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[ooc: As a result of this thread. If it turns out not to jive with you and Lexi's plans I'll delete this. :>]
[The device clicks on, catching the tail end of clipped British tones.]
... here, try talking to him.
[Silence then, filled with breathing for who knows how long a pause.]
[The device clicks on, catching the tail end of clipped British tones.]
... here, try talking to him.
[Silence then, filled with breathing for who knows how long a pause.]
Edited 2013-09-05 19:14 (UTC)
[ Odd, but when Alayne goes to look for a "Hansen" amongst the users on the device, she finds not one but two listings for someone with the name. Or perhaps not so odd for a place that collected people across time and space and worlds. It would seem more odd if he was the only Hansen that ever was in existence. (Or that's what she tells herself.) A little fiddling, a little poking and in the end she decides that "Chuck" is the one that she's looking for.
It's early in the afternoon when she messages him. ]
Ranger Hansen,
Have you settled yourself?
—AS.
It's early in the afternoon when she messages him. ]
Ranger Hansen,
Have you settled yourself?
—AS.
[ there's not much to it, the rooms. but chuck's entire life has been shuffling into smaller and smaller spaces- metal and concrete, sterile and utilitarian. a cot in one room isn't much different from a cot in any other. chuck still keeps his boots at the side of his bed, and probably always will.
when the message comes in, he gives it a solid once over. he's not suspicious persay- but nothing about this is easy to read. ]
need something already wafer?
when the message comes in, he gives it a solid once over. he's not suspicious persay- but nothing about this is easy to read. ]
need something already wafer?
[ She contacts him because it is the thoughtful thing to do and despite her best efforts and despite herself, Alayne finds herself thinking about the prickly ranger with the terrible manners at least once after their first meeting. The parts of her that are petty and insecure have already determined that they will find a way to wheedle something out of him but those parts are small compared to the rest of her (though they bite with the sharpest and nastiest teeth).
Alayne makes a face at her pocket watch when his response reaches her. ]
Merely calling to ensure you hadn't fallen down a flight of stairs.
I would find myself inconsolable if I'd left you to such a fate.
Alayne makes a face at her pocket watch when his response reaches her. ]
Merely calling to ensure you hadn't fallen down a flight of stairs.
I would find myself inconsolable if I'd left you to such a fate.
[ chuck is used to leaving an impression, but he isn't used to those he bumps up against seeking him out. he's usually left well enough alone. as it stands, the message that returns to him is nearly discarded just because he can't be bothered. he has enough to get to, and entertaining the whim of some girl from the dark ages isn't the top of his list of priorities.
despite all of this, he ends up replying anyway. ]
i can handle a few stairs.
take it you haven't been eaten alive by rabid bears.
despite all of this, he ends up replying anyway. ]
i can handle a few stairs.
take it you haven't been eaten alive by rabid bears.
[ That's not what I recall, she types first but deletes the message before she sends it. Even with her feathers at their most ruffled, cruelty never lingers long in Alayne — a weakness on her part (a lack of wolf's blood) that Mr. Gold would call the pureness of her sad heart. ]
What a relief.
I'd imagined you stranded like one of your beloved princesses caught in a tower.
[ At first that's the only message he gets but eventually a second follows: ]
Have you found clothes for yourself?
[ She can't imagine him sleeping in that god-awful suit of his. Even Isaac took his off eventually. ]
What a relief.
I'd imagined you stranded like one of your beloved princesses caught in a tower.
[ At first that's the only message he gets but eventually a second follows: ]
Have you found clothes for yourself?
[ She can't imagine him sleeping in that god-awful suit of his. Even Isaac took his off eventually. ]
if i had i'd be shit out of luck wouldn't i? not like you're set to go rescuing anyone.
[ where cruelty comes and goes for alayne, it is one of chuck's few constants. not entirely spite so much as a childish ignorance, and the expectation that those around him do all they can to become bulletproof. ]
i'll manage.
[ where cruelty comes and goes for alayne, it is one of chuck's few constants. not entirely spite so much as a childish ignorance, and the expectation that those around him do all they can to become bulletproof. ]
i'll manage.
So says the man without clothes to the lady about to provide.
