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mental link.
duty resistance. | fate fear. |
death knowledge. | luck surrender. |
( You forced me to feel every part of that, against my will. You must know what that means, right? It means you owe me something. )
[ his idea of 'feeling better?', perhaps? and so early in the morning, too, when mat is least likely to be receptive to anything that isn't a warm bowl of chicken soup. ]
[ his idea of 'feeling better?', perhaps? and so early in the morning, too, when mat is least likely to be receptive to anything that isn't a warm bowl of chicken soup. ]
Edited 2017-08-05 13:12 (UTC)
[ Healed or not, it's still early enough for Mat to be half-awake and nursing a headache. The response is slow, starts out foggy. It only gains traction when a sharp spike of offense sets in. ]
( I don't know what sort of crackbrained barter system you're accustomed to, but the only thing I owe anyone is a swift kick to the shins. )
[ Anyone being Seviilia, of course, though the association's a bit murky, anger tangled up with lingering dread. Reluctant point of interest, though: ]
( You felt all of it? )
( I don't know what sort of crackbrained barter system you're accustomed to, but the only thing I owe anyone is a swift kick to the shins. )
[ Anyone being Seviilia, of course, though the association's a bit murky, anger tangled up with lingering dread. Reluctant point of interest, though: ]
( You felt all of it? )
( That's good to hear. Vegetables don't get angry, or kick people in the shins. )
[ the offense pleases him, mat, insofar as it's evidence he's still got his wits about him and hadn't damaged his brain, or kaji's, by suffering proxy. ]
( And then some. Like that headache of yours, which is the second headache I've had to share with you. I like to think I'm at least owed an explanation. )
[ the offense pleases him, mat, insofar as it's evidence he's still got his wits about him and hadn't damaged his brain, or kaji's, by suffering proxy. ]
( And then some. Like that headache of yours, which is the second headache I've had to share with you. I like to think I'm at least owed an explanation. )
[ Aw, you do... care... It takes him a moment to get the reference to a prior headache, though as soon as he does there's a very obvious attempt at putting up walls. More than anything, all he accomplishes is feeling distinctly uncomfortable. ]
( One of our new friends used the— ) [ Except it's not The Power here, is it? ] ( Her power on me. Tried to bloody kill me. )
[ A short pause. ]
( And I didn't start it. )
[ IN CASE THERE WAS ANY DOUBT. ]
( One of our new friends used the— ) [ Except it's not The Power here, is it? ] ( Her power on me. Tried to bloody kill me. )
[ A short pause. ]
( And I didn't start it. )
[ IN CASE THERE WAS ANY DOUBT. ]
Edited 2017-08-10 20:59 (UTC)
[ WELL...... ]
( I told her as much as she deserved. Where I'm from, backing someone into a corner isn't a polite way to make introductions. )
[ The chain of questions is met with a bristling of annoyance, though there's some embarrassment in it. ]
( I don't know her name, and she looked like any of us with all those flaming layers on. And if I'd seen it coming, I would've saved us both the headache. ) [ But he knows these questions aren't just about curiosity. It's information worth knowing, worth picking apart. He isn't exactly thrilled about sharing any of it, but even Mat knows when to call a spade a spade. ]
( She seemed half as bloody surprised as I was. )
( I told her as much as she deserved. Where I'm from, backing someone into a corner isn't a polite way to make introductions. )
[ The chain of questions is met with a bristling of annoyance, though there's some embarrassment in it. ]
( I don't know her name, and she looked like any of us with all those flaming layers on. And if I'd seen it coming, I would've saved us both the headache. ) [ But he knows these questions aren't just about curiosity. It's information worth knowing, worth picking apart. He isn't exactly thrilled about sharing any of it, but even Mat knows when to call a spade a spade. ]
( She seemed half as bloody surprised as I was. )
[ kaji's hum was that of someone reviewing a mental checklist. ]
( You don't say... well, it could've been an accident, or a sense of hostility that quickly spiraled out of control. You're a disagreeable man, but fairly harmless, I think. )
[ swiftly preempting mat's protests: ] ( Of course, that doesn't mean she doesn't owe you an apology. As a matter of fact, she owes me one, too. What's done onto you is done onto me. )
( You don't say... well, it could've been an accident, or a sense of hostility that quickly spiraled out of control. You're a disagreeable man, but fairly harmless, I think. )
