You Wouldn't Pirate Redheads

Jul 18 20:55:30 <Aori_Radidjiu>	Wednesday, June 3rd, 10:04 AM
Jul 18 20:56:15 <Aori_Radidjiu>	There is a light knock on Knox's door.  Then a medium knock.  Then a heavy knox.  It just keeps intensifying, gradually working up, in a rhythm
Jul 18 20:59:53 <Knox>	It doesn't take long for Knox to answer his door. When it opens, he's standing there in a bathrobe, his hair still wet from the shower he got out of. He's just finished brushing his teeth after getting out of his shower for the morning.
Jul 18 21:00:20 *	Mayuri (Lymia@sux-DCC9351A.lightspeed.rcsntx.sbcglobal.net) has joined
Jul 18 21:08:39 <Knox>	A pair of headphones are hanging around his neck, his MP3 player muted for the moment - the headset still a little damp from his wet hair. The bathrobe itself is a dark blue, matching his hair in color. Considering how late things went last night and how long he stayed up helping to clean the ship up, it's not a surprise he's just now getting up and around by 10.
Jul 18 21:09:22 <Aori_Radidjiu>	It's Auriga.  She's dressed in a white blouse and a plaid skirt, her hair with a few red ribbons.  "Oh, um...."  Her fingers fidget together.  "Am I...uh.  S-should I wait for you to get dressed?"
Jul 18 21:11:12 <Knox>	"No, you're not interrupting anything and I don't care. You need something? Come on in."
Jul 18 21:12:52 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"W-well, it's not like I need anything...I just...wanted to talk..."
Jul 18 21:14:31 *	Knox leaves the doorway, making room for her to come in. "Yeah? Well, talk." he slips his headphones off and tosses the set onto the bed before going over to his dresser to pick out his clothes for the day. He does look back at her occasionally to show he's listening.
Jul 18 21:16:18 <Knox>	I've probably mentioned this before, but his room is fairly plain from the lack of things he was likely able to bring, but he's got weights, a laptop, some books, etc.  His laptop is currently connected to some sort of listening app running off his thumbdrive, but he closes that, removes and pockets it as Auriga comes in.
Jul 18 21:17:43 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She finds somewhere to sit (most likely his bed) and smoothes out her skirt, fixes her hair a little, and watches Knox for a bit before speaking up.  "Um...what was your old crew like?"
Jul 18 21:22:01 <Knox>	"Can't really describe them in a word. Some of them were as goofy as people like Mack, others were serious hardasses. Most of them were pretty friendly, which obviously didn't rub off on me. Still, we managed to have a good time. And there were twelve of us. The captain, the cook, the hacker, the first mate, the doctor, the engineer, the mechanic, the cannoneer - Robin, she's the one in
Jul 18 21:22:01 <Knox>	sick bay. The navigator, the dealer...and then a couple of extra muscleheads to help secure the ship - me and the hacker's sister. We were all pirates - actual ones, if you didn't know."
Jul 18 21:24:39 <Knox>	"Pretty sure you caught that detail already at least."
Jul 18 21:24:44 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Were there any that...were there...um...were there any that yo-"  She's interrupted by your laptop making a notification noise.  Whatever that might happen to be.
Jul 18 21:25:09 <Knox>	"...That I what?" he checks the laptop.
Jul 18 21:31:20 <Aori_Radidjiu>	It's a message from an encrypted address.  "Heimdall has taken to a hermit's life, watching from afar.  The rabbit has submitted to lunacy as the moon eclipses, and those who wish for light shall find it in the written word."
Jul 18 21:33:29 <Knox>	His expression is grim, a moment. Kimi is in Hermit Town and Selene isn't well? Those who wish for light shall find it in the written word...
Jul 18 21:35:15 <Knox>	He ponders this for a good while, trying to hide a good deal of emotion back.
Jul 18 21:35:18 <Knox>	6d6 Guile poker face
Jul 18 21:35:18 <DiceMaid-9001>	Knox, Guile poker face: 23 [6d6=5,6,5,4,1,2]
Jul 18 21:38:39 <Knox>	Nevertheless, he's actually a good deal relieved that she managed to get a response to him.
Jul 18 21:38:46 <Knox>	That means good things.
Jul 18 21:39:23 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Um...well..."  She fidgets a little.  "...nevermind.  Um, what I wanted to ask about was-"  There's a crash somewhere else on the ship, from the direction of the infirmary. Auriga jumps at the sound of it.
Jul 18 21:40:09 *	Knox looks up and closes his laptop with a hurry. "...that sounded like... we'll have to continue this conversation in a bit, Auriga."
Jul 18 21:40:57 *	Knox throws off his robes and is dressed in a t-shirt and shorts before Auriga can even blink, though she might see something if her eyes are fast enough.
Jul 18 21:41:10 *	Knox is already heading out of the room!
