing to it.
[Another thick swallow, just to get that single sip down. He breathes in, and all's right in the world once again. Mostly. Moreover, he smiles at Diana and holds the base of the glass between both hands.]
But it's real sweet of you to offer taking the blow in my place, even knowing it could've been super lethal. You were so reluctant before thinking it could actually kill you! Why is that?
[She shakes her head.] It doesn't work like that-- or at least, I've never tried it on an inanimate object.
If you are poisoned, though, it helps your body rapidly expunge the toxins. But I don't think it would work on just the drink itself-- it's an organic-based spell.
[Henry readjusts his posture, wrapping his arms around his knees so that he can watch Mikazuki's face rather than the tinkering he's doing. It all looks like a lot of parts he can't distinguish, to him.]
Are they still asleep? The people you're protecting. Aren't any of them awake yet?
[ In an advanced city like this, it's hard to know what's even useful in this wreck — he's a pilot, not an engineer. But he knows decent scrap when he sees it, so into the bag his loot goes, giving him ample opportunity to stand in the same motion. ]
[That gives him pause. Henry rises to his feet as though he's planning on becoming Mikazuki's shadow for the time being.]
So that means that, hypothetically, we could all just, [He snaps his finger.] bam! Slip right back into snoozeland? I thought we were woken up because we were done with that.
Seems like it. [ Not nearly as enthused. ] People wake up and go back to sleep all the time.
[ Scanning the room one last time, gaze falling from corner to corner, he indicates he's moving on with a nod. His footsteps fall heavy on the frozen carbon flooring. ]
I don't know whether or not we get to decide if we're done.
[Though Henry's totally tone-deaf in his behavior, he's surprisingly sensitive to the air of others, and he can easily detect her disdain for his words. It wouldn't be the first time he made some sort of blunder like this, but he's eager not to keep disappointing her. His breath hitches and he chews on his thoughts and her words.]
Liiike... among the stars? Oh!
[Thesa Station, of course! He, like many others, can relate to finding his fellow soldiers and friends more worthy of awakening than he is still locked away in slumber. He raises a finger in realization.]
[Thesa Station. Space. Spaceships. They're just a few of the countless new words she has been forced to hear since she had awoken there... and they do not taste right on her tongue, connect right in her mind. Words for concepts she'd never even considered, places she'd never seen, and fanciful dreams of a future she'd never dreamed.]
... I am.
[The reply is grit, reluctantly given- but there was little point to pretending it was not so. A jinba stood out in this place, even among this misfit "crew".]
Oh, right. That. I asked more than one question, after all. My mistake. It's too bad, because I wanted to talk to you some more, but what's fair is fair! Just make it painless, 'kay?
[Silly him, he's gotten away with more than she permitted. He prepares himself for death again now that he's done asking questions and turns to give his temple back to her, when he plays back the conversation from earlier, remembers her demands, and connects the dots.
Her enemy. Those she serves. The black sky. ...Oh. Henry jolts in place with delayed realization and grins at her.]
I'm NOT your enemy. We're allies! Yay! [He laughs, excitement renewed.] That means I can talk to you some more, right?!
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→ flask
[He gives her a smile coupled with a more subdued laugh, not one of his raucous ones.]
What made you decide to be the black sheep, anyhow? Just curious.
no subject
I'm weird in more ways than just as a goblin. Anyway, I just don't have the stomach for... torture and stuff. I don't like it. Is that so bad?? Most humans are pretty glad to learn I'm a piss poor goblin.
[More. More drinking. She misses her mouth at first and knocks herself in the chin.]
I think most people don't decide to be weird, they just are and hide it or they are and let it happen. Or they do whatever you're doing.
[She gestures vaguely at his... all of him.]
Or they're not weird at all, I guess. That happens, too.
no subject
I'll say. I never signed up, myself, but lots of folks consider me to be weird. Weird for a human weird, too. I guess. Not that I really understand the normal way to be a human!
If torture's the norm for you goblins, what happened to make it so torturous for you in particular? Scarred? In a non-surgical way, I mean. [Leave it to Henry to crack jokes about serious things.] Or is it just a natural aversion?
no subject
[Nott taps a claw against the enchanted platinum flask.]
I was better at making friends with captives than at hurting them.
[She doesn't want to go deeper into it than that.]
I guess it's a natural aversion, like you said.
no subject
[She doesn't wanna go deeper into it than that, but it's immediately what Henry focuses on. He puts himself in the shoes of one expected to torture "captives" and finding it counterproductive to befriend them. He crosses his arms and puzzles over this matter, trying to envision how it might go to be a victim with a benevolent and friendly person in charge of the ministrations.]
If you knew you had to hurt 'em, why pursue the niceties if that made it harder? Chatting up a customer makes sense, but I doubt these people signed up for their daily dose of torture. Nobody in charge of torture's ever said so much as a peep to me, so what made you decide to ask how their day was going?
