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[ For all that Silco has no mental defenses, no abilities that attune him to the timbre of the room or the people within it, he still senses the cloud, the shadow that it casts over their conversation. But he doesn't look away, doesn't flinch.
(It's painful, that Koby cares so much. His earnestness pierces through his expression like sunlight through a gap in the clouds. He'd been like that once, too, hadn't he?)
There's an honest answer, here — that all people are capable of hurting each other, regardless of connection or intention. That's not, he expects, the answer that Koby really wants to hear, so he lets it go, a glint of light against the hard edges of his mind. ]
Jinx has grown quite fond of you — all of you, [ he begins, each word measured. ] That's my only concern.
[ For better or worse, that's honest, too; clear in a way that a simpering of course it doesn't isn't. And the implication is obvious enough — anyone who holds her favor holds his, or at least the impression of it, and anyone who'd dare to hurt her will answer to him. Unusually honest, for him, but it's an equivalent exchange, in his eyes, as well as a measure of gaining the boy's trust. ]
And besides, we guests all share the same plight. Best not to turn ourselves against each other.
[ For now. ]
(It's painful, that Koby cares so much. His earnestness pierces through his expression like sunlight through a gap in the clouds. He'd been like that once, too, hadn't he?)
There's an honest answer, here — that all people are capable of hurting each other, regardless of connection or intention. That's not, he expects, the answer that Koby really wants to hear, so he lets it go, a glint of light against the hard edges of his mind. ]
Jinx has grown quite fond of you — all of you, [ he begins, each word measured. ] That's my only concern.
[ For better or worse, that's honest, too; clear in a way that a simpering of course it doesn't isn't. And the implication is obvious enough — anyone who holds her favor holds his, or at least the impression of it, and anyone who'd dare to hurt her will answer to him. Unusually honest, for him, but it's an equivalent exchange, in his eyes, as well as a measure of gaining the boy's trust. ]
And besides, we guests all share the same plight. Best not to turn ourselves against each other.
[ For now. ]
[had there be a lie, here – a soothing, fawning sort of reply, overly magnanimous and dripping with solicitation – koby would’ve immediately distrusted it, even without his mental spyglass aimed directly at the glinting, muted hardness of silco’s thoughts. that sort of reply, which might’ve once calmed a boy who took everything at face value, would deeply unsettle the young man koby’s become.
so the carefully-worded truth is, oddly, more reassuring – silco has no quarrel with anyone who’s become important to jinx, and has no intention (at the moment) of endangering that connection. whether there’s one of his own beyond for jinx herself is negligible – the regard she holds for the straw hats will suffice to protect them.
it’s not a direct announcement of alliance, but it’ll do. the oppressive, unseen tension in the air dissipates, replaced with koby’s pleasant, satisfied smile as he reaches out and taps a wayward paper clip back into place on the stack silco holds.] My crew and I are very fond of her as well. Nami and Sanji especially. [still leaning forward, he looks up, over the tops of his glasses, eyes bright and blue and unflinching. turnabout is fair play – if silco betrays that trust the crew has in him by proxy, if they’re endangered by his actions, the fondness between them and jinx will be superceded by the need to even the scales again.]
I’m glad we’re in agreement, Mr. Silco.
so the carefully-worded truth is, oddly, more reassuring – silco has no quarrel with anyone who’s become important to jinx, and has no intention (at the moment) of endangering that connection. whether there’s one of his own beyond for jinx herself is negligible – the regard she holds for the straw hats will suffice to protect them.
it’s not a direct announcement of alliance, but it’ll do. the oppressive, unseen tension in the air dissipates, replaced with koby’s pleasant, satisfied smile as he reaches out and taps a wayward paper clip back into place on the stack silco holds.] My crew and I are very fond of her as well. Nami and Sanji especially. [still leaning forward, he looks up, over the tops of his glasses, eyes bright and blue and unflinching. turnabout is fair play – if silco betrays that trust the crew has in him by proxy, if they’re endangered by his actions, the fondness between them and jinx will be superceded by the need to even the scales again.]
I’m glad we’re in agreement, Mr. Silco.
As am I.
[ No hard feelings, then, if push comes to shove, with an eye for an eye as an accepted ultimatum. Surprisingly cold terms, for a boy so pink, but better he learn how to properly navigate the world (to survive) now rather than later. That politeness — mister, sweet on his lips — won't mean too much, in the end.
He can't help that it makes him smile. ]
Thank you.
[ His gaze falls, finally, the thread breaking along with the heavy mood. The papers rustle slightly as his long fingers find their edges, nudging them all into alignment before he picks the entire pile off of the table, getting to his feet in the same motion. ]
I'll have these back to you on the morrow.