Jul 18 21:43:35 <Aori_Radidjiu>	Her face reddens, but before she can say anything you're gone!  To the infirmary, where...well, the door's shut, and when you try to open it it barely cracks and something gets thrown at the door.  "YOU WON'T GET ME!"
Jul 18 21:44:03 <Knox>	"Whoa whoa whoa whoa fuck-"
Jul 18 21:44:18 <Aori_Radidjiu>	And by "barely cracks" I mean there's something barricading it
Jul 18 21:44:27 <Knox>	Is that Robin's voice?
Jul 18 21:44:43 <Aori_Radidjiu>	Yep!
Jul 18 21:45:30 <Knox>	"...Red? Red, you're up? It's me, Knox. Calm your tits a moment."
Jul 18 21:46:16 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"...Knox?  Knox...no it can't be.  WHAT DID YOU PUT IN ME NOW!?"  Another large object is thrown at the door.
Jul 18 21:46:43 <Knox>	"Nothing! Goddamn, we -rescued- you from those fucks. I'm coming in."
Jul 18 21:47:02 *	Knox liquidifies, using Acid Armor and bypasses the crack.
Jul 18 21:49:52 <Aori_Radidjiu>	There's the sound of rummaging.  "No, no, nonononono!  You're not getting to me, I'd rather die!"  There's a pause.  "Rather die...something sharp, c'mon, where is it..." The rummaging intensifies.  You get in through the crack smoothly and enter the infirmary, where...there's furniture strewn about, tossed this way and that.  A cabinet was put in front of the door to block it,
Jul 18 21:49:53 <Aori_Radidjiu>	and Robin's head is visible past the bed, where she's frantically sorting through a drawer.  "Please please please where's a knife I need a knife where is it..." Kraven's on her bed, watching her.  He doesn't seem to notice you.
Jul 18 21:52:30 *	Knox seeps through the barricade and is already trying to call out to her as he regains human shape. "...no! Red. ROBIN. Stop it, goddammit! ...Please! Look at me! Just look at me! I'll stay over here."
Jul 18 21:53:36 <Knox>	As he regains his shape, his expression is sort of wild and frantic, this is actually something worthy of making him lose composure and panic.
Jul 18 21:55:59 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She turns to look at you, and you can see her eyes are wide, extremely bloodshot, as she looks at you, the pupils shaking.  She's dressed in whatever you guys put her in, and her hair looks like she's been pulling at it. She's fumbling throught he cabinet picking up things and tossing them out of the way, but her hands are shaking wildy and she keeps dropping them.  She pauses as she
Jul 18 21:55:59 <Aori_Radidjiu>	looks at you, remaining quiet for a second...before grabbing a cabinet drawer and holding it over her head.  "D-don't come near me, were you in my head how'd you get in my head get out of my head!"  She stays, stationary, holding up the drawer, eyes locked on you
Jul 18 21:57:59 <Knox>	"I'm not going to fucking hurt you, Red. You know that." he says, looking at her, but staying where he is. "And I don't want you to hurt yourself either. This isn't the time for that shit, I'm telling you, you're safe now. We freed you from Team Aether's bullshit mind control armor."
Jul 18 21:59:17 <Knox>	"If you want something to defend yourself with, I put your gun in a case under your bed. If you don't believe me, then just shoot me, because I'd rather you get out of this room than me."
Jul 18 22:00:09 <Knox>	*than just me
Jul 18 22:00:29 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She stares at you, arms shaking, drawer above her head, for a moment, then drops it to her side and puts her hands in her face and starts sobbing.
Jul 18 22:01:43 *	Knox just watches her for a moment, concerned, not really knowing if he should try to approach yet or not.
Jul 18 22:01:57 <Knox>	He's always been this awkward as far as comforting people.
Jul 18 22:03:20 <Knox>	After a moment, though, he catuously gets up from the barricade he's sitting on.
Jul 18 22:03:43 <Knox>	"...It's been a year.  A whole goddamned year..." he says quietly.
Jul 18 22:03:55 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She doesn't seem to notice, she's a bit too focused on bawling into her hands
Jul 18 22:04:38 <Knox>	...yep, even his lack of intuition and knowing of AFFECTION THINGS tells him what he should do. He walks forward and just hugs her.
Jul 18 22:07:00 <Aori_Radidjiu>	The second you touch her she shrieks and starts crawling backwards away from you, backing up into the cabinet she was rummaging in before, a hand going under the bed, trying to find the case you mentioned.  "D-d-d-d-don't touch me!"  She grabs the case, sliding it over to her, and then picks it up, trying to open it up, but her hands are too shakey for her to do that, so she can't
Jul 18 22:07:00 <Aori_Radidjiu>	open it.
Jul 18 22:07:23 <Knox>	"Alright, alright!"
