[ when she tanks down her wine, he does give a slight wince. will she be okay later? he side eyes her, as he barely makes a dent in his own drink. there is a cautionary tale laced somewhere in here, and he instinctively feels it.
what instinct should have told him is not to ragebait her... ]
So I'm the idiot? [ but, he lets it go. he gives a slight sigh, before he motions for her to take a seat for now. ] I don't think that's true. They seemed like they cared for you a lot. [ ... and as much as they ganged up on him, it's not like he had a negative impression of them, either. ]
Respect isn't like sea foam. It doesn't just disappear. Or that's what I think.
[ he better keep a hand on his drink considering how she's eying it... but he's probably right that they still do; it's probably simply a her thing to be worried over it, just a little. habits die hard.
... she does take a seat though, resting her cheek in her hand. ]
I... guess the fact that they still bear through boring business talks before going off the rails does mean something. They're not as rambunctious as they look, but they're not really in for long unfun discussions either.
[ it's sweet of them, really. though maybe it's because she knows when to let them go and doesn't make a fuss if they derail a little in the first place... ]
Speaking of, I managed to get them a showing at the Peacock Theatre, so you should definitely come. It's a once in a lifetime event!
[ because those stuffy owners weren't keen on it until patho-gen stepped in but whatever. move off herself and onto brighter news. maybe she should've gotten herself some water or not bottom's upped her wine. so many thoughts in her head... ]
Yeah, as funny as it was— [ coughing, clearing his throat. ] I mean, as embarrassing as it could have been for you, I think that just shows how comfortable you were, you know. [ he knows, because it's clear to see when someone was on guard. he's practiced his own mask in social settings for years now, and he didn't see any hint of that rigidness and that air of emotional distance.
they felt close. they had fun, and that wasn't a bad thing.
but, before he can dive into his own thoughts, she breaks him out of this trance. he looks back to his wine, taking another sip, before sliding his glass against hers, as if to say she can take from it too. ]
I'll come if I have time. [ he'll come. ] But, is that what you've been caught up with recently?
[ oooh, how sweet of him. she'll definitely accept the offer, unable to hide how pleased she is about his appraisal of her relationship with them. being on guard is tiring. and she isn't always good at spotting when people put distance between her and them anyway... it isn't important.
malkuth carefully pours a little of rafayel's glass into hers, sipping at it properly with a nod. ]
Yup! I tried all kinds of angles... including deception, but that didn't go so well. I learned I'd have to build some credentials as a wealthy patron if I wanted to really make use of my "connections". [ swirling the pretty red, glancing up at him for a moment before her gaze returns to her glass. ] ... I ended up asking Patho-Gen if they could vouche for us, and they agreed. Even if it's only for a night, I'd consider it a hell of an accomplishment to get Augmented on stage rather than in its wings.
[ even if, well
she did have to ask who she did. but malkuth isn't picky, and it wasn't done on a mere whim either. 3kon trust her on that. ]
[ he half-wonders if that's a good call on his end too when she'll inevitably feel the buzz later, but he also doesn't question it. once she's done pouring, he takes his glass back for a moment, his lips lingering on the edge of the glass, as if deliberating taking another sip. he ends up more focused on her explanation. ]
It is a big accomplishment. The people here make no secret of their reservations. More so, the upperclass. [ which he finds ironic. in some sense they were sheltered from the harsh realities of the world, if just from exerting their own wealth and connections. still, he supposes in the sense that they had more to lose... ]
You ended up asking Patho-Gen, though? [ he decides now is the time to drink down his wine. ]
Well, if they're a resource, you may as well milk them for all they're worth. [ shrug. ]
Considering three of us were targeted last month, I felt like I had pretty good chance of getting them on my side... and honestly, I've been thinking about how to use them since I became 3kon's manager.
[ so yes, she's milking it. happily so. since day one. another small sip of her wine before she sets it aside, folding her hands with a cheeky smile and a flick of her ears. ]
They've always had goodwill available to us, at least at face value. As long as you're mindful about their movements and don't put them on a pedestal... they're not so hard to manipulate. [ which is what this is. she won't sugarcoat it. ] Sorry if that ruined your sparkling perception of me though.
True, they seem keen on at least putting on the pretense that they'll help us, or need our cooperation. [ ... and sometimes that was just enough to use as a veil of cover. everyone pretends to forgive them, to move on, when essentially it couldn't be further from the truth. as someone who exacted revenge often years later, he comprehends the value of time and place.
maybe malkuth wasn't so different in some ways. ]
It doesn't. It just means you've also experienced the world.
