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Toward New-Old Planets [Keerie, Okara]
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 12:57:25 GMT -6
Aisuko settled into her seat again, her tail limply hanging over the arms of her seat as captain and pilot. She'd gotten them off Earth, and, with Keerie's help, coordinated the fastest way to Vegeta. It would take them...two days, almost. Apparently this was exactly the time they needed to be there, judging by Keerie's expression and the way her eyes both brightened and narrowed. Her tail slid along the floor. Back and forth, slowly, like a cat that might have been resting in the sun.
Her fingertips drummed against the arm and her cheek pressed against her shoulder.
They'd been out for half a day. Still another day and a bit to go.
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 13:25:25 GMT -6
While his mother slept, Okara would move over and sit next to Aisu. He faced forward, not wanting to make the Icejin uncomfortable while he would stare out into the night.
"I don't get you."
Yeah, real clear there Okara. But it started the conversation they needed to have, right?
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 13:31:39 GMT -6
Too bad for Okara, he already was. But she remained in the position of repose she took, staring off into space as nearby stars and planets passed them by.
"Welcome to the club."
Much sarcasm. Many sass.
But quietly, and calmly.
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 13:37:50 GMT -6
Okara sighed. Maybe she was right.
"I didn't grow up in nobility, like you. I didn't have to deal with hating another race for so long, I couldn't remember what it was like to feel much else other than that hate. You had to deal with my...people hating yours, destroying and pillaging your planets. I can understand that at least."
He would glance at her.
"I won't pretend my Saiyan ancestors mean nothing to me. That my race now is unimportant. We've done terrible things, as warrior races do. But I don't hold their prejudices. I don't hold their ideals. And I...would never make you do something you wouldn't want to. But rather than pretend to be better than me simply because you were raised to act that way around your people...isn't gonna fly. I'll treat you like your blood demands on the planets that demand it, as I expect from you on mine. But only to save you face and respect. And honor."
He turned toward her fully.
"When it's just me and you, like before- I don't want to play the good Saiyan soldier meeting the noble Icejin anymore."
He stared, clearly adamant.
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 14:52:02 GMT -6
The Icejin felt...well. Like a block of ice. She really didn't want to talk. Her brow crinkled downwards a moment before relaxing again. His words made her uncomfortable. Especially his last ones; those made her twitch a little, and finally look over to him. Watching. Scrutinizing, but trying to not divulge her shock to him.
She sat in silence, remained still.
For a long while.
"...I don't want you to do what you tried, at the end. Either one."
Hers was said with solemn finality, cool, like ice, yet not cold. There was some wriggle room, though. But, judging by her hushed voice, she was reluctant to speak and divulge more. He was so uneducated in culture--but then, he was a Saiyan, so what did she expect, especially when he'd been so far removed from his own culture as well?
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 15:11:21 GMT -6
He blushed, but gave a little chuckle.
"But everything else is good for a repeat?"
He gave a big grin, hoping it would cause her to lose this facade she was seeming to present and let him catch a glimpse of the story underneath. He was clearly sort-of not really joking, however, and would continue without waiting for her to respond to indicate as such.
"I got that. But rather than tell me, like most people would....you just left. After sharing something I felt was....good and....important, you went right back to your role, and making me feel beneath you. No. Worse. You..."
How could he say it without making himself appear weak? He sat back in his seat and looked back out the window, checking the dials with his left hand while his right would clench.
"You humiliated me."
He chucked up his chin, still looking out into the stars.
"If you just want to be friends, that's fine. We can be friends. But I care about you. And I'd hoped you do me. I won't pretend otherwise. If you ever want something more than friendship- something more....primal, physical and...important, you'll have to find the courage to stomach your pride, like I just did, and say so. Otherwise, we can forget last night ever happened."
He would adjust their pitch a little to avoid a solar wind that was heading their way, tacking a few extra minutes onto their flight time but nothing consequential.
If she wanted to leave it at that, so be it.
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 15:23:25 GMT -6
....fuck. Shit--did he just--?! She seemed to blanch a little, her chin tucking as she leaned the opposite way from him. Her tail slid inwards, curling around the front of her chair but remaining on the floor. Clearly, he'd said something that alarmed her, in some way. Whether it was a good sort of alarm or a bad sort remained to be seen as she averted her face.
And as he spoke she turned back, her eyes half open. Shadowed.
"After you didn't stop, when I said to." She replied, testily, the heavy thump of her tail against the floor a testament to her own ire.
And then her gaze flickered, turning to confusion again as he...essentially backed down from his first words, from his earlier intent of...repeating. 'Stupid Saiyan.' She internally sniffed, stung by what she knew to be an unintentional snub. Moodily, she looked away, her gaze slipping to the dials as he adjusted them slightly.
