006 - audio

[tactilelearner]

[Serenes did her good. The absolute peace and quiet in her mind, well, that went away. But the rest perked Rogue up a bit. Enough that she can, at least, address her fellow kidnap victims about something fairly insignificant.]

So, we're from a lot of different worlds, right? That's what I've noticed at least.

That's got me curious.

What're the "milestone" birthdays where y'all are from?

[This has nothing to do with her own upcoming birthday. Nope. Or with using a fairly benign topic to announce her presence to certain people.]

Like. Where I'm from--

You've got sixteen, which means you can drive.
Eighteen's a big deal, even though, y'know, not much y' really get. I mean, buyin' cigarettes an' votin', but that ain' really a big deal.
Then there's twenty-one, legal drinkin' age.

Anybody else got big ones? 'M just curious 'bout the differences in worlds, y'know?

[For the Spades, she's around. Keeping busy, paying close attention to how to work the sails and everything else. The same pep that was in her step on Serenes is gone, but she's also not completely skulking about like she was after Stela and before that.]

Comments

[seakingbait]

Then make sure you save a dance for me, okay?

[Time to start volunteering musicians.]

[tactilelearner]

...Thanks. By the way. For offerin' all this an' everythin'.

[seakingbait]

Of course! I wouldn't be a very good friend if I didn't, would I?

[tactilelearner]

Guess I ain' used t' making friends so fast. But fightin' side by side's a good way t' make 'em, huh?

[seakingbait]

You're right, we're practically nakama, now. I haven't fought with too many people.

[tactilelearner]

Nakama. I like that word. Had it explained t' me by Luffy.

Sounds like what I'd call my team.

[seakingbait]

A team? From back home, you mean?

[tactilelearner]

Yeah. My friends an' I. We train together, fight together. We're a team. An'...

An' they're good as family.

[seakingbait]

[A family, and they aren't here. She would never want to be separated like that.]

Well... maybe I can be part of your team, too.

[tactilelearner]

I... I'd like that.

[seakingbait]

Me too.

[It was always nice to make another real, true friend. She didn't have the authority to welcome her into the crew, but that wouldn't stop her from giving her her utmost trust and respect.]

Maybe we can train together, some time. You're really strong, you know.

[tactilelearner]

I'd like that.

[Her voice might've wavered just a little at the mention of her strength. Because, well, she remembers it.]

I was trained t' fight from when I was young.

[seakingbait]

Oh.

[She must have been really dedicated to her martial arts.]

No wonder. You looked so natural, so fluid.

[tactilelearner]

Taught me a lot. An' I've put it t' good use, at least. Helpin' people.

[seakingbait]

Helping people is why I'm learning to fight.

[tactilelearner]

It's a good reason t' learn.

[seakingbait]

E-especially... back there. Stela.

I needed to be there. I couldn't let that continue.

[tactilelearner]

Yeah. That... that kinda thing? It has t' be stopped.

'Specially with the whole... People with powers goin' after other people with powers? We gotta stick t'gether, not be turnin' 'gainst each other.

[seakingbait]

Or going after people who are different.

[tactilelearner]

That's what's happenin' where I'm from. People're comin' after mutants. Like me an' my team.

[seakingbait]

Mutants.

[She's never heard that word before.]

That's not a very nice-sounding word.

[tactilelearner]

It ain' bad.

[Technically. But, well, that isn't something she wants to talk about.]

It's jus' a term for someone with different abilities.

[seakingbait]

People are always afraid of what they don't understand.

[tactilelearner]

They are. An' we're... We're s'posed t' show 'em we're better. Y'know. Not let 'em provoke us t' fightin', not use our powers against 'em, things like that.

But damn if it ain' hard sometimes.

[seakingbait]

I know how you feel, and I don't even have any special powers...