Reserved at exsilium, canon is Sirens

[theomega]

A moment of your time oh wise and powerful writer. [ His sarcasm is so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. ]

I don't want to, all right? I've no interest in playing inter-stellar war games. I have better things to do than entertain your whims. Entertaining my own, for example.

No, there will be no meeting in the middle on this. Not interested. I won't be signing my name on the dotted line, and I don't care how you keep spinning it, 'helping people' isn't all that appealing either.

Even space has drunks.

Comments

[territorial]

Drunks have their own appeal. [ dryly, but still amused. ]

It doesn't sound as if your signature is required in this case, unfortunately. She likely has your bags packed already.

[theomega]

Try telling that to me again after you've carried half a dozen of them around in a day. [ He trades dry amusement for dry sarcasm, and a flat look. ]

I'm not a FedEX parcel. She can't just pack me up and ship me off. [ Yes she can. And he knows it. But it still makes him huffy, and he will protest. ]

I don't think I get to bring any bags anyway, just the clothes on my back- which I might add, is a less than stellar booby price after eleven hours of the aforementioned drunk-carrying.

[territorial]

It doesn't seem my area of expertise. You'll forgive me if I forgo that attempt. [ a twitch of his lips. ]

Actually, she can. She'll overnight you, to top it off. Small favors, I assume.

[ and then he hums lowly, amusement draining slowly. there's a time and a place. ] I suppose that's to encourage you to 'help people'. Though, she'd likely have an easier time if she gave you a day off beforehand.

[theomega]

Then my point stands. Drunks get old fast. Redeeming qualities, or no. [ Oh, he'll follow your lead on that twitch of the lips, only his twitch is a constantly-downward one. ]

She's taking a right piss about this whole mess. [ Grumble. Totally not going to acknowledge the truth of that statement whatsoever. ]

It's a good way to make a bloke disagreeable about the whole 'helping' aspect. And I'll probably not be getting the day.

[territorial]

Let's just say I'm vain and have concern for my clothing. [ so sully, ashley. but henry is starting to think it's almost cute. oh well. ]

They always do. If they didn't, we wouldn't be here.

So, what are you going to do?

[theomega]

Vanity isn't an attribute I can afford in my line of work. Too much shit to wade through.

No, we'd be doing something enjoyable. Or, more likely getting on with our day to day lives. [ He sighs. ]

What am I going to do? You said it yourself, I'm just a package. Bubble wrapped, sealed and right for the pick-up.

[ Grudgingly. ] I'll help them, if I have to. It sounds like a right mess going on there now.

[territorial]

Vanity is a luxury that doesn't last long, if that's any comfort.

That might even be fair. What a shame it would be. [ because what is fairness even. ]

You are, however, a package she must at least like. Though, I'm sure they'll appreciate any help you can offer them.

[theomega]

[ Says... the vampire...

...Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Don't mind the look he's giving you, Henry. ] I'd call you a liar, but it'd be a waste of my breath.

I don't think 'fair' is the word of the day, mate.

[ He sighs. ] I... suppose. Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. The government doesn't tell me so, there or here. [ Though he'd best be careful about mentioning it. He would hate for that to change. God forbid he has to go back to being professionally polite to people. ]

[territorial]

[ and he can't help but smile. he's charming, okay. ]

'Fair' is never the word of the day.

[ Speaking of the government... ] You're also unlikely to get paid for your services. I doubt money will mean much, anyway.

[theomega]

[ Maybe just a little. Though damned if Ashley's going to admit to it at a time like this.

At the mention of payment, he groans a little. ] Yes, thank you for that. For reminding me and putting that extra-special little spark of sunshine in my bowl of shit pudding.

[territorial]

[ well then. he allows his smile to mellow a little as he shakes his head. ] Even if they did pay you, bartering might prove more successful. You may be able to trade your skills for food and the like.

[theomega]

In my line of work, by the time my skills are useful- people will promise you anything. And afterwards, just getting the payment can be worse than pulling teeth.

[territorial]

I suppose that answers any questions I may have had concerning your profession. Given the setting, you may find getting paid for your skills easier, even if it isn't in monetary form.

[theomega]

Riiiiight, riiiight. The grateful masses shall throw themselves at my feet for the favours of my 'profession'. [ Sarcasm, his faithful fall back boy. ]

We'll just have to wait and see.

