Rosalind Stein

cvnstantin​:

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[There’s nothing that’ll keep your ego in check quite as effectively as a woman half your size knocking you clean to the ground. Constantin’s balance and strength have improved immeasurably since the first day he and Anaya returned to Earth, and when it came to progress? He’d come far. But relative to other people, he was almost always the weaker party.

This woman comes barrelling around the corner and she knocks into Constantin before he even sees her coming. He has a fraction of a second of awareness, enough to bring an arm up and prevent himself from hitting his head. His elbow takes the brunt of the fall, and he’s probably going to have a bruise on his ass, too.] 

Ai. [He cringes, tentatively rolling his shoulder before propping himself up on one elbow. It’s been a while since he took a fall like this, but the cold floor has welcomed him back like he’d never left it. Shooting a bitter look up at the woman, he says:] There’s a fucking fire?

[It’s not really her fault, as he could equally have been watching where he was going and taken the corner with more care, but it’s hard to be objective when you’re on your ass. His mood has been unstable enough in the few days since Koda left, and this really hasn’t helped.]

[[ Offering the man a hand, Rosalind winced at the damaged she’d caused. He’d hit the ground harder than she would have thought he should, but what did she know? As she helped him up, she noticed that his balance was slightly off. She tried to turn the situation around, hoping that their first interaction wouldn’t sour any future meetings. ]] No fire, as far as I know; just the tempting seductress that is my pillow. Are you alright?

[[ Feeling that it might be impolite to mention his equilibrium, she made sure to hold on for a second after he’d stood to ensure that he wasn’t about to fall over again. She did her best to be stealthy about it, so as not to make him uncomfortable or pitied. Hopefully he wouldn’t think anything of it. After she released him, she took a step back in order to ensure there was an adequate amount of space between them. Rosalind put on her best smile, and introduced herself. ]] I’m Rosalind, professional collision artist.

[[ After spending the morning running in circles, Rosalind was ready for a nap. Getting out of bed had been hard today, for some reason. She had almost been late to her chores rotation. Once she’d finished that, she had practically bolted for the dining hall to make up for the breakfast she had missed. She was absolutely positive that her stomach would have devoured itself if she had made it wait two seconds longer. The couple of stares she’d gotten as she wolfed down her food hadn’t even mattered to her.

Now that her belly was satiated, she headed back to her room. The pillow on her bed was the only thing in her mind. It called to her; seducing her every thought. There was nothing sexier in this moment than a nap. Alas, it was not to be. So focused was she on her nap fantasies, she walked straight into someone turning a corner. ]]

Oops! Sorry!

cambieandrews​:

[Cambie considers Rocco a good friend, but that friendship originated in necessity - there’s a lot of troublemakers in her house, and she’s spent many hours working with Rocco on how to improve things. Sometimes she pops by just to say hi, but today she’s been talking to him about an issue with one of her Delmas – never fun, but it’s not like she accepted the position because she thought it would be a good time.

And, like many problems in life, it does feel better to have talked it out. As she traipses down the stairs from Brink’s elite suites, she digs a notebook out of the bag slung over her shoulder and jots down a few song titles. She’s been brainstorming good tracks to work out to, for if and when she manages to become an AP trainer. Even if it doesn’t pan out, having a project makes her happy. Humming under her breath, she picks her way carefully through the common room, glancing up here and there to make sure she isn’t about to bump into anyone. It’s at this point that she makes eye contact with a woman sitting on one of the couches, looking up at her with that quiet, inscrutable way that so many Brinks have. Cambie isn’t sure whether the look is an invitation for chat, or something else. It doesn’t quite read as just a polite smile, and in any case Cambie is always happy to become acquainted with a new face. She doesn’t recognise this one, and she’s sure she would as it’s a memorable one.]

What d’you reckon? Call On Me by Eric Prydz: a song you can shake it too, or just hopelessly naff and dated? [It’s always good to get opinions on these things. Cambie is fully aware that many people find her absurdly twee, and while that doesn’t bother her in the least, she doesn’t want to put people off her classes. Classes that she doesn’t know she’ll be running yet, but it’s good to be prepared.]

