Xuebing Du
@theartofmadeline
KIROKAZE
NASA
Misplaced Lens Cap
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let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
titsay
Keni
Peter Solarz
Andulka
Kiana Khansmith
izzy's playlists!
YOU ARE THE REASON
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
One Nice Bug Per Day
Product Placement
will byers stan first human second
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@courantvvitch
Percival offers a muffin. || c:
breakfast... is served ||
“...well, Mister Graves, uh...thanks.” It even has blueberries and some caramelized sugar on top. “Not sure what brought this on, I was just checking in on Jack before I had to leave for school...”
❛ what ? i only wanted to see if i really looked like him ! ❜ don’t judge him, it’s not like he spent over two hundred pounds on a complete outfit… or did he.
"...dude it is uncanny. Please tell me you have photos and you're gonna post 'em."
@courantvvitch asked: “I might be short, but I will drag you down to my level.” [link, sassing brax? more likely than you think]
A bemused smirk tugs at one corner of his mouth as he turns his focus on the young human. As interesting of a curiosity her abilities were, he wasn’t usually so welcoming to intruders to his Collection, particularly allowing those same intruders to remain as a guest in their own right, so it amuses him that this girl would seem so willing to test his patience at every turn.
“Miss Courant,” he notes with all the patience of an experienced professor, a single brow raised pointedly as he watches her closely. “Need I remind you that it is only through my willingness to extend an invitation - as well as a financial grant - to you that you currently have anything resembling a normal life in this particular place in space and time?”
Was he genuinely threatening to essentially throw her off the planetoid? Perhaps, or perhaps not. He was still undecided on her precise usefulness, and saw her as a… potential acquisition for his collection. For now, he was content on keeping her where he could keep an eye on her, however, so his threats were likely half-hearted at best.
[ @vortexparadox ]
Link pouts a little - though to make a point she dragged a stepstool nearby and climbed up it so she could be at least a little more eye to eye with Brax.
“I mean, I don’t need money. I like having the roof more than the cash,” she replies. “Besides! For a human, I’m weird. Bet that interests you more than I annoy you.”
Not to mention (Link hadn’t tested this theory yet) she was certain this asteroid would be a far safer place to get an understanding of what she could do. Magic was all well and good, especially when magic had been the cause of the damn thing in the first place. But maybe some cold hard science could figure it from another angle. And there was likely a room she could explode into full murdercloud without risking damage to Brax’s collection; there wasn’t such a space at home.
courantvvitch:
“Maybe not every, but I can at least read ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs pretty well,” Link countered, though she smirked as she glanced back at Brax. “Confirmed, cool, humanlike aliens are definitely a thing - and they’re sharp dressers to boot. I was making a serious guess. If you were human you wouldn’t’ve said ‘Terran’. Though personally I prefer it to ‘Earthling’, but beside the…point.”
The pause came from a wide yawn and shrugged. Normally Link would’ve been a little more guarded but hey - what safer place to end up than a museum inside an asteroid?
“I’d explain but - mmm, so many calories got burned,” Link mumbled. “Are there gonna be, like…really big sandwiches, or at least a lot’f those tiny tea sandwiches?”
“Your abilities are perhaps linked with your metabolism, then?” he wonders curiously. He’s heard of such things being the case before among a few species, but it was unusual for a human. Then again, having such powers was unusual for humans in general, even in this timeline.
“Ah, so you are already acquainted with the changes in human languages centuries ahead of that from which you are native?” he counters, humour sparkling in his icy blue eyes. “I think you’ll find that with the inclusion into greater galactic politics, new terminology was required as not everything translated well between the various species. Unless you prefer Earth to be known as ‘Dirtball’?”
He glances at her with a raised brow and a pointed look, before shrugging as he unlocks the door, holding it open for her to allow her to pass. “The security system will only permit you through if I myself am the one overriding it,” he notes casually as they make their way to his private study. “So once you have your plati-disc, it is rather important that you keep it on you at all times. It is enough for it to simply be on your person.”
“As for food, I am certain that we can accommodate your needs. Do you have any preferences? The kitchen staff is equipped to provide nourishment for a wide variety of species, albeit there will be some foods unavailable to you, as they are more likely to make you ill should you attempt to eat them. Different molecular structure that does not respond well with our own.”
“Yeah, it affects my metabolism. Can we, uh, walk’n talk? Easier for me to think when moving. Also, food. Kinda necessary.”
Link shrugs at all of Brax’s other questions and prods, at least for the time being, as she waits for him to open the doors and lead the way to whatever kitchen or cafeteria this place had - or wherever he thought best to feed her. Talking while starving hungry wasn’t ideal, and it gave Link time to process her new situation. Space. A museum in space. At least there wouldn’t be anyone calling the Boston DA’s office to let her mother know where she’d ended up. But it probably meant too Dad was going to worry like crazy. Her brother, too.