[ His blow would have a much better impact if it wasn't followed so immediately by validation. She could simply allow him his impressions of her, could simply play the part he's assigned her in his brain and be the stupid girl she once was. But where was the joy and satisfaction in that?
You will manage means that you haven't yet.
Sometimes success is measured in the distance between accepting someone else's help and being too stubborn to allow yourself.
[ His blow would have a much better impact if it wasn't followed so immediately by validation. She could simply allow him his impressions of her, could simply play the part he's assigned her in his brain and be the stupid girl she once was. But where was the joy and satisfaction in that?
You will manage means that you haven't yet.
Sometimes success is measured in the distance between accepting someone else's help and being too stubborn to allow yourself.
i didn't ask for your help
[ it's a matter of pride. it's all well and good if she wants to go out of her way to make life a little more comfortable. but chuck's spent so much time telling himself he doesn't need it that he sometimes believes it. ]
i measure success in what works and what doesn't
[ it's a matter of pride. it's all well and good if she wants to go out of her way to make life a little more comfortable. but chuck's spent so much time telling himself he doesn't need it that he sometimes believes it. ]
i measure success in what works and what doesn't
You didn't.
The question now being, will you refuse it?
[ Pride she has learned often gets in the way of what works and what doesn't. Though it is more than possible his measure of "works" is much different than hers. In the end, it is something of an experiment as she feels around for what he will and won't allow.
Dogs with bad habits had to be broken of them, but it's a challenge that could earn a person as much bite as bark. ]
The question now being, will you refuse it?
[ Pride she has learned often gets in the way of what works and what doesn't. Though it is more than possible his measure of "works" is much different than hers. In the end, it is something of an experiment as she feels around for what he will and won't allow.
Dogs with bad habits had to be broken of them, but it's a challenge that could earn a person as much bite as bark. ]
[ The feed clicks on to the dark button of Lady's nose snuffling at the camera. A quiet shushing noise has the direwolf's head pull away, drawing back only to drop itself down into Alayne's waiting lap. One hand curls over wolf's ears as she speaks, the others lifts a man's sweater into view. Charcoal grey and quite fashionable, given the times. There are other clothes as well in a modest pile beside her. Socks, pants, undershirt. No shoes however. ]
Engineer Clarke is not as— wide as you, I'm afraid.
Engineer Clarke is not as— wide as you, I'm afraid.
[ the clothes come into view, and the truth of the matter is that even before he sees them, he has no legitimate opinion. he needs a proper alternative to the drivesuit. fashion and style fall far lower than functionality and more often than not, barely make the list. given his appearance to those who know him- this is no surprise.
chuck watches, impassive, until- ]
Wide?
chuck watches, impassive, until- ]
Wide?
[ Alayne does her best to not smile at that, but she fails in the attempt. The corners of her mouth pinch with the effort but her teeth show and her eyes crinkle. In the end, she has to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from simply grinning.
It's the most normal he's ever seen her behave up until this point, much more an average (perhaps mischievous) girl than a proper princess.
She schools her expression back to innocence, making her eyes guileless and wide. ] You are a bit broad,, you must admit. Lest that suit of yours hides a slip of man within.
[ A pause. ] Though I doubt it.
It's the most normal he's ever seen her behave up until this point, much more an average (perhaps mischievous) girl than a proper princess.
She schools her expression back to innocence, making her eyes guileless and wide. ] You are a bit broad,, you must admit. Lest that suit of yours hides a slip of man within.
[ A pause. ] Though I doubt it.
Edited 2013-09-12 22:20 (UTC)
[ and then she starts smiling about it. chuck doesn't groan or gnash his teeth, but it's a near thing. there's a beat where he looks away, an alternative to rolling his eyes. ]
Says the wafer. [ he doesn't buy that expression in the slightest, and busies himself with reaching for his pair of boots off screen. ]
I'm a Ranger. I'd better be.
Says the wafer. [ he doesn't buy that expression in the slightest, and busies himself with reaching for his pair of boots off screen. ]
I'm a Ranger. I'd better be.
