morphogenia | ic inbox

What do you want me to say, kid? You have at least three times the bone density I do. Wasn't that dangerous for you. [ well what he did would have been but he's still trying to gloss over the heroics tbh. ] I didn't think it was that bad until the gravity came back.

[ okay that's enough of that. he stands and ignores how much it sucks, lifting his eyebrows. ]

I'm glad you two are back together again. I'm gonna go... drink. [ he gestures to the bracelet and then kamala - nothing new there and he's tucking the gun back into his pocket. ]

Edited (i can't do tags while distracted ok) 2018-06-14 02:14 (UTC)

[Kamala reddens. She really should think before she speaks sometimes, huh? She gives him a sheepish look.] Sorry, that was kind of insensitive of me.

[She smiles again.] Thanks again, Joe. They really mean a lot to me. Let me know if I can help you out too someday, okay?

[She's not even gonna comment on that drinking business. Not her place, etc. etc.]

Yeah... a little, but you're an Earther so I'll let it slide.

[ and also because he doesn't want to tell her what really happened. u kno u kno ] You grew up in real gravity with a real horizon.

[ he hesitates even though he just said he would go. and the bar really is calling his name, but... ]

I'm tryin' my best not to need help, but if that changes you'll be the first to know, ke? [ he doesn't notice the slip, maybe he really is homesick. he takes a minute to scrub a hand over his face before correcting his hat's jaunty angle. ]

Yeah I didn't realize how much of a privilege that was until I started talking to you. Usually my privilege is not getting run out of my home country and separated from my family due to increasing violence or imperialism. I really need to work on remembering this one.

[That just rolls off the tongue for her. Even if she doesn't get the screen time she deserves, Nakia is still her oldest friend. She totally listens to all her social justice lectures.] Great, but can I ask what that means? Ke? I mean I could guess, but I like to know stuff. It's kind of my thing.

[ um... what? he narrows his eyes at her, but in his time social justice is long dead. he thinks idly that she would've gotten along with havelock. ]

You don't have to work at nothin', kid. It's just a fact. Your bones are all fused together right because you grew up where your ancestors did, on a planet with real atmosphere.

[ miller doesn't say it like anderson dawes, like a belter who thinks he's better than earthers because of his plight. because he had to do the hard thing. he doesn't sound resentful either, he's just stating facts. though maybe there is a part of himself he'd rather not acknowledge that he's imploring her to understand - that he wants her to. he scratches at an eyebrow before stuffing his hands into jumpsuit pockets, not heading for the door anymore and it's obvious by his body language that maybe he never wanted to. ]

It's ke [ he gently corrects her tone, though it doesn't matter. he could go down the hall and talk lang belta with naomi all night but it wouldn't make him feel better, or any more connected to the culture he'd left behind. ] and it's Belter for... like I'm asking you a question. Or- whatever. It's not important. The last Earther I saw try to learn it got a rebar through his ribcage for the effort so maybe we ought to leave it there.

Edited 2018-06-15 13:02 (UTC)

[It is slowly dawning on her that he actually doesn't want to leave. Kamala takes this as her cue to sit on her bed. She props her elbow up on her thigh and rests her head on her hand. She's getting comfy, but also giving her time to think.] I think I do. I mean we're all living together so we should try to understand each other. Besides, I'd be a pretty terrible friend if I kept berating you for being different. I mean it'd be like you yelling at me because I can't reach the top shelf of anything. It's not going magically make me taller. Me making dumb comments isn't going to make your bones any stronger.

[Of course she has a built in way to get around that, but she prefers to keep that to herself. She openly shudders at the thought of being impaled. She thinks she'd rather get shot any day by comparison.] That seems like... a lot. I feel like there some steps skipped before putting a rebar through someone for trying to learn a language.

It's not gonna make 'em any weaker either, you know. My bones might be chalk, but my skin's pretty tough.

[ just sayin just sayin ]

You're not tryin' to be the Belter whisperer on Ceres, so you're probably in the clear. It's just me and Naomi and that botanist guy anyway, here. And... well, Amos is an Earther, but he's more than halfway there.