[ No hard feelings, then, if push comes to shove, with an eye for an eye as an accepted ultimatum. Surprisingly cold terms, for a boy so pink, but better he learn how to properly navigate the world (to survive) now rather than later. That politeness — mister, sweet on his lips — won't mean too much, in the end.
He can't help that it makes him smile. ]
Thank you.
[ His gaze falls, finally, the thread breaking along with the heavy mood. The papers rustle slightly as his long fingers find their edges, nudging them all into alignment before he picks the entire pile off of the table, getting to his feet in the same motion. ]
I'll have these back to you on the morrow.
Best kisser's pretty flattering, I'd say. Or most kissable - same thing, really.
[politely not mentioning the other one.]
You win anything good out of it?
[politely not mentioning the other one.]
You win anything good out of it?
DEFINITELY not best kisser. I don't have nearly enough experience to claim THAT. I feel like they actually mean
Something else, really.
A necklace. It's sort of pretty, but it doesn't fit very well.
And some kind of lipstick?
Tim won a few things too, I saw. Did he win anything like his ring?
Something else, really.
A necklace. It's sort of pretty, but it doesn't fit very well.
And some kind of lipstick?
Tim won a few things too, I saw. Did he win anything like his ring?
Do you want the journal I won? It's making me insane.
So did I. This one's for "worst at pretending I have my life together"
It keeps rearranging everything I write. Which isn't very helpful at fixing the problem everyone thinks I have.
What book?
It keeps rearranging everything I write. Which isn't very helpful at fixing the problem everyone thinks I have.
What book?
Maybe. There has to be a trick to it though, maybe we can put our heads together and figure it out.
A book about you? It's not smut, is it? I don't need to read that.
A book about you? It's not smut, is it? I don't need to read that.
Sure, I can try. What did you get?
A puzzle book?
That sounds fun. What's it about?
A puzzle book?
That sounds fun. What's it about?
I'm not following - most kissable lips? Makes it sound like everyone wants 'em.
Huh. There's always some kinda catch. You kissed anyone with it on yet?
Yeah, he got some journal that's driving him nuts. Pretty disorganized and falling apart, but I don't think he should toss it. And - a pillowcase? I guess we can always use another one in our rotation. It's not like it won't get used.
Huh. There's always some kinda catch. You kissed anyone with it on yet?
Yeah, he got some journal that's driving him nuts. Pretty disorganized and falling apart, but I don't think he should toss it. And - a pillowcase? I guess we can always use another one in our rotation. It's not like it won't get used.
What else can you use your mouth for, Hawk?
Not yet. I'm worried it'll poison them horribly or make them do something embarrassing or something. I'd rather not kill anyone.
Ahhh, I get it. That's very rude, I think Tim's actually coping quite well, most of the time. Be careful, pillowcase likely means something to do with sleep or dreams.
Not yet. I'm worried it'll poison them horribly or make them do something embarrassing or something. I'd rather not kill anyone.
Ahhh, I get it. That's very rude, I think Tim's actually coping quite well, most of the time. Be careful, pillowcase likely means something to do with sleep or dreams.
Is it an aphrodisiac? Sounds like something this house would do, Mr. Kissable.
Huh. I'd like to check it out, then. Sounds unpleasant.
Huh. I'd like to check it out, then. Sounds unpleasant.
That's my assumption -- that or some kind of poison. I don't really want to try it on anyone if it's going to hurt them, but. It DOES smell nice.
Don't remind me. At least they weren't more vulgar about it.
Of course, you're welcome to it. Maybe I can find out what the journal does, if you help with the puzzle?
It's sort of absurd. Last chapter it was eaten by leopards.
Don't remind me. At least they weren't more vulgar about it.
Of course, you're welcome to it. Maybe I can find out what the journal does, if you help with the puzzle?
It's sort of absurd. Last chapter it was eaten by leopards.
It might be fine. None of my prizes have ever been actively harmful. You can try it on me.
I'll warn Hawk first, in case it makes me fall in love with you or something like that.
Is it that absurd? We did have a wolf man.
I'll warn Hawk first, in case it makes me fall in love with you or something like that.
Is it that absurd? We did have a wolf man.
Mine either. Lincoln bites sometimes, but she's actually very nice, for the most part.
And usually the effects of things are limited, right? So it'll wear off. Most likely. We can give it a try.
I try not to think about the wolf man. Anything with "wolf" in it, actually.
And usually the effects of things are limited, right? So it'll wear off. Most likely. We can give it a try.
I try not to think about the wolf man. Anything with "wolf" in it, actually.
I think she likes me now.
Won't know until we try. I'll let him know when I get there in case he tries to stop me 😇
I think we all do.
Won't know until we try. I'll let him know when I get there in case he tries to stop me 😇
I think we all do.
For "reformed virgin"??
I'm sure it does something.
I'm sure it does something.
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