text | anonymous

[fuchsiative]

[ if someone told clarice she'd be reaching out to the rest of her cohort almost the instant she finds her footing on the station, she'd have laughed in their face. frankly, she would have preferred to keep her head down, stay out of the way until she was needed.

but some things were necessary, and dealing with a whole set of people whose backgrounds and experiences she had no clue about necessitated some information-gathering.

reaching out anonymously seemed like a good compromise. ]

mutant

[ she's here for one reason, and one reason only. making a list of those she had to steer clear from is only going to help her achieve her goal in the long run. ]

what does that word mean to you?

Comments

text ↪ un: 朱

[blackfire]

What does it mean to you?

[fuchsiative]

i asked you first

[blackfire]

That does not necessarily mean you are owed an answer. If you are someone seeking to identify mutants and harm them, many here would take issue with such a stance.

（ anon SUS.

also, you know, he's absolutely been someone who hunted others down based on their aberrations — though in that case, jinchūriki — so he kinda knows the playbook. ）

[fuchsiative]

if you didn't want to answer, you didn't have to reply
i don't owe you one anymore than you owe me

[ but that's — comforting to know. but "many" doesn't equal "all," and clarice knows sometimes one is all it takes to do a lot of harm. ]

i don't, though
seek to harm them
i just want to know where people stand on them

[ us. me. ]

↪ 🔒

[blackfire]

Our missions depend on our ability to function as a team. That teamwork necessitates the capacity to set aside historic biases to the greatest effect. So — yes, seeing someone who may possess a divisive opinion is something that requires reply. The onus of clarity is on you, who has taken an anonymous stance.

（ he's not saying he'd throw someone out an airlock if they won't play nice with the rest of the crew, but

he's not not saying it, either. ）

If you are not asking because they are a demographic you dislike, then you are likely asking because it is a demographic to which you belong. For what assurance it offers, Commander Degar and Viveca are entirely aware of the history of everyone who is permitted aboard the Ximilia, and it is in their best interest to refuse anyone who would be a significant source of strife aboard the station.

（ it wasn't asked idly, of that much he is certain. it could be someone familiar with spycraft, who is seemingly oblivious and unsubtle as a way to hide a devious mind — but it could just as easily be a frightened civilian, with no foreknowledge of anything of the sort. ）

[fuchsiative]

[ that this person switched to a private function is curious, because as far as she can tell nothing they've said would necessitate it. in fact, wouldn't everyone benefit from knowing they had to play nice?

is it in the act itself, then? that this person who has attached their name to this conversation wouldn't want others to know they were saying anything at all? ]

for someone harping on teamwork
you sure are quick to think the worst
of someone who's a part of yours

you said it yourself, right? why would the ones in charge bring someone in who'll only cause trouble?
so why did you assume i would?

[blackfire]

Hm, am I?

（ there is too much of the universe he does not know to solidly believe one thing or another of this person. ）

I said it was in their best interest, not that they are infallible in this.

However, you may note I have assumed nothing of your intent. I have spoken only in theoreticals.

（ but it says much that she has taken his ifs and mays as gospel truth of such a thing — suggesting a strong possibility that this is someone accustomed to snap judgements. ）

[fuchsiative]

right, theoreticals
why commit when you can just be cagey
but i guess that's the pot calling the kettle black

[blackfire]

Do you expect I have a reason to commit to one particular opinion or another about you as of now?

（ the literality of the translator does him no favours here — he squints at that message a moment, parsing it out. in a land of clay and cast iron, the sentiment does not make much sense — but sam wilson has been of assistance lately as far as understanding idioms goes, and he supposes the message follows enough of a path of logic that he can equate it to a saying in his own native tongue. ）

If you think my questioning your intent is my calling kettles black, then I offer no defense.

[fuchsiative]

i'm not really expecting anything, from anyone

[ she has learned not to. ]

it's a saying
it just means i'm calling out my own hypocrisy in hiding

[blackfire]

Then, will you stop?

