[ Jim eats quietly and he nods in acknowledgment at the revelation, waiting to speak without a mouth full of breakfast. He doesn't know enough about Gabe's life, but the explanation tracks with what he does. Soldiers taking damage isn't unheard of. ]
But you have something that helps you see anyway.
[ It comes out sounding almost more like a statement than an inquiry, because that much is obvious. How the fuck else was Gabe getting around before? Though the more James reflects on their past meet ups, the more things are settling into sense. He's curious if it'll be like the camera guy Monica had with her during the documentary filming. ]
But you have something that helps you see anyway.
[ It comes out sounding almost more like a statement than an inquiry, because that much is obvious. How the fuck else was Gabe getting around before? Though the more James reflects on their past meet ups, the more things are settling into sense. He's curious if it'll be like the camera guy Monica had with her during the documentary filming. ]
Yeah.
[ He's got tricks. Always has, always will. So far, he's been able to hide it from most people around here. But he always knew that had a shelf-life. They're in close proximity and they get fucked over on the regular. Hell loves to push buttons.
Case in point. He shrugs. ]
I've got an AI drilled into my skull. Helps me navigate. It's a pretty sweet deal, except for when it craps out.
[ He's got tricks. Always has, always will. So far, he's been able to hide it from most people around here. But he always knew that had a shelf-life. They're in close proximity and they get fucked over on the regular. Hell loves to push buttons.
Case in point. He shrugs. ]
I've got an AI drilled into my skull. Helps me navigate. It's a pretty sweet deal, except for when it craps out.
[ Right. Jim remembers seeing something on Gabe before, during a workout session. ]
At some point, my crew and I drew enough attention that a documentary crew wanted to follow us, interview us, blah blah blah, and their camera guy, he had himself modified with 3D imaging technology that he put in his hands. It helped him visualize. That was how he adapted to his own blindness. ( pauses, then snorts and lightly elbows Gabriel's space ) And you know what, he was a flirt too.
[ With Amos, but Cohen and Monica knew what they were doing, trying to use sex against Holden and Burton. ]
At some point, my crew and I drew enough attention that a documentary crew wanted to follow us, interview us, blah blah blah, and their camera guy, he had himself modified with 3D imaging technology that he put in his hands. It helped him visualize. That was how he adapted to his own blindness. ( pauses, then snorts and lightly elbows Gabriel's space ) And you know what, he was a flirt too.
[ With Amos, but Cohen and Monica knew what they were doing, trying to use sex against Holden and Burton. ]
Like hardlight?
[ Gabe sits up a little straighter. That's interesting. Every universe is different and all that bullshit, but it's always worth tugging on those threads. Seeing what spills out, what plays the same way.
He grins, mock-affronted. ]
Excuse you. I'm one of a kind.
[ Gabe sits up a little straighter. That's interesting. Every universe is different and all that bullshit, but it's always worth tugging on those threads. Seeing what spills out, what plays the same way.
He grins, mock-affronted. ]
Excuse you. I'm one of a kind.
[ Gabe may sit up, but Jim just blinks and looks a little confused. ]
Sorry, hardlight?
[ To which hands come up apologetically. ]
I'm just saying. But that's where the similarities end. He was forward in all the wrong ways and tried to help an assassin take me out.
[ He was also white. And dead. And no where near as good looking. ]
Sorry, hardlight?
[ To which hands come up apologetically. ]
I'm just saying. But that's where the similarities end. He was forward in all the wrong ways and tried to help an assassin take me out.
[ He was also white. And dead. And no where near as good looking. ]
3D projection you can feel with your hands. Not solid enough to balance a fork on or anything - [ he hefts his to demonstrate ] - but you can get creative with it.
[ Gabe's eyebrows go up at that. ]
No shit? Why? He bored or something?
[ Gabe's eyebrows go up at that. ]
No shit? Why? He bored or something?
[ Sure. The narrator has zero clue, but Holden gives a more adequate response, as he's able to comprehend this technology better than said ignorant writer. ]
He used it to control camera drones, too. We didn't exactly get to know one another, since Monica did all the talking, asked all the questions. And when he tried to sabotage the ship, we sent the two-person crew packing. Put them in suits and told them to make their way to the nearest ship. Cohen - the guy - claims he didn't know the extent of his involvement. Someone reached out before they boarded our ship and told him what to do, gave him a video to play that was edited to sound and look like me that started a lot of shit.