I think you're missing the point. It's totally cool if you tell your friends pink isn't your color or something, but it's mean to poke fun at physical stuff.

[Kamala hums thoughtfully at the rest.] Botanist guy... the one who is always asking if we've seen a girl named Mei, right? Amos is the one with all the good advice on space.

[ wait ] ...And we're friends. [ TIL ]

I think that's his daughter, the Roci crew was helping him look for her when they got grabbed here. [ he has to snort at that. he doesn't think amos likes being an "expert" any more than he does, but they're both stuck. ] Yeah, well, the guy's been ship hoppin' since he was your age, so I guess it would follow.

Uh... yeah unless you're doing that thing where you're too cool for friends? I know detectives love that whole lone wolf thing.

[She's trying to sound like it'd be cool but, lbr here. She'd be hurt.] Yeah that's what he said... and wow seriously? I guess that makes sense. Guys can do whatever they want no matter what year it is.

[Kamala sighs wistfully. Her parents would kill her if she ever thought about doing that.]

You think I'm cool? [ this is even more incredulous than the last one tbh ]

Just guys? Naomi's been rock hopping and ship hopping for damn near that long too. Most Belters are, I'm the one who's an outlier.

Let's not go that far. [Wow that came out quickly. Kamala takes a deep breath and explains,] It's the haircut. No one could ever be cool with that haircut. I'm sorry.

[This next part really blows her mind.] Oh seriously?! Sorry that's like so hard for me to imagine. I have to be home before dark and can't move out until I'm married probably. Just going somewhere seems fake to be honest.

[ oh. mY. GOD. he just stares at her for a long moment, then bursts out laughing. oh god that hurts, why did he do it. he presses a hand flat to his sternum to abate some of the pressure and grimaces hard. but that was funny. ] What's wrong with my hair? [ he takes off his hat again to absently rake his fingers through the short mohawk style. HE THOUGHT IT LOOKED COOL fuck. but he's still laughing and trying not to bc it h u r t s. ]

Well, you're here now, kid. And that's not fake. As much as I wish I could tell you otherwise.

[Kamala just blinks in response. He seems happy which is nice??? She also worries that she's offended him still.] It's... not really a style that is cool on my Earth in 2015. If it is cool where you come from don't change it on my account.

[She doesn't have the heart to point out it belongs to emo kids in 2007.] And yeah, but this doesn't count. I didn't ask to be here or anything even if it has led to some cool stuff like space people and mag boots. Everything is so weird in the best way...!

[She makes a face.] You know until it starts trying to kill us.

I don't know what's cool where I come from. [ he just does his own thing okay!!! most belters wear short, shaved styles but he's never really thought about it. earth 2015 though... sometimes he forgets. that really hammers home how different of places they come from. ]

Most things are good til then, kid. Well, I should be on my way. Barstool's callin'. [
he jerks a thumb over his shoulder indicatively, and still... doesn't go anywhere ]

[Kamala is getting that. She's starting to get the impression he doesn't actually want to go anywhere. Maybe he just thinks he should because hanging out in a teenage girl's room is weird? She frowns as she runs through the scenario. She doesn't want to encourage morning drinking, that's probably a sin or something, but it's not her place to run his life.

After a few seconds she comes up with a compromise.] Do you want me to walk you over there? I should probably grab breakfast anyways.

[She is totally dreading it. The food here sucks.]

[ he shrugs, only now heading for the door that she is but still trying to play it real casual!! ]

Bar's on the way. Whatever, kid.

[Kamala leads the way out of her room with her shiny new accessory.] Good point. Do you want me to drop you off real food on the way back? So you don't die and stuff.

[ so you don't die. he swallows, training his eyes ahead. ]

If you wanna bring me one of those cardboard nutrition bars, wouldn't say no.

[She smiles brightly, offering up a v for victory sign like the total dork she is.] Great! You can count on me. I only forget things when something important is going on and things are quiet today.

On the bright side, even if you forget... I probably won't die.

[ he offers her a wan little smile and is otherwise content to make the rest of their journey to the bar a quiet one. ]

Hey. Thanks for the escort.

Any time! See you later, Joe. [Kamala waves and goes off on her merry way like the shojo protagonist she is.]

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