Jul 18 22:07:33 *	Knox backs up again.
Jul 18 22:07:56 <Knox>	"Fuck if I know what to do right now, I've never been good at this kind of shit!"
Jul 18 22:09:07 <Knox>	"I got it. No touching."
Jul 18 22:09:43 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"...no touching."  She nods, eyes locked on you, still bloodshot.
Jul 18 22:10:17 <Knox>	"You've been through a hell of a lot, I guess... I guess you just need a period to adjust after all they put you through."
Jul 18 22:11:22 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She's given up on opening the case and is instead hugging it.  "I've been through...hell?"  Blink, then her eyes narrow.  "Yes, hell."
Jul 18 22:11:38 <Knox>	"Try to calm yourself down."
Jul 18 22:12:28 *	Knox doesn't really know what to make of this
Jul 18 22:12:31 <Aori_Radidjiu>	Her breathing is fast, ragged.  "C-calm down?" She tries taking a deeep breath out....then gulps in fast and starts hyperventilating.
Jul 18 22:12:57 *	Knox shuts up and just gives the girl a moment.
Jul 18 22:15:30 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"I...I want you...I want you to get out.  Not now.  I don't want to talk now."  She's calmed her breathing but her eyes are still red, crying doesn't seem to have helped them at all.
Jul 18 22:16:08 <Knox>	His stomach twists a bit. That's not really what he wanted to hear but he sighs. "...alright."
Jul 18 22:16:23 <Knox>	"Make sure she doesn't hurt herself at least, Kraven?" he asks the scolipede.
Jul 18 22:16:23 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"...later."
Jul 18 22:16:34 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"We'll talk later."
Jul 18 22:16:38 *	Knox nods.
Jul 18 22:16:41 <Knox>	"Alright."
Jul 18 22:16:47 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She breeeeathes out.  Kraven gives you a nod.
Jul 18 22:17:43 *	Knox awkwardly attempts to leave. Acid Armor is Scene frequency but Robin here caused an obscene scene so that's like two scenes
Jul 18 22:18:01 *	Knox takes one last look at her, and gtfos out of the room.
Jul 18 22:18:24 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She closes her eyes, giving out an audible sigh.
Jul 18 22:18:41 <Aori_Radidjiu>	After you leave the room, Auriga's on the other side of the door.  "Is...is she all right?"
Jul 18 22:18:47 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She's biting her thumb
Jul 18 22:18:50 <Knox>	"...I don't know yet."
Jul 18 22:18:59 <Knox>	"She's a strong one, though."
Jul 18 22:19:04 <Knox>	"I think she just needs time."
Jul 18 22:19:34 <Knox>	"Thankfully that's something we have right now."
Jul 18 22:19:51 *	Knox looks a bit worn and weary after what just happened.
Jul 18 22:20:06 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"W-well, all right..." She straightens her hair, then smoothes her skirt over.  "Um..."
Jul 18 22:20:09 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Well..."
Jul 18 22:20:11 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"..."
Jul 18 22:20:20 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She turns her head to the side.  "N-nevermind."
Jul 18 22:20:23 <Knox>	"Right, the thing you wanted to talk to me about."
Jul 18 22:20:25 <Knox>	"..."
Jul 18 22:20:37 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"..."
Jul 18 22:20:58 <Knox>	"Give me a few minutes and then come back to my room."
Jul 18 22:21:04 <Knox>	"...I just need a moment."
Jul 18 22:21:09 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"...okay."
Jul 18 22:21:37 *	Knox shuffles back to his room.
Jul 18 22:22:15 <Knox>	It does indeed take him a bit to sort out his emotions. This isn't exactly the kind of thing you can contain very well.
Jul 18 22:23:16 <Knox>	He even pops some of those stress relief pills, even though they're like to do little good to his chemically resistant body.
Jul 18 22:25:24 <Knox>	But he's mostly managed to get into a stable state of mind again after a bit.
Jul 18 22:26:09 <Knox>	If Auriga does come back, Knox is moving a box of kleenex back into his bathroom when she arrives.
Jul 18 22:27:10 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She knocks first, like she did again.
Jul 18 22:27:11 <Aori_Radidjiu>	...
Jul 18 22:27:13 <Aori_Radidjiu>	*before
Jul 18 22:27:28 <Knox>	"It's open." he says, this time.
Jul 18 22:28:05 <Aori_Radidjiu>	Open.
Jul 18 22:28:12 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She sits down next to you.  "Um..."
Jul 18 22:28:14 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"..."
Jul 18 22:28:20 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Jul 18 22:29:10 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She's grabbed a strand of her hair and is rubbing it
Jul 18 22:30:29 <Knox>	He considers it a moment. "With Robin? ...Helping make sure she's comfortable, I guess, until she's adjusted to the current situation... Suicide watch? Telling her where her gun was was probably a bad idea, but it was one of her favorite rifles, so maybe it'll give her some piece of mind. Kraven's watching for now, I suppose..."