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[[ Most people that she had met through the years would give the woman a confused look and move on their way at the odd question. Rosalind, however, was not of that persuasion. She coked her head as she thought briefly about the question. It took a moment for her to remember the song at all, and when she did remember it caused an internal cringe. ]] I remember lots of people liking it, and it’s definitely a good beat for movement. I was never fond of it much, but that’s only because of the repetitive words. I think it’s good for an exercise song, though. It’s definitely one that can keep the morale high and it’s an easy beat to follow.

[[ Rosalind had no idea why this was the first thing the woman before her had ever said to her, but she wasn’t bothered by it. She had always preferred people to be straight to the point, rather than dancing around. It took too much time and energy to try and make things sound pretty. She was a kind person, and she still wasn’t one to mince words. ]] Do you mind if I ask what it’s for? Context might help some if you’re looking for suggestions. I understand if you’re not, though.

draco--pavlovic​:

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Is that what you are trying now? Flies and honey?

{Draco maintains the displeased scowl but slowly the tension seeps from his shoulders and his mind clears a little. She’s trying to be civil despite his temper tantrum, so perhaps he should do the same.}

Conversation is being made right now, so maybe you are not as bad at it as you think. You just caught me at bad moment. So. I am sorry.

{Were he in a calmer and more composed state of mind, Draco might have picked up on the undertones of her suggestions a lot quicker. But when he’s angry he doesn’t think things through and so it takes him a moment, re-playing her words over in his mind before doubling back to pick at the most interesting part.}

What is someone like you trying to infiltrate anyway? {Briefly he considers her outstretched hand before shaking it, eyebrows slightly raised.} Hello, Rosalind Stein.

What do you have that’s worth me attempting an infiltration? [[ She shot the question back without missing a beat. She hadn’t needed flies and honey to feel him out. All he needed was a poke and a prod. It was almost remarkable that he wasn’t locked up wherever they send the Rebels. He was practically shouting his loyalties from the rooftops. 

Her eyebrows raised slightly at his apology, but she doesn’t show any more reaction than that. As her question was returned to her, she didn’t hide her sly smile. Oh no, she wouldn’t give in that easily. She was a lady, after all. She almost snorted out loud at the thought. No one had accused her of being a “lady” since she was a child. She held onto his hand for a moment more. ]] 

Who says I want to infiltrate anything. We were discussing you, and your hatred for the Reformists. [[ Rosalind maintained eye contact, showing him the mischievous glint in her eyes. Releasing his hand, she took a respectful step back. There was no way that she was going to show her hand right now, but planting the seed for a future conversation was going to be useful. ]] Do I get the honor of knowing your name, or shall I give you one myself?

mitch--douglas​:

R. STEIN​:

Current appearances? [[ From what she could tell, this place was pretty great. There was a decent spattering of NWRF, but she expected that from colonies in general. It wouldn’t do to take over the world and not have an army to control it. His faith and determination was admirable, if not perhaps a bit fanciful. Not giving up on people was a noble goal, but not one that Rosalind herself could take on for herself. She had given up on people long ago. Individuals could be great, but people as a whole sucked. 

Rosalind is snapped back to reality before her mind can wander too far down the road of past wrongs. The first thing that registered was the word “wife”. She hadn’t heard it in reference to her relationship with Jo in years. Half the time she hadn’t even dared to think the word. To hear it from someone else’s lips was a strange feeling. They hadn’t even been wives for long before…everything. They did get married on a boat AFTER the end of the world, after all.

Tears prickled at the backs of her eyes again. He was just so damn genuine. Who the hell was this guy? People like this were rare enough before they rode a handbasket to hell. Finding one IN hell just felt…wrong. This one must be protected, if only for his own sake. ]] Thank you. It was definitely something else. [[ Rosalind laughed. It felt good. ]] You should have seen her. She looked absolutely ridiculous and more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen in the world. I’m certain that I looked far crazier than she did, though. [[ She laughed again, reveling in the feeling of it.