[ Worked out in the end. Just not for Cohen. ]
He used it to control camera drones, too. We didn't exactly get to know one another, since Monica did all the talking, asked all the questions. And when he tried to sabotage the ship, we sent the two-person crew packing. Put them in suits and told them to make their way to the nearest ship. Cohen - the guy - claims he didn't know the extent of his involvement. Someone reached out before they boarded our ship and told him what to do, gave him a video to play that was edited to sound and look like me that started a lot of shit.
[ Worked out in the end. Just not for Cohen. ]
[ Gabe's eyebrows go up. In zero g? Baller. Better than getting tossed out the airlock, he supposes, but that's a hardcore move if you aren't trained for it. ]
Sounds like a dumbass.
Sounds like a dumbass.
Was. [ A pregnant pause. ] He's dead now. Got cut in half by a ship's doors. [ So, yeah. Kind of a dumbass. ]
So, you made it here. Does that mean you have your sight back?
[ That is, get his eyes working again. ]
So, you made it here. Does that mean you have your sight back?
[ That is, get his eyes working again. ]
Well, shit. There you go.
[ Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Gabe just shakes his head and goes back to his food. ]
Nah. These are prosthetics.
[ He motions vaguely at his face. ]
I got tricks, but I don't see.
[ Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Gabe just shakes his head and goes back to his food. ]
Nah. These are prosthetics.
[ He motions vaguely at his face. ]
I got tricks, but I don't see.
[ Ah. It makes sense now, if Jim ever felt certain things were "off". ]
Well, I can't speak for others, but they're mighty damn convincing. Which I get is the point. Hang on, does that mean you couldn't see the patterns on the origami paper I gave you?
[ Replaying that scene in his head with the added knowledge of Gabe's eyes makes so more sense now. It's irrational to feel this way, and yet James can't help but feel just a little guilty. Or a tiny bit like an asshole. ]
Well, I can't speak for others, but they're mighty damn convincing. Which I get is the point. Hang on, does that mean you couldn't see the patterns on the origami paper I gave you?
[ Replaying that scene in his head with the added knowledge of Gabe's eyes makes so more sense now. It's irrational to feel this way, and yet James can't help but feel just a little guilty. Or a tiny bit like an asshole. ]
Galaxy prints in different colors. Sorry? Do I apologize?
[ Yeah, James didn't know, and yet he offers it up anyway. That's how Holden friends. ]
[ Yeah, James didn't know, and yet he offers it up anyway. That's how Holden friends. ]
No need.
[ Hiding it from people was the whole point. Gabe just shrugs. ]
I’m pretty good at making sure people don’t pick it up. Or not easily, anyway.
[ Hiding it from people was the whole point. Gabe just shrugs. ]
I’m pretty good at making sure people don’t pick it up. Or not easily, anyway.
May I ask why choose to hide it?
[ James wonders what he would do. The only way he can even try to relate is through the port transplanted into his arm. But though he doesn't actively display it, neither does Holden seek ways to conceal it. ]
[ James wonders what he would do. The only way he can even try to relate is through the port transplanted into his arm. But though he doesn't actively display it, neither does Holden seek ways to conceal it. ]
[ Attached to the text message is a selfie of Bela in the night club, her smiling face illuminated by the neon lights. She is also holding a couple of glowsticks.]
Hi.
I dislike rave music as much as the next person, but I'll make an exception if you come down here and show me off some of those twenty-fourth century dance moves.
Oh, and there's a dress code apparently. I'm sure you'll get away with a tank top and some shorts.
Hope to see you soon.
Hi.
I dislike rave music as much as the next person, but I'll make an exception if you come down here and show me off some of those twenty-fourth century dance moves.
Oh, and there's a dress code apparently. I'm sure you'll get away with a tank top and some shorts.
Hope to see you soon.
Thanks for the warning, because losing my clothes was jarring enough the first time.
Give me a minute and I'll meet you at the bar?
Give me a minute and I'll meet you at the bar?
→ acton ; 'Hypa, hypa, you're pretty and I like ya / Move your body, girl, all night long'
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chaos_magnet
2021-09-09 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ James boldy (and somewhat nervously) shows up topless, hoping that the club will provide something to accompanying the obnoxiously tiny swim trunks. Though he was prepared for feeling like a fool, what they hand him isn't all that bad, it's just that the whole outfit (the demons said the shirt remains open or he can go without), looking down at himself, still triggers asshat syndrome. Or tooly douchbag, maybe.
There's a prolonged sigh before Holden weaves through neon and nudity and the like to locate Bela. The picture didn't quite do her justice, because the level of hotness elevates at seeing her in the flesh. A lot more flesh than their previous encounters. He's starting to think that this night may not go the way in which he was envisioning when first reading the text message. ]
There's a prolonged sigh before Holden weaves through neon and nudity and the like to locate Bela. The picture didn't quite do her justice, because the level of hotness elevates at seeing her in the flesh. A lot more flesh than their previous encounters. He's starting to think that this night may not go the way in which he was envisioning when first reading the text message. ]
[ Bela doesn't know what he is going to turn up when he arrives, but she wouldn't be surprised if the demons decided to have a little fun with him. It took a lot of charm on her part to convince the demons to let her get away with some clothing.
