Yes, this is she. I am doing [hmmm] alright. Everything is a bit strange, but when everything is strange, nothing is strange. Day by day I will get more used to the strangeness. I can learn a lot, so I can't complain.
[!! NEW BUG]
Yes! [oh, wait--] I mean, yes, I would like that, to take a look. How many legs does it have? Does it have wings?
An interesting way of looking at it, but I don't find myself disagreeing. I may even say there's almost a monotony to our lives now, despite the circumstances.
I believe by my count that there are six of them, though this creature continues to vex me by not staying still even in this jar...it appears to have wings as well, though it seldom seems to use them? From my observation, at least.
Where would you prefer to meet?
[Her enthusiasm really is infectious; it's quaint, almost.]
[She could agree with that-- monotony. Once the awe of everything wears off, will she grow bored? So long as she has something to embroider she'd likely be fine. She's gotten by with little for entertainment but her own thoughts for a long time.]
Oh good, you got it into a jar. That will make things easier. [Did she think he was just standing around with it clasped in his hand...]
Are you still in the building they assigned us to? We could meet in the common room That would work well enough.
[...She can't be thinking he was holding it in his hands, could she...first off, ew, second off, that poor little guy would be so dead and crushed and he'd have to go find another one???]
I am, yes; I can meet you there quite easily to pass this little one off to you. I imagine it will fare far better in your hands than mine. I shall await you.
...Though, if you do simply wish to grab it and leave once we meet, I can understand.
[Infinite does not elaborate any further on that; he's pretty...used to the fact that oh yeah, talking anthropomorphic animals aren't actually commonplace in a lot of worlds. But Infinite will wait for Helaena; he's sitting over at a table with the little jar and one grasshopper who is not exactly happy to be here. It even has some grass and holes on the top of the jar! How unbelievably ungrateful.
Still, when Infinite sees Helaena, he hesitates briefly before hailing her over.]
[Curious. She's not sure why he'd expect her to just grab and run, but now she's curious about it. Either she gives off the impression of running after 5 seconds of in-person contact (which, fair) or there's something wrong with him that makes him think he'll run her off.
Hmmm.
She stuffs her device in a pocket of her dress and makes her way to the common area and-- Ah. She pauses, startled for a moment, before she raises her hand in return greeting and continues. It's definitely strange to he, but that's ain't any of her business. She takes a seat and immediately reaches for the jar, holding it up in her hands to examine it closely with delight]
A grasshopper! These aren't that easy to catch, I'm impressed! Where did you find him?
[Infinite's expression is pretty unreadable by default; he's always liked the security of the mask due to this. It hides the expectation that she'll look at him oddly and his own reaction to it; it hides the expectation that she'll run and his reaction to that too. And...
It hides the small smile when she elects to stay, passing off the jar to her easily.]
They truly are not; this one wanted to hide among the brush of the forest we were tasked with exploring. Truly made it quite the difficult hunt indeed, but I'm used to such endeavors.
[Infinite says, taking credit for all of this like a jerk,,, (Silver absolutely helped.)]
It is good to see that you are satisfied with it. [It's...strange, how sincere that sounds. Hm. Is this how one makes friends...???] I admit, I knew that they were quite prone to hopping about, but it was fascinating to see it hop such great distances while in pursuit...
[She holds the jar up, turning turning it to see the grasshopper better as it hops about, rubbing its legs to produce its chirping sound once in a while. She laughs softly, smiling all the while as she listens.] I used to keep a few grasshoppers and crickets in my room in their little cages. Their songs were always so soothing at night.
[A thoughtful hum and she tilts her head thoughtfully, thinking of some fun facts to share] They spit as a form of self-defense and their hindlegs act as miniature slingshots. They can leap 20 times their body length. They're also surprisingly good for you if you eat them. And they normally only live an average of about a year.
Crickets and grasshoppers are different, but grasshoppers and locusts are the same. [A pause and then, cheerfully:] They have ears on their abdomen!
sorry for the wait on this!! i've been so dead retail-wise orz
[Infinite listens with surprisingly rapt attention as Helaena goes on--he's not surprised that she's kept some of those things alive, all be told, but it's...strange, hearing about such insignificant life forms from a woman who didn't seem like the sort to be interested in them. She clearly knows so much about them, and Infinite's look doesn't really change, but...]