[ ... and it isn't like she used it for ill will. the thought that she considered that playing chip, but used it to hold a concert? he does laugh a little at that. he can't deny that while they may not have been different in how they saw the world, their approach...
well, he decides not to ponder on it for now. he takes another sip and places the glass on the table. ]
[ no, she hasn't, which is something she registers when he asks. too busy being embarrassed it seems. malkuth does now though, ears flattening happily at the sweet mixture of fruit and cream, mind lingering on his "also". it's nice that his opinion of her hasn't changed, whatever it had been before -- hopefully something good and well-earned -- but it leaves her wondering just what would cause it to do so.
... probably the unspoken details of elijah's life and her own second. ]
It's really good. [ judging by the fact she's trying to get fruit in every bite though, it's clear what her favorite part is. ] Has anyone told you that you go above and beyond? I definitely wasn't expecting food...
[ not that she's unhappy about it or his personal gift. it's nice. welcome. doing her best to keep it friendly. ]
You try to take pretty good care of your friends, huh?
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no subject
what instinct should have told him is not to ragebait her... ]
So I'm the idiot? [ but, he lets it go. he gives a slight sigh, before he motions for her to take a seat for now. ] I don't think that's true. They seemed like they cared for you a lot. [ ... and as much as they ganged up on him, it's not like he had a negative impression of them, either. ]
Respect isn't like sea foam. It doesn't just disappear. Or that's what I think.
no subject
... she does take a seat though, resting her cheek in her hand. ]
I... guess the fact that they still bear through boring business talks before going off the rails does mean something. They're not as rambunctious as they look, but they're not really in for long unfun discussions either.
[ it's sweet of them, really. though maybe it's because she knows when to let them go and doesn't make a fuss if they derail a little in the first place... ]
Speaking of, I managed to get them a showing at the Peacock Theatre, so you should definitely come. It's a once in a lifetime event!
[ because those stuffy owners weren't keen on it until patho-gen stepped in but whatever. move off herself and onto brighter news. maybe she should've gotten herself some water or not bottom's upped her wine. so many thoughts in her head... ]
no subject
they felt close. they had fun, and that wasn't a bad thing.
but, before he can dive into his own thoughts, she breaks him out of this trance. he looks back to his wine, taking another sip, before sliding his glass against hers, as if to say she can take from it too. ]
I'll come if I have time. [ he'll come. ] But, is that what you've been caught up with recently?
no subject
malkuth carefully pours a little of rafayel's glass into hers, sipping at it properly with a nod. ]
Yup! I tried all kinds of angles... including deception, but that didn't go so well. I learned I'd have to build some credentials as a wealthy patron if I wanted to really make use of my "connections". [ swirling the pretty red, glancing up at him for a moment before her gaze returns to her glass. ] ... I ended up asking Patho-Gen if they could vouche for us, and they agreed. Even if it's only for a night, I'd consider it a hell of an accomplishment to get Augmented on stage rather than in its wings.
[ even if, well
she did have to ask who she did. but malkuth isn't picky, and it wasn't done on a mere whim either. 3kon trust her on that. ]
no subject
It is a big accomplishment. The people here make no secret of their reservations. More so, the upperclass. [ which he finds ironic. in some sense they were sheltered from the harsh realities of the world, if just from exerting their own wealth and connections. still, he supposes in the sense that they had more to lose... ]
You ended up asking Patho-Gen, though? [ he decides now is the time to drink down his wine. ]
Well, if they're a resource, you may as well milk them for all they're worth. [ shrug. ]
no subject
[ so yes, she's milking it. happily so. since day one. another small sip of her wine before she sets it aside, folding her hands with a cheeky smile and a flick of her ears. ]
They've always had goodwill available to us, at least at face value. As long as you're mindful about their movements and don't put them on a pedestal... they're not so hard to manipulate. [ which is what this is. she won't sugarcoat it. ] Sorry if that ruined your sparkling perception of me though.
no subject
maybe malkuth wasn't so different in some ways. ]
It doesn't. It just means you've also experienced the world.
[ ... and it isn't like she used it for ill will. the thought that she considered that playing chip, but used it to hold a concert? he does laugh a little at that. he can't deny that while they may not have been different in how they saw the world, their approach...
well, he decides not to ponder on it for now. he takes another sip and places the glass on the table. ]
How's the cake? [ did she even get to it yet? ]
no subject
... probably the unspoken details of elijah's life and her own second. ]
It's really good. [ judging by the fact she's trying to get fruit in every bite though, it's clear what her favorite part is. ] Has anyone told you that you go above and beyond? I definitely wasn't expecting food...
[ not that she's unhappy about it or his personal gift. it's nice. welcome. doing her best to keep it friendly. ]
You try to take pretty good care of your friends, huh?