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→ notwagging
He wonders if "careful" is a bad thing, but then takes notice of Keaton's tail. He smiles wider, as if it were possible, and laughs.]
Then I take it careful's the way to be, since your tail's wagging! [He's gotta point it out... once again, he has no radar for shame.] As if I'd wanna do anything UNcomfortable when I'm trying to pet you. You'd never let me do it again if I made a bad impression.
no subject
Well. I'm sure that if you were sorry enough, I could probably forgive you.
[ but he'd never want to be at that point? besides, Henry's enthusiasm towards wolves already earned him his trust, albeit very quickly. ]
You've got good hands. What do you normally do with them?
[ aka 'how does he pet' ]
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Aww, shucks. You'll make me blush. Nothing that makes me good at petting, though. I'm just a natural! The most I do with my hands is draw sigils or leaf through dark tomes, so unless that contributes to being a master ear-scratcher, that's all me.
no subject
Wait. Dark tomes? Sigils? You sound like a mage.
[ but he didn't smell dark magic! no, he smells... like a human. maybe a faint whiff of bird? maybe some blood? it still requires some further exploration, as he's now firmly entrenched in Henry's personal space. ]
... I knew mages. Some used weird scrolls with animals. Some used books. Didn't like getting hit by any of those.
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Weird scrolls with animals? I'm afraid I don't follow. But I'm totally a dark mage, through and through! So yeah, I use books like regular mages, only dark magic's my calling.
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→ fiendennor
[Henry takes a swallow of the drink.
...His smile becomes strained, and he takes in a long, steady breath through his nose.]
...See? Nothing to—
[He hacks, but he tries to cover it up with the back of his wrist.]
Nothing to it.
[Another thick swallow, just to get that single sip down. He breathes in, and all's right in the world once again. Mostly. Moreover, he smiles at Diana and holds the base of the glass between both hands.]
But it's real sweet of you to offer taking the blow in my place, even knowing it could've been super lethal. You were so reluctant before thinking it could actually kill you! Why is that?
no subject
The look on her face alone lets her know that this was a bullet she'd definitely dodged.]
Er... don't mistake me, I wouldn't actually drink it. [She says, her tone a little wary.]
I just have spells that can neutralize poisons, which includes alcohol.
no subject
[Henry offers his drink, an invitation for Diana to demonstrate the spell if she chooses.]
Does it remain the same sans boozy effects, or what? Still, a spell to combat poisons sounds pretty useful. I've never thought of that.
no subject
If you are poisoned, though, it helps your body rapidly expunge the toxins. But I don't think it would work on just the drink itself-- it's an organic-based spell.
[She's thinking about it, though.]
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→ thetaintedsorrow
Like an assassin for hire? That kind of shady life? Or a soldier on the bad guy's team?
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[He was second only to the Boss and Kouyou, and his subordinates were all fiercely loyal to him.]
But yeah, the Port Mafia did illegal things, like buying and selling weapons and other shady shit. But I have killed people, yeah.
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[Henry nods his head in understanding with that easy smile still plastered to his face.]
Why'd you join that mafia to begin with? Is it because you enjoyed the prospect of getting to kill people?
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[Chuuya included.]
I had nowhere else to go. I fought tooth and nail to climb the ranks and prove that I was worthy of living.
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→ sparsity
Are they still asleep? The people you're protecting. Aren't any of them awake yet?
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Not anymore.
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[That gives him pause. Henry rises to his feet as though he's planning on becoming Mikazuki's shadow for the time being.]
So that means that, hypothetically, we could all just, [He snaps his finger.] bam! Slip right back into snoozeland? I thought we were woken up because we were done with that.
no subject
[ Scanning the room one last time, gaze falling from corner to corner, he indicates he's moving on with a nod. His footsteps fall heavy on the frozen carbon flooring. ]
I don't know whether or not we get to decide if we're done.
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→ warmare
Liiike... among the stars? Oh!
[Thesa Station, of course! He, like many others, can relate to finding his fellow soldiers and friends more worthy of awakening than he is still locked away in slumber. He raises a finger in realization.]
Still asleep, huh? Are you the only one awake?
no subject
... I am.
[The reply is grit, reluctantly given- but there was little point to pretending it was not so. A jinba stood out in this place, even among this misfit "crew".]
Not that it matters.
[If she said it enough-]
The matter is your trespass.
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[Silly him, he's gotten away with more than she permitted. He prepares himself for death again now that he's done asking questions and turns to give his temple back to her, when he plays back the conversation from earlier, remembers her demands, and connects the dots.
Her enemy. Those she serves. The black sky. ...Oh. Henry jolts in place with delayed realization and grins at her.]
I'm NOT your enemy. We're allies! Yay! [He laughs, excitement renewed.] That means I can talk to you some more, right?!