[territorial]

I was thinking more along the lines of you not starving. To each their own. [ like those little old ladies who feed moldy bread to geese at the park. ]

[theomega]

[ Oh the face he makes. Torn somewhere between deeply insulted, and shaken by the potential truth of it. Such a statement doesn't make him pleased in the least. ] She wouldn't FedEX me there and then force me to starve.

[ He... hopes, anyway. ]

[territorial]

[ his brows arch. henry knows for a fact his would, so that opens up a whole new venue of cynicism. ] No, I'm sure you're right. You'll do well.

[theomega]

Oh is that sarcasm? [ He snorts, not particularly impressed nor amused by this turning back on him. ]

Look, if she's going to send me, I'll make due. [ He crosses his arms, and rolls his eyes. ] Worse comes to worst I fall back on the 'finer' assets. [ Not serious in the least. ]

[territorial]

One man's sarcasm is another's realism. [ while ashley isn't amused, henry sure is. ]

The 'finer' assets. [ if his brows climbed any higher, they'd disappear into his hairline. as it stands, he's trying to suppress his laughter. ] Well, that may not be illegal there, but surely there's something else you can barter with.

[theomega]

Oh you think you're so bloody clever now, don't you. [ Yeah he's hit the point where he's going to grumble a little bit, and continue to stare at the other with a very flat, unimpressed expression on his face. ]

That realm of thinking certainly isn't my first choice. But enough about my problems, how about we spend a little more time making fun of yours? [ Is that slight pouting? No, of course not. ]

[territorial]

Does it matter if I do? [ and he does, for the record, if the way his smug smile smooths into a genuine, boyish one is any indication. ]

Aren't we here to discuss your situation? It would be selfish of me to shift the conversation towards myself. [ besides, henry thinks the pouting is almost cute. it's nice paired with the brogue. ]

[theomega]

[ He's not even going to dignify that with a response- just offer that same, slightly scowled unimpressed look again. He doesn't think Henry's particularly clever, not that his opinion seems to matter much. ]

Oh, no, by all means please be my guest. [ The expression on his face is more than enough to say how he'd love the change of topic. And how hard he's trying not to pout even more. ]

[territorial]

[ he'll let that smile fade into a mere quirk of his lips. henry's no so heartless as to continue to badger poor ashley on his inevitable setting change. ]

If you insist. I'm in a similar situation, barring the war. I'll be keeping close quarters with strangers on a sort of haunted spaceship. [ "haunted" is a loose descriptive, really. it's more or less his way of say "strange, bad things happen for seemingly no reason at all" there. ] The number of drunks will be par for the course, I'm sure.

[theomega]

Oh yeah? And will you be assigned random room mates? [ Because he sure will be. He's totally looking forward to that whole experience. Not. ]

"Haunted"? Like with spirits. [ Skeptic look is go, and he laughs a bit. ] Maybe there will be drunk spirits.

Having spirits around at all and you're guaranteed the drunks.

[territorial]

No. One of the "perks" seems to be I get a room all to myself. [ that only he can open via the tattoo they'll give him. minor details. ]

Cute. [ but it's said with a small grin. that soon fades, though. henry doesn't much care for ghosts. ] Spirits might be a stretch, but I'm told there were issues such as something aptly called "fear gas" and a mysterious, widespread illness. The latter sounds a bit par for the course considering how many people actually occupy the ship.

[leastfuckedup]

Lucky you. At least you get some measure of privacy. Some of us aren't so privileged. [ He doesn't get to have a hot prison tattoo, though. Not sure if that's a plus or a minus really. ]

Widespread illness and paranoia? Sounds like your average fare when you stuff too many sardines into the same can.

[territorial]

Mm. I am hoping it will help. [ but it probably won't. the time it'll take him to adjust to the other vampires on board will likely be hideous... and violent. ]

Complete with a maze to navigate in order to find the vaccine. Never a dull moment, I suppose. [ he doesn't sound too pleased with that. ]

[leastfuckedup]

I am pretty sure wishful thinking only works in the movies.