Jul 18 22:31:39 <Knox>	"With... me? ...I don't know. I honestly don't.. Maybe you could, maybe you couldn't. Whatever you'd think would help."
Jul 18 22:31:40 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Well, okay, I can do that too, but I meant you"
Jul 18 22:32:47 <Knox>	"I mean, I'm a tough bastard too. This has all been... really goddamn stressful but I think I can handle it... ...I think. ...fuck, I really don't know, actually."
Jul 18 22:33:06 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Well...if there's anything I can do..."
Jul 18 22:33:40 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She gently puts one of her hands on yours and clasps it.  "...anything..."
Jul 18 22:33:44 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"...let me know."
Jul 18 22:34:27 <Knox>	"...Are you hitting on me?" His mood seems to improve with the amusement in his expression.
Jul 18 22:35:08 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She turns red and avoids eye contact now.  "W-well..."
Jul 18 22:35:33 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"It's not like...I do that for anyone..."
Jul 18 22:35:34 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"..."
Jul 18 22:35:36 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"So yes."
Jul 18 22:37:47 <Knox>	He considers a moment. "...I appreciate it, actually. Kind of hard to admit, but I do. You're cute and interesting enough to take up on that offer, too... but... Let's be straight, here, Are you just trying to make me feel better?"
Jul 18 22:38:17 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She looks down at her knees.  "Well...no...I mean..."
Jul 18 22:38:25 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"I came here in the first place to...talk about this..."
Jul 18 22:38:50 <Knox>	"Oh."
Jul 18 22:38:52 <Knox>	"..."
Jul 18 22:39:24 <Knox>	"Well this must be fucking awkward for you right about now after what just happened." he puts on a smile to let her know he meant it as a joke.
Jul 18 22:39:41 <Mayuri>	5d6+3 I wonder how well Mayuri can fake a love letter
Jul 18 22:39:41 <DiceMaid-9001>	Mayuri, I wonder how well Mayuri can fake a love letter: 18 [5d6=4,4,3,2,2]
Jul 18 22:43:09 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"Yeah...it is."  Reeeed
Jul 18 22:44:28 <Knox>	"Well, look. Let's just put the awkwardness aside for a moment. You can be direct with me about whatever. I -am- interested but I want to know a few things first."
Jul 18 22:46:13 <Knox>	"First of all, what got you interested in me? And what sort of relationship would you expecting out of this?"
Jul 18 22:49:45 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"I...well.  You told me you were interested in helping me and didn't care much about the fact that I was a screwup...and unlike Melanie you haven't lost your marbles.  And...well, I guess I didn't think it over really hard, but...we could do things together?  And maybe...have sex, I'd...I'd be okay with that, and I just...wanted someone who could understand what I'm going through trying
Jul 18 22:49:45 <Aori_Radidjiu>	to get my fire right and something to keep my mind off the fact that it looks like everything is going off the deep end with giant gods and shadowy swarms of killer pokemon and everything..."
Jul 18 22:57:16 <Knox>	"You were right there when we were going toe to toe with Kanaloa, I'd say being so excited about beating down a god makes my sanity questionable." he jokes. "...and yeah, Mel's a bit high strung. I don't really know what her deal is, but whatever, she's herself. That's good enough. ...as for you, everyone starts out as a screwup, don't they? At least, anyone interesting. I guess there
Jul 18 22:57:16 <Knox>	are a few people who take to things like duckletts to water with natural talent and no mistakes, but that's... so goddamn boring, you know? The struggle to master something is part of the whole experience. I mean, fuck, I didn't start off as a master of my poison powers, either. Early on, hot nights saw me waking up naked as my sweat burned my clothes off and ruined my bed. I had to
Jul 18 22:57:18 <Knox>	sleep on a cold steel floor naked for a few weeks. And even now I have trouble because I can't actually lower my tolerance to toxins, so I can't even get drunk to get my mind off shit at times." he leans back on the bed. "...I do know what you're going through, in that way. And I'm still interested in helping."
Jul 18 22:58:11 <Aori_Radidjiu>	She smiles.  "Good!"
Jul 18 22:59:22 <Knox>	"I'm not exactly a touchy feely kind of person, though, so... you'll have to put up with that. But if you're willing to... I could give you a taste of poison."
Jul 18 23:00:33 <Aori_Radidjiu>	"That's...that's fine by me!"  She nods.
Jul 18 23:02:06 <Knox>	He leans over and takes her chin for a moment, then brushes his lips against hers before kissing her.
Jul 18 23:03:15 <Aori_Radidjiu>	And from there I believe we can fade out~
Jul 18 23:04:52 <Knox>	Indeed we can
Jul 18 23:06:00 <Aori_Radidjiu>	</mini>