cutting_edgex23 | For you-know-who

For you-know-who

It seemed easiest to get dressed in Milliways, where she could get help from her friends upstairs and down. Mission preparation is generally one of X's major skills, but this -- being a teenager is complicated. And confusing. Being 'normal', or trying, just a little, is even worse. Still. Rose is her friend. It is important.

Which is why X, wearing purple and with her hair up, slips out into the upstairs hallway, combat-booted feet still managing to be soundless against the floorboards.

It's a skill.

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494 has a reason to be here. Why wouldn't he? He's too smart to waste him time meandering around the hallways.

Anyway, there's no way to be aimless when you can smell people nearby.

Which is why he's totally prepared and totally casual when he turns a corner and spots X. He already has his quip ready and everything.

Except it won't come out. For a moment, nothing will. He stares at her. This is... novel.

"What's that for?"

Just by default, it comes out supremely skeptical.

X does not look startled to see him there -- not much, anyway.

He breathes, he has a heartbeat, he has a scent. Some things are hard to hide.

"I am going to a dance. With Rose."

Beat.

"She asked."

He laughs. "What, she couldn't find a date or something?"

Half a moment later, he frowns. "Wait, Rose... Who is Rose? Do I know her?"

"Rose is Susannah's daughter."

Beat.

"She does not come here. She cannot."

X's hands, encased in black lace gloves that go up past her elbows, stay at her sides. She does, however, tilt her head a fraction.

"I do not think she asked anyone else. Shannon does not like guns."

"Why is she asking you?" He narrows his eyes, suddenly suspicious. "I mean, not that there's anything wrong with two girls going stag to an outdated but time-honored school function, but, I dunno, she doesn't know any guys? She doesn't want to know any guys? Heck, I'd go. Just for the experience."

Heh. Oh, jailbait.

"She is my friend," X says, frowning very slightly.

"And she is gay."

Beat.

"I do not think she would like you."

Plus 494 is a jerk. These things happen.

494 shrugs. "Well, her loss. This is why you shouldn't judge people before you meet them, but whatever, I can deal."

He stops, and eyes her. (And her neckline, but subtly. He's a smooth guy, remember.) "In which case, are you sure, you know, that her motives are pure?"

"She is my friend," X repeats.

Firmly.

"Like you."

What does that mean? Well, given what Duo said -- which X remembers very well --

These things happen?

He, uh...

Well, 494 blinks.

"Like me... how?"

"She likes me," X says, only a little awkward.

Even if she didn't know one of the specific ways Rose likes her, it is still important.

"You do, too."

There's a flicker of uncertainty, but even without Duo's assertion --

X remembers several things, among them the time 494 followed her when she was not okay, the time he touched her mouth when he came back, the way he said they were friends, slip of the tongue or not.

X is very bad at forgetting anything.

Edited 2009-05-25 01:49 (UTC)

Hang on, is she insinuating something? X sounds like she's insinuating things, several things. Things 494 is not 100% entirely comfortable with, and one of those things is why he might (or might not) be uncomfortable with any of the aforementioned(ish) things.

"My motives are pure," he says. Just to make they're all on the same page.

And in that he's clearly not like the Rose person.

Really. Nothing.

What were we talking about again?

"I know," she says, still a little awkwardly.

And --

"I do not mind."

She doesn't, really. There actually isn't a lot in the world that X does mind. Except being used.

And 494 has not really done that. Not since --

Not since a lot of things. It is not as surprising to X as it might be to some other people. For a lot of reasons.

"You don't?"

He doesn't -- no, that's not disappointment. He's just -- it's a cold. X5s can get those too. Shut up.

Luckily, 494 recovers quickly. "Well, good. I don't either. I mean, why would I?"

He tilts his head. "You got a plan?"

X just shrugs, one-shouldered and quick. And awkward. Her eyes, however, narrow very faintly. Just for a second.

"It is not -- "

Words are difficult. And she is not sure what is going on here. Not quite.

"You do not date."

Beat.

"Meg and Parker helped. With the dress. And Rose is getting flowers."

This pause is longer.

"I know how to dance. And I have met some of her friends before."

She's got her bases covered. Right?

"Sure I date!" He pauses to check. "Actually, hang on, you may be right about that. Although I do see some people repeatedly!" Which reminds him -- he needs to check in on Bela. Oh yes, does he ever.

"Well, I just, you know. Wanted to make sure. Don't let her pressure you into anything you're uncomfortable with. That's what you're supposed to know going into this stuff, you know..." Is she uncomfortable? Is she too comfortable? To the exclusion of, well -- you know? Not that he's -- no, stop thinking that.

He clears his throat, very meaningfully. "Well, glad you're off to have some fun, anyway. I'm still on Max duty, and damn, she is being a bitch. Sometimes I just want to bust her out on my own, just to get her out of my hair."