Cheer up mate, it could be worse. You could be starving. [ Look, he's trying to cheer you up! ]

[territorial]

[ he'll just... narrow his eyes. low blow, ash. ]

That's a possibility. Without a willing participant or the proper sway, I may very well be. [ if vicki doesn't come along for the ride, that is. ]

But yes, please, let's discuss my feeding habits. They're one of my favorite topics, after all. [ hey, look! we've come full circle in the realm of sarcasm. ]

[leastfuckedup]

[ He doesn't know any better okay. His mun's an ass. ]

Well someone's touchy. [ But curiosity gets the better of him. ] What do you mean by 'willing participant'. [ Complete with him making air quotes. And not flipping Henry off, honest!

Also worth noting, this is so much more amusing when he's not the one on the defensive end of things. ]

[territorial]

[ those are some appropriate keywords. but henry's classy, so he'll remain the perfect gentleman. ]

Someone willing to allow me some of their blood. [ again, gentleman. and he's not so fond of corpses. ] The side effects would be no different than those after donating blood.

[leastfuckedup]

[ ...

What.

No, okay, he probably didn't hear that right. There's some logical explanation and he'll just clear it up and everything will be good and dandy and this weirdo totally did not just suggest drinking blood. Because that's only a thing one hears about when called out to those really weird cultist emergencies or people who are off their meds...

Suddenly this conversation has taken a very different turn. ]

And what do you do with this... blood. [ Staring, Henry. Ashley is doing all of the 'you-might-be-a-crazy-person' staring. ]

[territorial]

Do as all vampires do. [ henry is so familiar with this sort of reaction that the he's more amused by it than anything else. vicki was less than accepting of it at first too. but he keeps his voice serious and brushes off that amusement for now. ]

It's a difficult thing to believe, I know, especially with the sort of hype the media has spun around it. [ it meaning supernatural lore, though henry is loathe to be lumped in to such a vague category, it's almost necessary for talks like these. ] You're welcome, however, to dismiss this as a mental case. I would understand.

Introductions might lend to a more polite way of discussing this. My name is Henry Fitzroy. May I ask yours? [ because this is totally normal, right? and yes, 'henry fitzroy' as in henry viii's bastard son. ]

[leastfuckedup]

Bollocks. [ He's just going to call it out bluntly, because even despite the whole 'go ahead and dismiss this as a mental case' thing, Ashley still has to call him out for it. Because otherwise it really just wouldn't be Ashley, now would it?

He raises an eyebrow at the other, though is otherwise pretty damn calm, as usual. ] You're delusional, mate. You should see a doctor about that.

[ Where is a cigarette when he needs one...

Reluctantly, he offers ] Ashley. Greenwick.

[insecrets]

[So, so amused.] All you new kids are always the same, but you learn eventually that they don't care for what we want out of them.

[theomega]

New 'kids'? [ He raises an eyebrow at the other, because... Come on mate, look who's talking mister baby face. ] No offence mate, but I don't think you're in any position to be calling anyone a kid.

[ Ashley's not really insulted, though, and so he moves on. ] I'm getting that feeling.

[insecrets]

[The grin that spreads across his face is slow, head tilting slightly.] Well, you haven't been around here before. It almost makes you a 'kid'. [And then a shrug.] I haven't been one of those for a long time.

You get used to it when you learn the rules.

[theomega]

A lack of general experience in a place hardly makes one a kid. [ He pauses for a moment, and then: ] And neither have I.

[ He's almost tempted to shove his hands into his pockets, but he resists the urge. No 'kid' could handle a job like the one he's got, thanks very much. ]

Ohhh no, I'm not interested in any of what she thinks she has the right to call 'rules'. That's a piss and a half

[insecrets]

[Still just grinning.] Naive, innocent, a newborn. I can keep going, but I'm sure you understand it.

[8c at least you have a legitimate job.]

She's not going to care if you're interested.

[theomega]

Oh I assure you, I am definitely not innocent. [ He laughs despite himself, but honestly Finnick that's probably one of the most amusing things he's heard in awhile. ]

No, she isn't, but that doesn't mean I can't complain about it.

[insecrets]

[Oho.] I will have to take your word for it.

It'll get tiresome. [A shrug.] I'm Finnick.

[darkmirror]

Seems she's got you by the balls, mate.

[theomega]

She is literally the last person that I'd like to be handling my balls. [ But he's not disagreeing, just speaking with a flat, unimpressed tone about the whole thing. It's a shit situation.

And then he pauses, and thinks about what he's said for a minute. ] Well, maybe not the very last... third-to-last, at least.