Edited 2013-09-12 22:58 (UTC)
[ Alayne clicks her tongue, still too pleased with herself to be irate over her newly-anointed nickname. She was by no means a waif — tall but shapely for a girl of her years, having grown some in the year since her first arrival aboard the Tranquility. Compared to him, however, she was as knobby as a willow switch. A strong wind would not bowl her over, but a sudden downpour might. ]
Are there very many Rangers where you're from? [ She tries to adopt his tone when she says it. It obviously means something to him but Alayne has yet to fully divine what. ]
Are there very many Rangers where you're from? [ She tries to adopt his tone when she says it. It obviously means something to him but Alayne has yet to fully divine what. ]
No. [ it isn't sharp, but there's a tightening to the vowel that threatens to grind them to a halt. the collective weight of history. ] Not anymore.
[ chuck isn't often devoid of emotion. he runs over- a fountain with a bottomless reservoir, he's equally unchecked in how freely he doles it out. collateral damage only means something on the battle field. he stands the moment he's finished with his boots, and expanse of plating flashed to the camera before he takes it in hand. he meets her gaze easily, but the current of numbness (distance, something that needs to be closure but isn't) chases his words. ]
Where do I meet you.
[ chuck isn't often devoid of emotion. he runs over- a fountain with a bottomless reservoir, he's equally unchecked in how freely he doles it out. collateral damage only means something on the battle field. he stands the moment he's finished with his boots, and expanse of plating flashed to the camera before he takes it in hand. he meets her gaze easily, but the current of numbness (distance, something that needs to be closure but isn't) chases his words. ]
Where do I meet you.
[ That no, the shape of it, makes Alayne think of wolves.
The Spartans are wolves, or so Master Chief tells her, and the Starks are all wolves (—had been all wolves, until the war had changed it all and the wolves died—) There should be finality to a statement like not anymore but she knows first-hand that not all cuts are clean. Some linger, some fester and others never heal.
She wonders if Ranger Hansen is the last one left of his line. Alayne has a habit of collecting those too and wouldn't it be convenient if he was. For a moment it looks as though she's about to ask a question but instead rises, the direwolf shooed off camera as she stands. ]
There are common rooms that connect the wings to one another. What floor keeps your quarters?
The Spartans are wolves, or so Master Chief tells her, and the Starks are all wolves (—had been all wolves, until the war had changed it all and the wolves died—) There should be finality to a statement like not anymore but she knows first-hand that not all cuts are clean. Some linger, some fester and others never heal.
She wonders if Ranger Hansen is the last one left of his line. Alayne has a habit of collecting those too and wouldn't it be convenient if he was. For a moment it looks as though she's about to ask a question but instead rises, the direwolf shooed off camera as she stands. ]
There are common rooms that connect the wings to one another. What floor keeps your quarters?
First.
[ he isn't a need-to-know personality because chuck has always had far too much interest in pushing buttons and shooting his mouth off for that. but he's an essentialist at his core. it means there's always a clear line of sight to default to. ]
I'll wait out front.
[ he isn't a need-to-know personality because chuck has always had far too much interest in pushing buttons and shooting his mouth off for that. but he's an essentialist at his core. it means there's always a clear line of sight to default to. ]
I'll wait out front.
I'll be but a moment, [ she says and the feed flicks off. Good on her word both Alayne and Lady emerge from one of the stairwells a few minutes later. The direwolf pads ahead, making her usual circuit around Chuck as she stares at him, her golden eyes blinking slowly (knowingly) as her tail goes thwap thwap thwap. Rounding him she then trots off to join Alayne again, keeping to her side.
In Alayne's arms are a modest bundle of clothing, all of it scavenged or "indefinitely borrowed" from Isaac Clarke. She gives the tiny curtsey. ]
Ranger Hansen.
In Alayne's arms are a modest bundle of clothing, all of it scavenged or "indefinitely borrowed" from Isaac Clarke. She gives the tiny curtsey. ]
Ranger Hansen.
[ it's one thing to get used to the wolf. chuck knows how to be circled, sized up, examined. he knows how to keep still when something rounds him- something with teeth- trying to get a feel for his who and what and why. it's at the curtsey that he gets lost. chuck keeps his distance with some granule of unspoken hesitancy, but offers a nod in her direction in the place of a greeting. it's maybe the most polite he's been since arrival. ]
Who gave 'em up?
Who gave 'em up?