Once in the study Link picks the comfiest chair she can see and curls right up in it, gaze flicking to Brax as she considers what to eat.
“High carbs for sure. I’d ask for sugar but that’ll just make me crash later - so, sandwiches, maybe like. Two foot-long subs?
“Also: forward language evolution, maybe not, but my dad’s an archaeologist with a minor specialty in languages. Checks a lot of translation stuff sometimes. So past to present, helps extrapolating the future. And I do read sci-fi. Watch some, too. ‘Dirtball’ could be the kindest common word for Earth to be called anyway. You never know, maybe the online ‘humans are space orcs and Earth is Space Australia’ is a thing. ...is it?”
[courantvvitch to good ol Ben] "...okay I know I walked into the wrong room I'm sorry but - " Link is holding some papers from Ben's desk, more perusing than swiping. "Swear to God, not a spy! That's your job, I know that."
He was startled at the clothing she was wearing. His brows furrowed. Where did she ..find those? “Excuse me?”
@courantvvitch
...oh boy. Link knew her outfit was not ideal; she’d swiped a coat and vest from outside some regular’s tent but was forced to keep on her jeans and sneakers. She could have guessed eighteenth century from the clothing but that she was right smack in the middle of the American Revolution might have gone right past her if not for seeing George Washington.
Which made the man in front of her none other than Benjamin Tallmadge - Washington’s spymaster and one of the most important figures in breaking the British army. (Which she totally hadn’t just learned/figured out looking at the letters and reports on his desk.)
“Babbling, again, sorry, it’s a - thing,” she spluttered. “I should...go....”
“Oh look, someone relatively close to my age for once,” Link notes from where she’s perched near the bar. Sometimes the Courant-Throckmorton money was handy - it meant she could get places Drake and Company couldn’t. Even if she was in a dress. “Do I dare presume you’re one Rafe Adler? Link Courant; though the bouncer at the front door with the guest list would say otherwise.” She offers her hand to shake. Just so. Like Mother taught her. // @courantvvitch
Rafe was distracted, looking at the cup of drink in his hand. A cup of drink he shouldn’t even be having according to the law…if not for his fake ID. Money and contacts in the criminal world have it’s many utilities. And I guess he looked old enough if he managed to convince Sam and Nathan Drake to work with him.
He is suddenly brought out of his thoughts when he hears a female voice directed a him. He turns in the direction of the voice. The clothes, posture and formality of the girl making him wonder from where she knows his name. Did they meet before? Maybe in one of the many fancy events his father made him go. However if that were the case she wouldn’t be introducing herself. In the back of his mind he remembers that Nathan maybe mentioned someone but he never payed much attention to what Nate said anyway.
“I’m Rafe Adler, yes.” Rafe shakes Link’s hand. Formalities were also his thing, unfortunately. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Courant. Would you like to join me for a drink?” He smiles politely. If he’s being honest, he would rather be alone with his thoughts but the etiquette he learned says otherwise.
“I have to agree with you it is refreshing to see someone who doesn’t look at least ten years older than you.”
“Or in my case, twenty and above,” Link notes with a smirk, returning the shake. “I’d love a drink, thank you; Dirty Shirley for me, please.”
She leans on the bar, doing her best to look casual. And failing; dresses and heels were not her thing, and Link’s regular shifts to try and relieve her feet were constant.
“So - I hear we might be working together a little more closely,” Link notes, “and in less swanky locales. You’re acquaintances with Nathan Drake, right?”
She still has yet to really meet Sam; Sully had apparently told Nate very sharply to keep Link and Sam at a distance, which she didn’t understand. Sam didn’t seem that bad - rough round the edges, sure, but not entirely an asshole.
“At least you’d get to see me not looking like a total idiot, for sure.”
@courantvvitch &. random dialogue starter.
❛ give me one good reason why i should wear a dress. ❜
“Beeeeecause it would be hilarious? Also, it suits you way better than me. I’m skinny as a rail by Victorian standards and I’m sure you’re going to fill it out nicely. Also you can swear by your pretty floral bonnet you’ll end someone, and I’m sure Frye’ll get a kick out of that.”
//i swear Link's around here too.
[Blinks up at the murdercloud. Smiles!] ...uh, hi! I uh, wanted to see if you'd fit...
The tendrils don’t retract, but the cloud snarls. This is clearly not to be a repeat experiment.
[Tries to capture the murdercloud in a plastic bag.]
oh dear |
It swirls, spitting and hissing - white light arcing in its depths as it expands far beyond the confines of a simple plastic container. Tendrils lash, ripping the bag apart and hovering close to the skin of the one holding it. The thing can’t speak but the query is clear: what do you think you’re doing.
courantvvitch.
