of the upmost priority || bode & corbin
[Oh, bloody hell, was that a joke? That reluctant little smirk suggests it was and even if it hadn’t been, Corbin’s laughter officially makes it one. It’s an amused chuckle, really, but it grows when Bode dryly remarks about Corbin calling him whatever he wants. The Delma flashes him a cheeky grin, tilting his head, spreading his hands.] Oi, would ya look at that—got me pegged already. Yer sharper than ya look, there, mate, [he teases, throwing in a wink for good measure. It’s bullshit, of course, because if anything, he’d say Bode does have a look of intelligence—craftiness, in the very least. But that’s what makes it funny—the irony, of course.]
Pleasure though, Bode, [he continues, giving him a casual salute. The sunning cat imagery earns another laugh, and shite, Corbin may take a liking to this stuck up little prick after all (big prick—because bloody hell, one of the reasons Corbin had been sure for just a hair of a moment that it’d been the ghost of Pryor he’d been looking at, was the familiar and absurd height to the man), if he keeps up with this drawling sense of humour. It’s not like Corbin’s a stranger to prickly types.]
I mean, ya got me there, I would look good enough worth a pretty penny, loungin’ about here in my knickers, but I ain’t a marine or anythin’ if that’s what yer askin’. Ain’t no Elite at all, actually, I just…. [he’s got to be careful. This bloke is clearly an Elite—the stripe on his PDD confirms it—but Corbin has no idea if he’s a Reformist or not. He’s sort of got Reformist vibes to him, possibly, though it’s really hard to say. And either way… Corbin’s pretty candid about his work on the black market with the general public, but with a brand new Elite who seems to have a stick up his arse? Yeah, even Corbin’s got more self preservation instincts than that.]
Just mates with a lot of them marines down this way, is all. Used to, ah—help ‘em out with some shit back some time now. [Like getting their cocks off after several weeks confined to a boat with the same stinky crew, for example.] Not no more, though. [He’s being truthful, at least. But he won’t linger on the subject—it’s unlike him not to jump on any opportunity to boast about the trajectory of his ‘career’ path, given that he sort of enjoys the way it makes snobs uncomfortable—but he doesn’t want to promote too many questions, or get himself in trouble. Not when he doesn’t know this Bode bloke from Adam. ]
Anyway, listen mate, I been watchin’ ya wander ‘round aimlessly a fair few minutes now. You sure you don’t wanna tell me what or who yer lookin’ for so I can lend a hand? I’ll even let ya take all the credit, pretend like ya didn’t stop for directions even for a second. [He smirks, lifting a brow as if to say, ‘what do you say?’]
[Bode refrains from rolling his eyes. And grinning, because he almost does. Because it seems nothing’s going to put him off. Not really a sense of optimism or a self preservation tactic, it doesn’t seem. Bode’s just positive that the other loves the sound of his own voice and is going to keep talking regardless of what Bode says. Others probably found this charming and endearing. Bode thinks it’s annoying and an act of desperation, but at least it’s a little entertaining for now.
He wouldn’t say he was warming to Corbin, but it’s starting to seem like even if he is rude or cold or distant, Corbin is going to just keep talking no matter what. And he’s an easy enough audience to get a laugh from. Not that that was his goal. But he at least didn’t get defensive as Bode said things about him. Of course, the things he said out loud weren’t as harsh as some of the thoughts in his head. Things he kept to himself because he didn’t want to piss off one of the only people who had tried to help him--even if Bode didn’t really accept or admit to wanting help. No, he doesn’t want help. But he does need it, at least a bit. Unfortunately.
He chuckles dryly.] Just about a penny, I’d say, [he retorts in that same almost joking, but still way too serious tone. But he nods.] You flatter yourself in thinking that’d I’d assume you were either of those things. [Another nod. Bode doesn’t care about Corbin’s past enough to ask, but there is a part of him wondering what he could possibly do to help out. Well... based on just his attitude so far, Bode can think of a few things. Some of them things he... doesn’t really want to think of.
He doesn’t look at Corbin as he calls him out for essentially being lost. He’s quiet for a moment, then lets out a slightly heavier breath. He holds out his form, covering any important information, but showing him the name of the ship and merchant he’s looking for.] Do you know this one? [Part of him is wondering if that boat was even scheduled to show up today or were his new coworkers just giving him a runaround. And even if the ship isn’t here yet, perhaps Corbin would know when it would be.]