I do at least know that they can sustain you, if you've no other alternatives; though it wasn't often that we ran out of food, one learns to adapt to all sorts of circumstances and eat anything they can find to survive.
[Still--]
Ears on their...abdomen? For what purpose do they have those, if you do not mind my asking?
[Not that he imagined many insects have ears on whatever counts for a head, but that is interesting.]
COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE apologies on my end 2, i got no excuse just loss of time lol
[She tilts her head, regarding him curiously. She doesn't know what his...species?? eats, but insects would've been among the menu she would've provided in her head. Well now she knows!]
I'm not sure, actually. [She picks the glass up to peer underneath it, as if somehow she'd be able to see it. She can't, of course, but whatever.]
Were you in these...survival situations often?
YOU AND ME BOTH, MY FRIEND...but don't worry, it's all good, i am right there with ya
[...That's almost adorable, Helaena, what the hell...]
You'll have to tell me your observations, at some point. Perhaps while I go out and hunt another mark for you, if you wish.
[But ah...that question does prompt Infinite to pause for a moment, mostly just kind of surprised she'd even bother to ask. But the answer is pretty simple.]
Not when everything went according to plan, but in my field of work, one must be adaptable to all circumstances. As a mercenary, it is my job to see any task I am given through to it's completion. But when times become rough or anything unplanned happens, it becomes necessary for one to adapt to the environment around them and know well what they can and cannot use to survive.
They're certainly not my preference to eat, but there have been times where nature or even the foes I was sent to dispatch saw that our food supply was tampered with or outright stolen; it simply became necessary.
Yes, that would nice. [She nods in acceptance, placing the jar down but not looking away from it as he speaks.]
No, unfortunately... [She wishes it did shock her, but she's used to feeling sad for the ways of men, even if those men are hedgehog creatures.] My home has mercenaries too. And we are... technically at war. I don't know much about the ways of war. I don't like violence, and there are always better ways, but I can't force everyone to use them. I can only control what I do.
I'm sorry that you've gone through that. I hope you can enjoy this as a break of sorts.
[I'm sorry that you've gone through that. I hope you can enjoy this as a break of sorts.
It says a lot about Infinite that hearing something about that honestly manages to startle him deeply. He tries to go back to looking disaffected after, crossing his arms a bit in almost defensiveness--]
Don't misunderstand; I chose this life. Anything else would have been a waste of the talents I had, and I simply could not abide by that. I have no need of pity for the path I've chosen, for I am plenty content with it.
This is what I was born for.
[He was born to dominate the world, to destroy, to conquer, to do everything he set his mind to. And yet...this is a second chance, in a way. He doesn't really know how to respond further, but Infinite looks to Helaena after, considering.]
...Leave the violence and any fighting to me, and those like me. If anything, I believe I should pass on such a sentiment to you; war is unkind to all involved in it, and...
Well. I suppose I would not mind assisting you in finding further levity, in this situation.
[...infinite honey that is the most bass ackwards way of asking if you can do anything to help--]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text; un: bugs
Yes, this is she. I am doing [hmmm] alright. Everything is a bit strange, but when everything is strange, nothing is strange. Day by day I will get more used to the strangeness. I can learn a lot, so I can't complain.
[!! NEW BUG]
Yes! [oh, wait--] I mean, yes, I would like that, to take a look. How many legs does it have? Does it have wings?
no subject
I believe by my count that there are six of them, though this creature continues to vex me by not staying still even in this jar...it appears to have wings as well, though it seldom seems to use them? From my observation, at least.
Where would you prefer to meet?
[Her enthusiasm really is infectious; it's quaint, almost.]
no subject
Oh good, you got it into a jar. That will make things easier. [Did she think he was just standing around with it clasped in his hand...]
Are you still in the building they assigned us to? We could meet in the common room That would work well enough.
text -> action
I am, yes; I can meet you there quite easily to pass this little one off to you. I imagine it will fare far better in your hands than mine. I shall await you.
...Though, if you do simply wish to grab it and leave once we meet, I can understand.
[Infinite does not elaborate any further on that; he's pretty...used to the fact that oh yeah, talking anthropomorphic animals aren't actually commonplace in a lot of worlds. But Infinite will wait for Helaena; he's sitting over at a table with the little jar and one grasshopper who is not exactly happy to be here. It even has some grass and holes on the top of the jar! How unbelievably ungrateful.