“…yeah,” Link muttered, looking up at Jack from where she had been huddled in the office. “My brother’s a detective, I - I know the procedure. Mom’s a DA.”
Link cleared her throat awkwardly. What was she supposed to say? Those two thugs were about to mug and probably rape me and as soon as one of them grabbed me the wrong way I turned into a giant murdercloud and slammed the fuck out of them. So many bad implications. Nope. Had to lie, as stupid as it was.
“I - I didn’t really see much, I was on a break from work, so…I think they were down an alley and…and something, like, buckled under them. Maybe a pipe blew or something? It threw me off but I figured they were all right…”
features paint slight curiousity over link’s confession but with a pout and mere nod of his head, jack jotts down the information in an open notepad instead of questioning further. he’s been trained since a young lad to determine what changes in someone’s behaviour could indicate ; how a lie can dance freely within a persons eyes or nerves bouncing at the skin’s seams can cause jolting reactions. it’s these little indicators which gives information, whether during his time in a gang, or now. even witness reports have an ounce of scepticism within the written words and often can be brought up later against the person who gave it.
no information is lost as jack begins note taking. more often than not someone would join - THERE’S ALWAYS MEANT TO BE TWO. but given the circumstance, as well as jack’s meeting of her before, they’ve let it slide.
❛ a pipe burst ? ❜ he’s not meant to question. this wasn’t interrogation nor was link under arrest. but he can’t help himself - he had spent the past two hours conducting a review of the area and there were not any pipes. not to mention other witness reports of A THICK BLACK CLOUD contradict the statement.
❛ and you’re quite sure of tha’ ? ❜ it’s passed off as a confirmation of facts, gaze peaking over the notepad.
“Yeah, pretty damn. Big black cloud and everything,” Link confirms - at least that was completely true, even if she hadn’t been fully conscious. She never was when the murdercloud took hold. It was always half-awareness - at best.
“Look - I know you don’t know me and vice versa,” she adds, “but...if anything could you...not...make an international call to my folks? That is...not going to end well and I don’t wanna make your life harder than it needs to be.”
*Ruffles the granddaughter’s hair* Oi, kiddo. 😉
:D |
“Heyyy gramps,” Link chuckles, leaning into the hair ruffle. “Long time no see.”
Oh boy, what a question. Link canted her head towards the stranger, feeling her wand tucked out of sight under her long coat and that constant simmering thing under her skin.
“I mean - I got a few tricks too, but they’re not exactly safe for public display, yanno?”
𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊, but one that amuses the redhead nonetheless. there were other, more dangerous spells she could have FLAUNTED, but banishing a demon usually receives mixed emotions from even the most diverse audiences she has PERFORMED for. her smirk never falters on her face, not even for a moment. “ you of little faith, love. i would never do anything to harm such a pretty face. ” she said with a honeyed edge to her tone. MAGIC was the one thing that never failed to get her in a good mood.
@pyrowitched
“Hey I’m not doubtin’ you, of course!” Link replied as she conjured a flicker of light to weave between her fingers. Just for a moment, enough to be seen but perhaps not registered by onlookers. “It’s my own little talents that’d be of concern. Especially in such a big open area, y’know?”
@vortexparadox |
Brax’s amusement seems to grow as the girl announces he’s not human, his smile quirking into a smirk. “And why do you believe that I am not human?” he asks, curious to the girl’s assumption - however true it might be, he does at least look human to most who are, and even many who aren’t. And certainly those who are from Earth, presumably around the twentieth century.
“Though you are certainly correct about not being on Earth. This is the planetoid designated KS-159. How you’ve not only seemingly materialised yourself here, and into the twenty-seventh century no less, seemingly without any understanding of how you yourself succeeded in doing so…”
He moves to stand beside her when her focus is drawn towards a painting, clasping his hands behind his back as studies the painting for a moment as well. “Indeed it is.”
“Now - unless you wish to be stuck in one room until security arrives, as the doors will not open without a plasti-disc invitation from myself - you are, Miss…?” he starts, looking over at her expectantly for a proper introduction, otherwise letting the aborted handshake slide without comment.
Link shrugged as she turned away from the painting and started to wander into the museum further. This was better than fully freaking out - not on Earth, probably in the future, and talking to a guy that was a really human-looking alien. Maybe. That one was still a gamble.
“Courant. Link. I’m making that guess a little in the dark, mostly because Braxiatel doesn’t exactly fits human naming conventions. Tastes a little funny in saying it, y’know?” Link replied, briefly glancing to Brax and cocking her head in a smirk. “The rest…hm, I think I’m gonna need some coffee and a snack first, otherwise I’m probably going to collapse in a few minutes…”
She could already feel the exhaustion sinking in, but Brax and the museum were totally working as a distraction. For now, anyway.
