poly_chromatic | ( v o i c e )

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the infernal devices - tessa gray

( v o i c e )

I must admit that the flow of visitors may be a little overwhelming, but— if there is someone from the Institute here, if only for a day or two, I should like to make my own presence known, rather than spend all day in the library.

I only ask that— [ she pauses, clearly hesitant, before her voice comes again, stronger now and quite firm ] that whoever should wish to talk to me will not be too forward.

[ it doesn't quite express what she wishes to say (please, take care not to offend my 18th century sensibilities) but it comes close enough while still remaining polite ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eh. I know how to hold a foil and my starting stance looks convincing. I could possibly make someone think I can fence.

Is fencing common where you come from?

More common, I think, than it is in the time that most people are from, here, though I am not quite certain. It certainly features less in books from a later time.

It is, perhaps, antiquated here. I think it will start becoming popular where I am from.

Perhaps the same will hold true for some of my favourite books.

Yes! I will have everyone read Dickens and--what was the other? The poet?

Tennyson. He is very good. Surely even in your time people will enjoy him.

Tennyson, yes, Tennyson. In space, there is plenty of time to read between training and missions and attacks.

I hope that you do not intend to read while you are navigating.

While navigating, no. Once all courses have been plotted, I think I can read at the helm.

And your [ pause. employer? captain? ] captain would not mind such a thing?

The Captain is... [a pause on this end as he seeks the appropriate words] ...a good man who is not opposed to his crew enjoying themselves, provided that enjoyment does not interfere with the functioning of the ship.

It must be pleasant to work under such a man.

Ehhhh. I wish, sometimes, that he would get into less trouble. His solutions to problems are often not standard Federation procedure.

Oh. Have you attempted talking to him, or is that unlikely to work?

Of course not. [He grins.] He is captain for a reason. For all of the trouble he gets in and rules he breaks, he is always successful.

Is the captain supposed to — reckless? [ She doesn't think so, but it certainly seems as though his captain is, in fact, reckless. ]

Supposed to be? No, I don't think so, but some of the greatest captains in history have been reckless. It is... calculated recklessness, maybe? When I am a captain, I will be very carefully reckless.

You will be captain yourself, one day. [ It's half a question, the other half a statement, wonder and perhaps a little envy that he knows where his life is going, which direction he wants it to take. ]

Yes--or so I hope. I am too young to advance in rank as most would, so anything else may happen. [He looks at her curiously, finding her tone difficult to read.] What is it?

It must be nice to know where your life is taking you; to at least know the general direction of it.

Assuming nothing terrible happens and the fabric of the universe remains unaltered, yes, it is nice. [His smile fades.] Your life is so uncertain in all ways?

It did not use to be, but then my aunt [ was killed ]died and I learnt that I am not human and now— I can stay at the Institute, for now, but it may only be for the near future.

Even if it is, something will happen and you will be happy. [oh, and] You look very like a human to me.

I hope so. [ she smiles, a little ] I look it, but I am not.

[He takes a moment to formulate a reply.] If this is something you do not like to talk about, we can discuss literature again.

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