Still, when Infinite sees Helaena, he hesitates briefly before hailing her over.]
Over here.
no subject
Hmmm.
She stuffs her device in a pocket of her dress and makes her way to the common area and-- Ah. She pauses, startled for a moment, before she raises her hand in return greeting and continues. It's definitely strange to he, but that's ain't any of her business. She takes a seat and immediately reaches for the jar, holding it up in her hands to examine it closely with delight]
A grasshopper! These aren't that easy to catch, I'm impressed! Where did you find him?
no subject
It hides the small smile when she elects to stay, passing off the jar to her easily.]
They truly are not; this one wanted to hide among the brush of the forest we were tasked with exploring. Truly made it quite the difficult hunt indeed, but I'm used to such endeavors.
[Infinite says, taking credit for all of this like a jerk,,, (Silver absolutely helped.)]
It is good to see that you are satisfied with it. [It's...strange, how sincere that sounds. Hm. Is this how one makes friends...???] I admit, I knew that they were quite prone to hopping about, but it was fascinating to see it hop such great distances while in pursuit...
Will you tell me more about them?
no subject
[A thoughtful hum and she tilts her head thoughtfully, thinking of some fun facts to share] They spit as a form of self-defense and their hindlegs act as miniature slingshots. They can leap 20 times their body length. They're also surprisingly good for you if you eat them. And they normally only live an average of about a year.
Crickets and grasshoppers are different, but grasshoppers and locusts are the same. [A pause and then, cheerfully:] They have ears on their abdomen!
sorry for the wait on this!! i've been so dead retail-wise orz
I do at least know that they can sustain you, if you've no other alternatives; though it wasn't often that we ran out of food, one learns to adapt to all sorts of circumstances and eat anything they can find to survive.
[Still--]
Ears on their...abdomen? For what purpose do they have those, if you do not mind my asking?
[Not that he imagined many insects have ears on whatever counts for a head, but that is interesting.]
COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE apologies on my end 2, i got no excuse just loss of time lol
I'm not sure, actually. [She picks the glass up to peer underneath it, as if somehow she'd be able to see it. She can't, of course, but whatever.]
Were you in these...survival situations often?
YOU AND ME BOTH, MY FRIEND...but don't worry, it's all good, i am right there with ya
You'll have to tell me your observations, at some point. Perhaps while I go out and hunt another mark for you, if you wish.
[But ah...that question does prompt Infinite to pause for a moment, mostly just kind of surprised she'd even bother to ask. But the answer is pretty simple.]
Not when everything went according to plan, but in my field of work, one must be adaptable to all circumstances. As a mercenary, it is my job to see any task I am given through to it's completion. But when times become rough or anything unplanned happens, it becomes necessary for one to adapt to the environment around them and know well what they can and cannot use to survive.
They're certainly not my preference to eat, but there have been times where nature or even the foes I was sent to dispatch saw that our food supply was tampered with or outright stolen; it simply became necessary.
Does it shock you?
no subject
No, unfortunately... [She wishes it did shock her, but she's used to feeling sad for the ways of men, even if those men are hedgehog creatures.] My home has mercenaries too. And we are... technically at war. I don't know much about the ways of war. I don't like violence, and there are always better ways, but I can't force everyone to use them. I can only control what I do.
I'm sorry that you've gone through that. I hope you can enjoy this as a break of sorts.
no subject
It says a lot about Infinite that hearing something about that honestly manages to startle him deeply. He tries to go back to looking disaffected after, crossing his arms a bit in almost defensiveness--]
Don't misunderstand; I chose this life. Anything else would have been a waste of the talents I had, and I simply could not abide by that. I have no need of pity for the path I've chosen, for I am plenty content with it.
This is what I was born for.
[He was born to dominate the world, to destroy, to conquer, to do everything he set his mind to. And yet...this is a second chance, in a way. He doesn't really know how to respond further, but Infinite looks to Helaena after, considering.]
...Leave the violence and any fighting to me, and those like me. If anything, I believe I should pass on such a sentiment to you; war is unkind to all involved in it, and...
Well. I suppose I would not mind assisting you in finding further levity, in this situation.
[...infinite honey that is the most bass ackwards way of asking if you can do anything to help--]