“Does it not?” he wonders, watching her once more as she begins to wander. “Are you familiar with every language throughout human history, then? Particularly those who are not actually Terran? I think you’ll find languages evolve in time, especially once colonisation efforts on new planets begin.”
Taking note of how exhausted the human looks, he sighs with a small shake of his head. “Yes, well. I imagine that transporting yourself without a capsule can be rather draining. Moreso without even the aid of a time ring or vortex manipulator. Though how you achieved such is still in question.”
Not to mention how she managed to find her way onto this planetoid in the process…
“Come along, Miss Courant. You may join me for tea, then,” he offers, turning toward the door leading out into the corridor. “We will see Ms. Jones after, to collect your invitation.”
“Maybe not every, but I can at least read ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs pretty well,” Link countered, though she smirked as she glanced back at Brax. “Confirmed, cool, humanlike aliens are definitely a thing - and they’re sharp dressers to boot. I was making a serious guess. If you were human you wouldn’t’ve said ‘Terran’. Though personally I prefer it to ‘Earthling’, but beside the...point.”
The pause came from a wide yawn and shrugged. Normally Link would’ve been a little more guarded but hey - what safer place to end up than a museum inside an asteroid?
“I’d explain but - mmm, so many calories got burned,” Link mumbled. “Are there gonna be, like...really big sandwiches, or at least a lot’f those tiny tea sandwiches?”
-loves on the murdercloud baby-
!!!! |
“Whoa whoa whoa, not by surprise!” Link yelps at the sudden grip around her, which brought her to kicking slightly and doing her best to not burst. “I get the sentiment but no surprising!”
(♠. LINK):`
Link made herself sit up to start smearing the lotion over her arms, shoulders, and chest, chuckle-sighing in relief as her burnt skin felt ever so much better. She did flex her back and winced as she felt skin peeling off her shoulder blades.
“Might need some help reaching my back,” Link admitted once she finished slathering her front and adding a few dabs to her face as well. She did beam at the mention of getting to see Alexandria, though it faded as Aya asked how Link had arrived. Oh boy.
“Last thing I remember I was…home. In my dad’s study. Might’ve been reading over one of his recent papers, kinda drier than usual - maybe he was reviewing somebody, anyway. Reading, bored, and…there was, like…a bang? i think? Startled the hell out of me, and…”
Link trailed off for a moment, because that had definitely been when her little condition had kicked in. Probably best not to bring that up.
“And, uh, poof! There I was.”
Aya sat as the other was putting on the lotion, but quickly stood back so she could help her with her back. “I’m not really soft, so I apologize in advance if I hurt you.” She admitted, half-teasing. Anyway, sunburns were sunburns, and the lotion would always help, no matter how much it hurt in the first place.
As she was helping the other, she listened to what she was saying, raising an eyebrow. Aya had never believed in any kind of magic; she didn’t understand how someone could vanish from their time to arrive in an older version of Egypt - at least for them. How had it happened ? Did this mean it could work in the other way, too ?
“It’s realy strange. Almost as one of the book, or something in the papers decided to bring you there. I never heard of such a story before.” However, she BELIEVED Link; no one could invent such a weird story. It must be true.
“...sure, yeah, we can go with that.” It definitely was not the paper she’d been eyeballing - it had been about Vikings, not Egypt or Rome - but Link wasn’t sure if she could admit that to Aya just yet. She smothered a wince as Aya rubbed the lotion into her back, remembering to pull her hair forward over her shoulder and idly braiding it.
“So...could you fill me in on current events? Egypt is my dad’s research specialty, though he’s more up on the Old Kingdom than the Ptolemies. Not Rome yet so...it’s Cleopatra the seventh as pharaoh? Thereabouts?”
STARTER CALL. @courantvvitch.
❛ i wondered when i’d bump into ya again - jus’ a shame it ain’t over nuggets. ❜ another day, another crime, this one apparently out of the usual and the team had asked jack to investigate. a somewhat detailed analysis had already been done and after another thorough search done by jack, it was time for witness reports - he just wasn’t expecting to see link as one of them. ❛ so kiddo, i’m not sure whether you’ve done a witness report before but if ya can, i’d like ya to go over any details you might’ve seen. ❜
“...yeah,” Link muttered, looking up at Jack from where she had been huddled in the office. “My brother’s a detective, I - I know the procedure. Mom’s a DA.”
Link cleared her throat awkwardly. What was she supposed to say? Those two thugs were about to mug and probably rape me and as soon as one of them grabbed me the wrong way I turned into a giant murdercloud and slammed the fuck out of them. So many bad implications. Nope. Had to lie, as stupid as it was.
“I - I didn’t really see much, I was on a break from work, so...I think they were down an alley and...and something, like, buckled under them. Maybe a pipe blew or something? It threw me off but I figured they were all right...”