[ swiftly preempting mat's protests: ] ( Of course, that doesn't mean she doesn't owe you an apology. As a matter of fact, she owes me one, too. What's done onto you is done onto me. )
( Of course. I can't say I'm not curious to know who's capable of this sort of thing and getting away with it, for that matter. And here I thought the same was true for you. )
[ unless. ]
( Hold on a moment. You're not scared about a repeat scenario, are you? )
[ unless. ]
( Hold on a moment. You're not scared about a repeat scenario, are you? )
[ Even if his first instinct is to lie, the mental link makes it more of a challenge — and, strangely enough, being called a coward isn't one of his many sore spots. ]
( Because you want another headache, is that it? No, I don't want a blasted repeat. If you truly felt it, neither would you. )
( Because you want another headache, is that it? No, I don't want a blasted repeat. If you truly felt it, neither would you. )
( I'm saying she was a bit hostile. )
[ "A bit". That's kind of baseline for his relationship with women, so the statement's strangely mild. Although, after a thoughtful and slightly chagrined pause, ]
( She started off lecturing me for causing trouble — which I didn't do, mind you. )
[ She'd told him to stop complaining and get along with the other hosts, or implied it. Sort of the opposite of unreasonable. ]
( Just leave it. I'll take care of it. )
[ "A bit". That's kind of baseline for his relationship with women, so the statement's strangely mild. Although, after a thoughtful and slightly chagrined pause, ]
( She started off lecturing me for causing trouble — which I didn't do, mind you. )
[ She'd told him to stop complaining and get along with the other hosts, or implied it. Sort of the opposite of unreasonable. ]
( Just leave it. I'll take care of it. )
( That's a terrifying thing of you to say. )
[ it's not mat. in his experience, whenever someone said "i'll take care of it", malfeasance closely followed behind. ]
( Just don't give me another headache. I may not look like it, but I have a hot temper. ) [ and the skies were made of marmalade. ]
[ it's not mat. in his experience, whenever someone said "i'll take care of it", malfeasance closely followed behind. ]
( Just don't give me another headache. I may not look like it, but I have a hot temper. ) [ and the skies were made of marmalade. ]
( In more ways than one. ) [ A few months ago he would've gladly tossed the responsibility off to Kaji. That said, his plan for dealing with it is really just avoiding it, SO.... ]
( And I guarantee you I've seen worse tempers than yours. )
[ Speaking of headaches, though. ]
( What about drink? )
( And I guarantee you I've seen worse tempers than yours. )
[ Speaking of headaches, though. ]
( What about drink? )
[ mat, mat, mat. well, he doesn't get points for clarity. ]
( You never wondered just how deep this connection runs? If I can feel your headache, what else can I feel of yours? And if you're going to willingly give yourself pain, you better follow it up with something correspondingly, well, pleasant. )
( You never wondered just how deep this connection runs? If I can feel your headache, what else can I feel of yours? And if you're going to willingly give yourself pain, you better follow it up with something correspondingly, well, pleasant. )
[ Wow ok FULL OFFENSE. Mat isn't exactly a prude, but there's doing things and then there's making it everyone's business. Or sharing it, apparently.
Well, maybe he's a little bit of a prude, by certain definitions. But there's a flicker of memory when he puts two and two together — nobody Kaji knows, thankfully, and only vague impressions of a very handsy, older woman — that are quickly shut down. ]
( If I'm getting anything pleasant, it's none of yours. Burn you— ) [ Normally he'd try out new curse words. Since the latest one he's learned is 'fuck' and he knows what it technically means, hard pass. ] ( Just stay out of my bloody skull. )
Well, maybe he's a little bit of a prude, by certain definitions. But there's a flicker of memory when he puts two and two together — nobody Kaji knows, thankfully, and only vague impressions of a very handsy, older woman — that are quickly shut down. ]
( If I'm getting anything pleasant, it's none of yours. Burn you— ) [ Normally he'd try out new curse words. Since the latest one he's learned is 'fuck' and he knows what it technically means, hard pass. ] ( Just stay out of my bloody skull. )
[ honestly, the vague impressions interest him more than mat's more coherent thoughts right now. there's a sensation that, if assigned to a pictocard, would be of a man raising his eyebrows in quiet intrigue. ]
( Likewise. I'm only kidding, of course.