[ Men like Ranger Hansen do not do well with courtesy. Quite often they know not what to do with it, nor how to handle it (nor Alayne, by proxy). This generally works to her advantage, throwing them off long enough for her to observe the seams in their armor, though some men bristle at it openly and bark at her rudely for making her uncomfortable.
A curt greeting is better than none at all and it is as close as wheedling the desired effect from him as she's managed thus far. Careful now, she tells herself. Tread too far from this careful line and he will find his teeth again, no doubt.
Walking forward, she offers them to him, the pile held between her hands and extended out between the both of them. ]
My guardian. A man whose name is Isaac Clarke. He wears a suit similar to yours, though— [ Tilting her head to one side she tries to glance over his shoulder. Given how tall Alayne is (just a few scant inches shorter than the ranger) this is easier for her to do than it is for most girls her age. ] —you bare no RIG.
A curt greeting is better than none at all and it is as close as wheedling the desired effect from him as she's managed thus far. Careful now, she tells herself. Tread too far from this careful line and he will find his teeth again, no doubt.
Walking forward, she offers them to him, the pile held between her hands and extended out between the both of them. ]
My guardian. A man whose name is Isaac Clarke. He wears a suit similar to yours, though— [ Tilting her head to one side she tries to glance over his shoulder. Given how tall Alayne is (just a few scant inches shorter than the ranger) this is easier for her to do than it is for most girls her age. ] —you bare no RIG.
[ he reaches for the clothes automatically, the kind of reflex that comes from practice- learned comfort with adopting, adapting, getting the hell on with things. they fit easily enough beneath his arm and he's momentarily distracted by the thought of satisfying the itch on the left on his ribcage that's been grating on his patience for the better part of an hour. he'll still need to contact romanoff again, get her hands to work the bolts loose a second time. he's not out of the woods yet, but chuck's always been that way- checking ahead, looking for that next ledge to grab hold of.
chuck's gaze cuts to his shoulder all the same, the defense corp's wings staring back out at him. ] RIG?
chuck's gaze cuts to his shoulder all the same, the defense corp's wings staring back out at him. ] RIG?
[ Alayne is still peering when Chuck asks, her eyes darting sideways in his direction as her chin remains craned. She wears an expression that says perhaps she should not have spoken, if only because RIGs were a thing of science and Alayne's understanding of such matters was poor, bordering on simple. The last thing she wanted was to look stupid in front of Ranger Hansen.
No doubt Isaac would explain it better. ]
There's a light that glows from Isaac's back. Its color changes as his health waxes and wanes. [ She recites the words as they were taught to her; tenets that bare the simplicity of a child's nursery rhyme. ] Blue is best, green is go. Yellow is caution. Red, you must take slow. [ Alayne's lips press together at the mention of red. She'd seen it only just the once and never wished to see it again. ]
Engineer Clarke is a very clever man. He could assist you with your suit, if it please you.
No doubt Isaac would explain it better. ]
There's a light that glows from Isaac's back. Its color changes as his health waxes and wanes. [ She recites the words as they were taught to her; tenets that bare the simplicity of a child's nursery rhyme. ] Blue is best, green is go. Yellow is caution. Red, you must take slow. [ Alayne's lips press together at the mention of red. She'd seen it only just the once and never wished to see it again. ]
Engineer Clarke is a very clever man. He could assist you with your suit, if it please you.
[ it isn't that he thinks her stupid, despite the myriad ways his expression could be interpreted. it's not a concept he's ever heard of before, not for field work. loccent had always been there- tracking his vitals, counting out damage. everything else- everything else had been shared with his copilot.
the thought cuts his gaze away from the girl and her pursed lips, drawn brows. the beat is all he needs, space enough for chuck to draw a breath- push everything else out and down and away. he filters through more than half of what the girl says because it's full of niceties no one really needs, maybe chuck himself least of all. if it please you, yeah, like there's been much time for any of that. there's a frown tucked into the corner of his mouth, directed at nothing. ]
Your guardian?
the thought cuts his gaze away from the girl and her pursed lips, drawn brows. the beat is all he needs, space enough for chuck to draw a breath- push everything else out and down and away. he filters through more than half of what the girl says because it's full of niceties no one really needs, maybe chuck himself least of all. if it please you, yeah, like there's been much time for any of that. there's a frown tucked into the corner of his mouth, directed at nothing. ]
Your guardian?
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