nostalgiabomb led to the inevitable - voice is way rusty, but thinking about exsilium

[foundherstars]

No. At the very least not until you have a chance to review the material.

As a friend would say, you need more evidence - and I'm not interested in being your dancing panda either.

Comments

[clinical]

You'll find the panda suit more flattering than you expect. [No, he means that literally. Peony can't make Jade accept a promotion, but he can put him in a costume.]

[Also, Jade was supposed to pass on a message from Sam, but Jade's afraid he forgot it. You can't expect someone to remember these things at his age!]

[foundherstars]

You wear it then. [Why does this guy seem familiar.]

[clinical]

[you've met his brahther from another author]

[look, it's a hard rhyme to make]

All that fur is getting a bit much for my spine to handle these days. You'll understand when you're older.

Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. I've been informed we'll get along well. [Look at that polite, horrible smile. For 'get along well' read 'have sarcastic conversations.'] It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[foundherstars]

The pleasure is so far yours.

[She's got her cop face on, all linear expression with her arms at her sides.]

Misaki Kirihara. [She doesn't have a title this man would recognize, not that she recognizes most of his - but then, she's a member of the "Syndicate" now. It's all code names and aliases anyway.

--wait. Recognition hits her in a brief look of unguarded surprise. He's like a long-haired non-British version of November 11. To the air:]

I hate you.

[clinical]

My, my. That's a rather strong opinion to have formed so early in our relationship.

[He knows who you're talking to. He's just being an ass.

Welcome to the Malkuth's November 11.]

[foundherstars]

I'm setting the bar low for your benefit.

[Two can play at that game.]

[clinical]

[Bring it, kid.]

It's kind of you to consider my age. Is there anything I can do that would cause you to warm up for me? I'm afraid that the Emperor disapproves of his soldiers committing serial killings, but I'm sure we can find something else you look for in a friend.

[foundherstars]

[Challenge accepted.

She crosses her arms. Set yourself on fire is probably not the right answer to that.]

As a former officer of the law, I have to agree with your Emperor on that. [S q u i n t.] You don't smoke, do you?

[clinical]

[Ever so pleasantly] Oh, no. It's bad for my lungs.

[foundherstars]

[Thank God, a peripheral difference.] It's worse for everyone else.

[She feels a brief pang over November's listing of all of the negatives associated with cigarette smoke. She can't even remember them now.]

You can't be that old, Colonel.

[clinical]

That's very kind of you to say. I like to think that I've managed to retain my youthful looks even after all these years.

[He sold his soul for a portrait!

No, don't be ridiculous. Jade is of the bathe-in-the-blood-of-innocents breed.]

[struckstar]

[There are several more substantial things he could say, but…]

Your dancing panda?