"...you need...to find things out about our culture, I think, before anything else. I'm not going to tell you. Not - before you say it - to be higher than you, but because you have to...if you...truly want any 'repeats', as you said. And truth be told, I don't know a lot of Saiyan culture...the core of it, aside from what my people have experienced. And I...can't really learn that from you, either."
She subsided to silence, again.
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 15:33:24 GMT -6
He frowned.
"I was confused by you. I thought you were just being...proud. Like always. I didn't stop because I wanted to...."
He ground his teeth and would move on. He couldn't say it....not right now.
Still...he was making progress.
"I know all about my culture. Everything important to conduct, pride, strength, allegiance, honor and roles. I know how to act when I meet the King of my world. I know how to...treat a parent, and how not to." Clearly, as demonstrated earlier, he had some work to do there. "But as far as I know, we don't actively pursue learning of your culture or the culture of any other world. The stigma and knowledge of culture between Saiyans and Icejin are born in battle and carried home. My problem is not that I don't know my own culture- it's that I was not in war from the age I could walk, and therefore don't possess the attitude of Saiyans you are used to dealing with."
He glanced at her. It was true- he'd been forced to study and learn from his mother and father growing up. Mostly in tapes his father sent before his capture, and the books his mother took with them. She taught him some too....it was just more complicated.
"I know the culture I just don't understand it. Growing up on earth, I was born into a word that was far less...restrictive in action and intention. I grew up knowing of how our people treated yours and how....I should feel about you. When you came into my room last night, I knew my people would have held mockery and pride and force in high regards. I don't want that. That doesn't mean I lack pride or honor. I just lack a cruel spirit. There is nothing wrong with that."
He felt like he was making a breakthrough with her- she'd indicated it was possible they could....have something there. He would hold to his previous words. That in the end she'd have to admit she had feelings before anything else happened.
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 15:51:37 GMT -6
"You're...not beholden to me, or with me, and so not someone I wanted to see stripped of pride in such a fashion. You'd know if you knew my culture." Her tail thumped again, and slid tighter around the base.
She was apparently wrong on him knowing his culture. Or lacking knowledge, anyway. Aisuko listened in chipped silence.
"...you confuse me." She grumbled, staring out into the flickering abyss. "You say something expressing your interest and then you take it away and backtrack, and I can't figure it out, if you're just that naive or stupid or if you're just...playing."
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 15:54:24 GMT -6
His brow twitched, and decided to let the insults brush off.
"I never backtracked. I literally just expressed interest. I just said if you don't have any- if you want to just be friends, that's fine. But if you do have interest and want something other than friendship, you're gonna have to get over the whole Icejin noble pride bullshit and say so."
How was that for direct?
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 16:07:12 GMT -6
Aisuko ground her jaw but listened. She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth and simmered in her chair.
"...I don't know if I want more, currently." She didn't know why she even gave in, to begin with, and acted on her whims. Maybe it was balmy Earth. "If it's something I need to decide on right now...I can't say I apologise for taking my time."
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 16:08:48 GMT -6
He shrugged and would stand.
"Take as long as you want. Like I said, we can be friends, and if you decide someday to change that, you'll know what to do and where to find me."
He would shift around the chair and start heading back.
"I should see what mom is up to."
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 16:12:25 GMT -6
"...mm." Her throat closed up and she glanced to the controls again. "If you want I can track her down. Unless you were planning on...exploring my ship."
It was hard to not feel suspicious, but at least it didn't translate into her tone. She remained sitting, not currently intending on joining him in a jaunt around her ship.
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Post by Okara Blaze on May 2, 2016 16:14:16 GMT -6
He paused, then frowned a little. Turning back he would clear his throat.
"Well, why don't you show me around instead? I can find her after."
Unless she really WANTED him exploring the ship. He fully intended to sneak into her room to see if she kept a digital diary. Yeah yeah, scumbaggy, he knew. But hey, if a woman won't tell you what's on her mind, you gotta do what you gotta do right?
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Post by Aisuko on May 2, 2016 16:27:07 GMT -6
He would see her head quirk to the side, slightly, and after a moment or...several, she stood, and stepped around the chair she had been lounging in. Her tail lifted, heavy as it was, and she padded on her strange feet after, to go and lead him around. Her plating reflected under the lights and shone in fire as she moved along, slinging her tail casually over her shoulder.
"Well...you know the sleeping quarters." She moved the end of her tail, pointing one way. Small rooms for each of them, plus two spares, and a general space with what small comforts were afforded, plus storage beneath for the foodstuffs. She continued passed that, heading along to the storage bay. There were a couple emergency pods, just in case, along with whatever other supplies Keerie had deigned to bring along, as well as the backup supplies she had.
Overall it was a fairly small ship, though, and she moved back out to the last thing.
"...and then there's the training bay."
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