And, Mat - if there's anything you need to talk to me about, I'm only a thought away. We might be more alike than you realize. )
( Likewise. I'm only kidding, of course.
And, Mat - if there's anything you need to talk to me about, I'm only a thought away. We might be more alike than you realize. )
[ He felt that eyebrow raise, buddy. ]
( Right. )
[ Very dubious. The last comment makes him think of less trivial things, though; the first time they'd met, the images and questions. It'll be an easy thought to track, though his current power-induced hangover makes him reluctant to indulge in existential questions. ]
( Alike, or just sharing the same bad streak of luck? ) [ After a short pause, though: ] ( If there's anything worth speaking about, I'll get in touch. )
[ Part of him would be content to keep to himself and ignore reality as much as possible. But it's here, and he's stuck with it, and if he's learned anything in the past few months it's that it's best to take any kind of loyalty — or simply solidarity — you can get. ]
( Right. )
[ Very dubious. The last comment makes him think of less trivial things, though; the first time they'd met, the images and questions. It'll be an easy thought to track, though his current power-induced hangover makes him reluctant to indulge in existential questions. ]
( Alike, or just sharing the same bad streak of luck? ) [ After a short pause, though: ] ( If there's anything worth speaking about, I'll get in touch. )
[ Part of him would be content to keep to himself and ignore reality as much as possible. But it's here, and he's stuck with it, and if he's learned anything in the past few months it's that it's best to take any kind of loyalty — or simply solidarity — you can get. ]
[ This is becoming a trend; her hounding those in Kaji's orbit, as if their slightest wobble might affect his gravity and thus it would be her business. One doesn't step down from orchestrating a multi-tiered paramilitary organization without feeling the itch for some kind of replacement activity, now more than ever. Her mind is carefully folded away, junk stuffed into a drawer and locked. ]
( Where have you been hiding away? )
( Where have you been hiding away? )
[ Her mind's quiet, at least. It's a welcome break from the relative noise of everyone's collective grief. His own quiet feels more hard-earned, strained, like bracing against a door that someone's trying to kick down. ]
( You say that as if hiding's a bloody option. )
[ They can all find each other, can't they? They're too close, whether they want to be or not. He doesn't sound thrilled, but his frustration's already dimmer than it'd been on arrival. ]
( I could ask the same of you. )
( You say that as if hiding's a bloody option. )
[ They can all find each other, can't they? They're too close, whether they want to be or not. He doesn't sound thrilled, but his frustration's already dimmer than it'd been on arrival. ]
( I could ask the same of you. )
[ Grief is something she has learned to drown out by sheer tenacity. An ostrich with her head in the ground. If she doesn't see it, it can't get her, or so the logic goes. ]
( I've been hard at work, you haven't noticed? )
[ Another time and she might find it reason enough to feel offended. ]
( I thought about it, if you'd know the things your people know. I guess not. )
( I've been hard at work, you haven't noticed? )
[ Another time and she might find it reason enough to feel offended. ]
( I thought about it, if you'd know the things your people know. I guess not. )
( Making a point of not noticing things, actually. Nice to know I'm still capable. )
[ The sentiment's clear; he wouldn't have minded being unplugged for Lavellan's death. The phrasing your people chafes a bit, but he doesn't have the energy for corrections. The follow-up's impatient of its own accord, though, as if he's only asking because he doubts shutting her up is an option. ]
( Go on, then. What've I missed? )
[ The sentiment's clear; he wouldn't have minded being unplugged for Lavellan's death. The phrasing your people chafes a bit, but he doesn't have the energy for corrections. The follow-up's impatient of its own accord, though, as if he's only asking because he doubts shutting her up is an option. ]
( Go on, then. What've I missed? )
( for continuity sake, almost immediately after murphy proposes an adventure, clarke comes knocking on the edges of mat's consciousness; a polite tap tap, then immediately: )
( You're not riding, right? Can you climb? )
( You're not riding, right? Can you climb? )
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