chroma | catchall for vin

[countermeasures]

i haven't had coffee yet so this won't be pretty yet

Comments

[countermeasures]

[she nods, thinking that over]

That makes sense. Too much attention can be dangerous, sometimes.

[allomantic]

It is... uncomfortable.

[just like the pause before she grabs another card.]

What are your pet peeves...?

[countermeasures]

...

[hmm.]

When people keep me in the dark about things in some misguided attempt to protect me.

[allomantic]

[...ah.]

It does sound frustrating.

[countermeasures]

It is. It's not even effective - most things come out in the end, anyway, so they might as well be upfront about them so I can help!

[allomantic]

...You are passionate about it.

[it's a good thing, she thinks to herself.]

[countermeasures]

Well, of course. It's good to have people I can rely on, but when it comes down to it, I need to be prepared to take care of myself instead of relying on other people's kindness. I can't do that if people are keeping things from me.

[allomantic]

...I think there is little you can count on in each and every situation, including people.

[nobody can be there to catch you forever. with a shrug, though:]

Is it because they underestimate you, in part?

[countermeasures]

I'm not sure, because he won't tell me.

But I'll drag an answer out of him once I get home.

[allomantic]

...One person in particular, then.

[countermeasures]

It's not the first time it's happened and he's not the only one who's done it, but he is the most recent.

[allomantic]

Did it end poorly?

[countermeasures]

I almost ended up as someone's concubine, so I'd say yes, very poorly. Luckily, I got out of it.

[allomantic]

[she looks visibly unsettled and angry (though not at jiuqing) for a moment before nodding, glancing back at the cards.]

I... see. I am glad you didn't.

[countermeasures]

Me, too.

We could have avoided all of that if he'd just included me in what he was planning, but no...

[she sighs]

[allomantic]

Were I in your shoes, I would not stay around someone like that any longer. That is... a grave consequence.

[countermeasures]

I'd be worried about staying away for too long. Who knows what sort of plans he'd get up to without thinking them all the way through?

[allomantic]

[she almost says something else, but - it's probably none of her business, she realizes. after a moment:]

What is the next card?

[countermeasures]

[she smiles, and glances down at the card...]

If you could learn one new skill, what would it be?

[allomantic]

[thinking about it for a moment.]

Well, I know how to do it if I'm given a decent amount of time with short passages, but... I suppose it wouldn't be a bad thing to learn to read better.

[countermeasures]

Oh!

[hmm.]

...I enjoy reading. If we can find some books, would you like me to help you with it when we have time?

[allomantic]

[she pauses, surprised.]

Why would you do that? There is no reward in it for you.

[countermeasures]

Hmm... because I want to?

[she smiles]

Being able to read well has made a huge difference for me. If I can help make that kind of difference for you, too, that would make me happy.

[allomantic]

[she looks back at the cards with a frown, seeming for a moment like she's going to focus on another one without answering, but after a second:]

...I would not mind. [...] Thank you.

[countermeasures]

You're welcome.

[the zombies are starting to disperse a little... and then there's a ding of a bell. it seems this round of speed dating is over. it was supposed to ring every minute now that i'm looking at the prompts again oops.

jiuqing smiles.]

...I think that means we've accomplished whatever it is we were meant to do here. Shall we go before we wind up at a table across from someone we'd rather not talk to?