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[Silence, for a long moment. Tayrey stares at the model starship. Finally, she looks back to Sparkles, and speaks quietly.]
You hurt people because you were being tortured yourself. That doesn't make it alright. It does make it understandable, and it means that now circumstances are different, you can choose to be different. To be better. If that's what you decide.
[Then, more resolutely - Tayrey's stubborn once she latches on to an idea!] If Friday cares so much about rules then she needs to do her job. Ships are very well-organised, you know. They have a place to stay for everyone aboard, and if a person got there unexpectedly? No matter the circumstances, they'd find a room for them, not leave them and their belongings to clutter up shared space.
[She's talking about a tightly run military starship with space at a premium. She knows nothing about Earther cruise ships. But maybe the logic will hold?]
You hurt people because you were being tortured yourself. That doesn't make it alright. It does make it understandable, and it means that now circumstances are different, you can choose to be different. To be better. If that's what you decide.
[Then, more resolutely - Tayrey's stubborn once she latches on to an idea!] If Friday cares so much about rules then she needs to do her job. Ships are very well-organised, you know. They have a place to stay for everyone aboard, and if a person got there unexpectedly? No matter the circumstances, they'd find a room for them, not leave them and their belongings to clutter up shared space.
[She's talking about a tightly run military starship with space at a premium. She knows nothing about Earther cruise ships. But maybe the logic will hold?]
[She nods. She won't pressure Sparkles to approach Friday. Her first thought then is to give up on the idea, to say that she'll keep the model starship in her own cabin and it can ask her when it wants to play with it.
Except that's not right. It's not fair that Sparkles should have less than everyone else. If having done terrible things in the past meant you didn't get a cabin, there would be a lot of prisoners turfed out into the corridor.
What now, then? You're a Tradeline officer, Tayrey. Step up and act like it. Look after your people.]
It's alright. I understand. Do you want me to talk to her, try to get it sorted out? I can't make any promises that it'll succeed, but I'll put forward the best case I have for you, word by contract.
Except that's not right. It's not fair that Sparkles should have less than everyone else. If having done terrible things in the past meant you didn't get a cabin, there would be a lot of prisoners turfed out into the corridor.
What now, then? You're a Tradeline officer, Tayrey. Step up and act like it. Look after your people.]
It's alright. I understand. Do you want me to talk to her, try to get it sorted out? I can't make any promises that it'll succeed, but I'll put forward the best case I have for you, word by contract.
It's no trouble. I don't think she'll do anything to harm me just for asking.
[She isn't 100% sure on that, but - whatever. She's doing this now.]
I'll go right now and talk to her, alright? Then we'll know, either way.
[She isn't 100% sure on that, but - whatever. She's doing this now.]
I'll go right now and talk to her, alright? Then we'll know, either way.
[there are moments where Skulduggery will look at the Captain and see the powerful being he's turned himself into. and then there are these times, when Skulduggery looks at him and sees the man he's still becoming. or maybe it's the man he's always been under all the power and fear.]
They're enterprising enough to figure it out for themselves. [he adjusts his weight so that he can touch the flower tucked by his ear.] And they really shouldn't be too surprised when odd occurrences have unintended effects.
[he'll text a few of them later, just to make sure they know to be on alert, but other than that, he figures they can fend for themselves.]
They're enterprising enough to figure it out for themselves. [he adjusts his weight so that he can touch the flower tucked by his ear.] And they really shouldn't be too surprised when odd occurrences have unintended effects.
[he'll text a few of them later, just to make sure they know to be on alert, but other than that, he figures they can fend for themselves.]
[Here's Ari Tayrey at the desk, looking official. Or as official as a person can when they're clearly exhausted and their uniform looks at least a size and a half too big. She's trying.]
I have a request to make.
[Not demanding, but brisk and professional.]
I have a request to make.
[Not demanding, but brisk and professional.]
Happens, with magic. To be expected.
[he glances up at the flower, then shrugs.]
I don't even know what half of these are. I've copied them all from books.
[he glances up at the flower, then shrugs.]
I don't even know what half of these are. I've copied them all from books.
Well, we can't always get everything we want. You'll just have to settle for not being angry with him.
It's Lieutenant.
[That's just automatic. She worked very hard to pass that examination, okay?]
It's a logistical matter, really. [Tayrey lowers her voice slightly.] I noticed that Sparkles hasn't yet been assigned a cabin. [Clearly an oversight, Citizen Friday, yes? You're usually so efficient. Tayrey's encouraging look says it all.] I'd like to request that it be given the cabin next to mine, at the quiet end of the corridor.
[That's just automatic. She worked very hard to pass that examination, okay?]
It's a logistical matter, really. [Tayrey lowers her voice slightly.] I noticed that Sparkles hasn't yet been assigned a cabin. [Clearly an oversight, Citizen Friday, yes? You're usually so efficient. Tayrey's encouraging look says it all.] I'd like to request that it be given the cabin next to mine, at the quiet end of the corridor.
[ Wow, Skully was right, the impulse to say 'fuck you I do what I want' verges on reflexive. ]
We're fine. We already talked about it. If I went off my head every time he did some shit I'd burst every blood vessel I have. My relationship with him isn't anything you need to worry about.
We're fine. We already talked about it. If I went off my head every time he did some shit I'd burst every blood vessel I have. My relationship with him isn't anything you need to worry about.
Hmmm. I can't say I'm any sort of capable botanist, but I do recognize a fair few of these. Roses, lilies... [he plucks a sprig of blue flowers from the pile.] Forget-me-nots. It's a veritable bouquet in here, although I'm not sure what sort of message the arrangement must send to people familiar with the language of flowers.
...
[ That answer doesn't sound very reassuring. Maybe it's still figuring things out? Give it time. Fio's visibly discouraged for about a few seconds, before covering it up with a smile and a cheerful tone. ]
Well, I really like spending time with you!
[ That answer doesn't sound very reassuring. Maybe it's still figuring things out? Give it time. Fio's visibly discouraged for about a few seconds, before covering it up with a smile and a cheerful tone. ]
Well, I really like spending time with you!
The what? [only half-paying attention, mainly distracted by the sudden urge to see what Skuls looks like with a rose in his eye socket.]
It's genuinely impressive how you can agree with me in a way that makes it sound like you don't.
Years of practice. It's more habit than anything else.
The -- ow. [it doesn't hurt, but he feels like that's the only appropriate response to having a rose stem stuck in through his socket.] The Victorians made up meanings for flowers. That way, they could send veiled insults to one another. Or declarations of love. [he taps the side of the socket now hosting a rose.] I wasn't much for flowers or discretion at the time. Ghastly and Vex were more interested in it. They'd arrange bouquets that, according to them, were quite vulgar.
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