（ hiding, that is. ）

[fuchsiative]

i'd like to

[ oh, did he mean on the ship? ]

i know i can't hide here, not when we're all supposed to be work together
i didn't reach out here expecting i'd be able to
but i had to try to do what i could to protect myself anyway
a deal like this? fixing a regret? all kinds of people would say yes to that
and i haven't yet met anyone who would look at what i am and see someone beyond that
so excuse me for being cautious

text ↪ un: 朱

[blackfire]

I do not begrudge your caution. It is natural to be self-protective in such an instance.

For what it is worth, I personally take no issue with those that may strike humans as being different in any respect — be it biologically, genetically, or otherwise.

My name is Itachi.

（ a far cry from the representative kanji he uses on the network, which means only vermillion. ）

text | un: 182

[fuchsiative]

[ ...well. one sincere gesture deserves another. ]

Clarice.

[ she tells herself it's fine. that sentinel services is far, far way from here. and if they aren't, she'll do what she always does, and run.

and maybe one day, her foolish faith won't bite her in the ass. ]

[blackfire]

Have you met anyone aboard the Ximilia face-to-face as yet, Clarice?

[fuchsiative]

no.

[ still hiding, keeping to herself. old habits and all. ]

[blackfire]

I was going to make myself lunch shortly, if you would like to join me in the canteen.

（ he has been too long convalescent — and as the new mission dossier will be in their hands shortly, there is limited time to regain his strength before it commences. his tendency to eat sparingly of plain fare is not calorically sufficient to manage his current condition. ）

[fuchsiative]

[ ...food is definitely one way to lure clarice out. ]

what are you making?

[blackfire]

I had planned on a cabbage rice bowl and several sides.

（ he's not especially big on meat proteins, however — ）

However, it is not difficult to amend that to include other ingredients if you have a preference.

[fuchsiative]

[ look, given her life the past few years, anything not out of a can or gas station hot bar is pretty much fine dining for her. ]

that sounds nice
i'd offer to help but i'm not much of a cook

[blackfire]

I do not require assistance — but I would not turn down conversation.

（ #charactergrowth??? ）

[fuchsiative]

[ why is itachi already in love with clarice ]

oh i definitely can't help you there

[ once upon a time she had better social skills. and then she had to shove that part of herself down down down so the loneliness wouldn't be so hard to live with. ]

[blackfire]

（ is that what we're calling 'oddly fond of stray ferals' now? ）

Then silence will serve just as well.

I will be there in twenty minutes.

（ mostly bc he's been doing katas this whole conversation in the training room and wants a shower first. multitask game on fleek. ）

[fuchsiative]

[ yes.

though — does that mean itachi is learning self-love now? ]

sure

[ she takes care not to commit to anything, unsure if she'll even show up. she doesn't know until the exact moment twenty minutes pass, and she's stalking out her door, making a beeline for the mess hall with her hood pulled up high over her head. ]

[blackfire]

（ absolutely not. no self-love in this house, thank u.

still — he is there as he stated he would be, dressed very simply in dark, careworn clothing. his hair is damp and is pinned up in a bun, and while he is favoring his right side to a practiced eye, it does not seem to be hindering him overmuch.

most notably, his eyes are the brilliant cinnabar red of the sharingan, faintly luminescent, like a flickering candle behind stained glass. he may be making an effort with the new arrivals, but he is not so incautious as to meet one without his greatest weapon close at hand. he has taken care to cultivate the sharingan as what is 'normal' for him here.

he seems exacting as a cook — all the ingredients are measured out and placed in small bowls upon the counter. there is currently a small pan where tofu is turning golden in frying oil. the ximilia rarely has the exact ingredients he requires, so he is using tapioca starch rather than the more traditional potato, but it will still yield a passable result. daishi stock simmers nearby. the kitchen smells like grated ginger and chives, and the hot sear of oil.

when he becomes aware he is no longer alone, he points to one of two small clay cups on the counter without turning, as he is currently occupied by tending the tofu. ）

Tea, if you drink such a thing.