She is leaning against a table, two tall glasses of some bright blue liquid placed in front of her - Bela doesn't know what's in them, but the pink straws make it fun.
When she sees him standing in front of her, Bela smiles widely and takes a long moment to appreciate what he was wearing - or not wearing, in this case. He looks damn good and it absolutely increases her attraction to him. ]
Hi. It's nice to see you again.
She is leaning against a table, two tall glasses of some bright blue liquid placed in front of her - Bela doesn't know what's in them, but the pink straws make it fun.
When she sees him standing in front of her, Bela smiles widely and takes a long moment to appreciate what he was wearing - or not wearing, in this case. He looks damn good and it absolutely increases her attraction to him. ]
Hi. It's nice to see you again.
[ The drinks are ignored in the moment, his gaze too distracted by the way Bela's glow sticks highlight her figure, and he rubs at his chin with a smile wide enough to display teeth. James uses the excuse of excessive noise brought about by the music, the patrons, as he leans in a bit to be heard. Only, there's a breath wherein he doesn't know what the fuck to say, and a nervous laugh precedes -- ] I don't know if this is what I had in mind when I extended that invitation, but it'll do.
[ As he retreats, the blue and pink colors catch Jim's eye and he nods at the drinks. ]
Did they give those to you or did you buy them?
[ He has very little doubt that they aren't drugged if they were just freely given. ]
[ As he retreats, the blue and pink colors catch Jim's eye and he nods at the drinks. ]
Did they give those to you or did you buy them?
[ He has very little doubt that they aren't drugged if they were just freely given. ]
[ The club wasn't the ideal place for quiet conversation, but the thumping music and the thrum of the crowd is a distraction, drowning out any kind of negative thoughts that could stray into her mind. Even more distracting is the company, and she leans in when he does to hear him. If anything, it's an excuse to get closer. ]
I thought we could use a bit of fun first. We don't have to stay all night, and I still want to take you up on the invitation to go to your room.
[ Her smile turns playful as she reaches for her drink, nodding at his question. ]
I bought them. Exchanged for cleaning up a couple of hallways. Nothing I can't handle. [ She could give up some of her time. ] I think the staff here must like me, because they could have had me doing something a little more risque instead.
I thought we could use a bit of fun first. We don't have to stay all night, and I still want to take you up on the invitation to go to your room.
[ Her smile turns playful as she reaches for her drink, nodding at his question. ]
I bought them. Exchanged for cleaning up a couple of hallways. Nothing I can't handle. [ She could give up some of her time. ] I think the staff here must like me, because they could have had me doing something a little more risque instead.
[ Distractions are a damn welcome thing since coming back. ]
What's not to like?
[ James shifts slightly to grab his own in turn, raising it high enough to goofily look through the blue hue at Bela. He winks and lowers it to a more comfortable, albeit normal, position. ]
If it puts you more at ease, though, the night club portion seems to give more leeway than the sex club. For future reference. My only interactions have been for coffee related things or alcohol, though.
What's not to like?
[ James shifts slightly to grab his own in turn, raising it high enough to goofily look through the blue hue at Bela. He winks and lowers it to a more comfortable, albeit normal, position. ]
If it puts you more at ease, though, the night club portion seems to give more leeway than the sex club. For future reference. My only interactions have been for coffee related things or alcohol, though.
Charmer.
[ Though she doesn't mind the compliment at all. Nor the goofiness, or well, anything really. He's managed to endear himself to her, and become someone she enjoys the company of. ]
It does, actually. Although. I did have a quick look into the sex club before, just out of curiosity. Probably for the best that you just stuck to the coffee and alcohol, James.
[ She sips from her drink, then continues, a light tease in her tone. ]
But then, I do wonder what would make you blush.
[ Though she doesn't mind the compliment at all. Nor the goofiness, or well, anything really. He's managed to endear himself to her, and become someone she enjoys the company of. ]
It does, actually. Although. I did have a quick look into the sex club before, just out of curiosity. Probably for the best that you just stuck to the coffee and alcohol, James.
[ She sips from her drink, then continues, a light tease in her tone. ]
But then, I do wonder what would make you blush.
text | un:sicparvismagna; backdated to after A Hellishly Infernal Summer
duderaider
2021-09-11 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, you busy?
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