"That is not the same thing," X says. Patiently. "I asked."

Then she frowns slightly, tilting her head.

"Rose would not do that. Pressure. We are friends. She is not like Helium."

Who only kissed her on the nose, but that was -- startling. He was pink. And floating.

"She would escape if she had opportunity? Max."

Beat.

"You would not get in trouble if she did?"

Because X would help him help Max, if he wanted. She would help him, too.

If he wanted.

"She doesn't make your voice high?"

Oh, he can think of a couple of people who've done that to him. He'd rather not speak of it.

494 snorts. "Are you kidding me? She can't tell me enough about how I'm being brainwashed by the man and how I should live an honest live of petty thievery in some scummy squatter tower in Seattle." He frowns. "Also, she kicked me in the chest the first time we met."

He can't disclose the answer to her last question. That's not advisable within the bounds of the objective, even if she is from another universe.

X considers this.

"You are sure she is not planning to escape?"

Max sounds like someone who would. Or someone who would try to get 494 to escape. To test him. It is not something X approves of.

"Helium is a patron. Here. He is pink."

Beat.

"And a balloon."

High voices are not relevant. Are they?

He makes a show of examining his nails. "Oh, I know she's planning to escape. 'Subtle' isn't exactly in her vocabulary. It's all under control."

One eyebrow crooks up at the description of -- well -- Helium. "Really?"

He really shouldn't sound surprised, and he doesn't. Resigned, more like.

"Yes," X says, answering his question first.

"He kissed me. On the nose. I do not know why."

This pause is slightly longer, as X considers what she knows of Max and of Manticore. Something here does not make sense. (Mostly Max.)

"She is stupid? It is better not to be obvious. For an escape to be effective."

"On the nose?"

Well, if you're a balloon, you're probably not all that versed in what to go for first.

494 shakes his head. "She's not stupid, but she's not as sharp as she would be if she'd stayed with us."

This is good. His problems are way more interesting that X's -- you know. Thing.

"He also likes to lick toes."

X does not approve. Not that you can really tell from her expression.

Except for the dubious part.

"You have been well-trained," X adds.

Beat.

"I remember."

"Yeah, you make friends with weird people."

Come on, that blue alien-thing? 494 himself? Proof enough, X has no taste in anything.

He brightens. "Hey, you know, you and me, we should hit the mat again sometime. You know, they're just not making 'em at Manticore like they should anymore." He mimes boxing a little. "When you're free, you know, maybe once you come back? You won't be out long or anything, will you? 'Cause I wasn't planning on leaving here until later."

X shrugs.

"I am weird, too."

Her taste is excellent. Look at Elle!

494's next statement brings a flicker of -- is that pleased surprise? -- something to X's face.

"I will be back before tomorrow. I think."

Dances only last a few hours, right?

"Sparring would be good. I have been learning defense."

And practicing it against 494 would be very useful.

Very.

He pulls a face. "No denying that." Maybe the corners of his eyes are kind of crinkled there as he says it.

"Tomorrow? Well. You sure you don't want to go for a round right now? I mean, you'll have to fight in..." He gestures at the dress. "You know. It'd be good practice. Anyway, time is all weird, you don't have to go just yet."

"I will cut the dress. If fighting is required. There is too much fabric for real efficiency."

She does actually lift the skirt far enough to reveal a) her combat boots and b) the biker shorts she has on just in case of this eventuality.

X believes in being prepared.

"But I will be downstairs. Until Susannah comes to get me."

Beat.

"You could -- sit with me. If you are not busy."

It is not as good as sparring, but --

He has been gone a while.

"No no no no, you don't have to, ah--"

Flash him and talk about demolishing expensive clothing, which may or may not be one of his favorite pastimes in the company of casual acquaintances of the opposite gender.

Also, the combination with the combat boots is inspired, if he does say so himself. Delightfully post-apocalyptic.

494 steps back and sticks his hands in his pockets. "I don't know, what's the point of sitting around if you're just going to go somewhere first? I mean, unless you wanted to ditch this prom thing and maybe go case this hot little hole-in-the-wall I found in Portland? Don't be shocked, they do exist. You could keep the dress on and everything."

"Oh. I -- "

There is a moment where X looks uncertain. Awkward. It passes.

Mostly.

"You will be back? Sometime."

Beat.

"We can go then. And you still have not seen my apartment."

There's another flicker of hesitation, then X backs away and half turns to head downstairs.

"Do not get killed."

It is important.

494 snorts, and turns himself. "Come on, you know me."

Maybe that was or wasn't the answer she needed.

What, you think he cares?

"I do," she says.

And then she's gone.

Girl can move fast in a dress. Who knew?

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