It was if a weight was slowly lifting off of her chest. She could feel air starting to slip into her lungs again. She had been holding all of these stories, and emotions, and words in for so long. It felt good to say a few things that were important to her, rather than just the usual drivel. ]] We were in the middle of the damn ocean, after the world ended, getting married on a boat. It wasn’t like we had any fancy clothes or a wedding dress on the ship. It was perfect.

.

[[ Mitch’s grin is broad and inescapable when Rosalind laughs, and as he watches her recount the haphazard but obviously meaningful wedding with such a smile on her face, he has to wonder how long it’s been since she did laugh like this. Or at all. For how closed off she’d been just moments before when they met, it was refreshing, just as it was so incredibly obvious how much the two of them must mean to each other.

He felt a pang in his chest listening to her now, brought on by a heavy mixture of unadulterated happiness that Jo and Rosalind had found each other – both in general, and especially here and now – and the fact that they subsequently felt they had to keep it a secret. Maybe eventually, Mitch can be trusted with the reasoning why. And maybe eventually the colony will be able to see Jo and Rosalind as they’re meant to be seen. ]]

It sounds perfect, [[ Mitch agrees, his broad grin never faltering. There would’ve been a time not too long ago that their story might’ve made him nostalgic something that could and would never be retrieved; for his own simple, slightly rushed wedding in a courthouse without family or fancy clothes. Instead he thinks of Cambie, and while a brief air of embarrassment follows for chickens counted before they’re hatched, something about the thought of marrying her still feels… right.

He clears his throat and resolutely brings up none of this, ultimately saved by the bell – or rather, the chime of his PDD reminding him of his schedule. ]]

Ah. So sorry, but I’m afraid that’s my cue. [[ Mitch smiles apologetically as he straightens, turning to slip his journal into his bag. ]] I’ll be sure to send you my open blocks for one-on-one sessions, but again, there’s no pressure. [[ Swinging his bag’s strap over one shoulder, Mitch pauses smile genuinely and warmly at Rosalind, nodding once. ]] Either way, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Rosalind.

ajay-bennett​:

[She’s laying it on really thick now—in a way that reminds him a little of Allie… but to her credit, it’s not in the same way. Not that he means that as a crack on Allie. The girl had had her issues, sure, but obviously he’d liked her. Cared about her, even. He’d been decently upset when she’d been transferred away.

So when she gives him the overt, hefty once over, he smirks, but rolls his eyes—because he wasn’t born yesterday. She’s playing him, because she knows her sex appeal is off the charts—and sure, power to her. He’d do the fucking same if he looked like that, let’s be real.

Her curiosity about Kaiser is now… well, he’d say at this stage he’d put it at about a 50/50 chance this is about sheer curiosity, verses it being a radical thing. It’s no secret that Kaiser had been a pretty big ‘figure head’ for Radical movement out in the wastes before he’d been dragged back to civilization—well, if you considered life at Colony 22 to be ‘civilized’, anyway. So she could have been hearing those rumours, and asking for those reasons. It’s tough to say—but honestly, Adrien doesn’t really care enough either way. It’s not like he has to worry about protecting someone like Kaiser Fucking Bahr. At least not from curios bystanders like this girl, regardless of what her motives are. The man is a (sweet) talking, feral wolf.] 

Ah. Well, he’s been locked up the past couple weeks, fairly sure. [He shrugs, casting her a glance.] Don’t get too exited about it though. Happens pretty often with him. He’s chaos walking, that dude. Always in one fight or another, threatening some Elite, throwing punches like candy. That sort of thing. He’s not the Boogie Man. He’s just, uh. Well known, because it’s hard to ignore a guy who literally looks like his Daddy fucked a She-Wolf and he was born into a pack. 

[He’ll lay off the Radical stuff, for the time being, in case she doesn’t know that part. After all, he may not have to protect Kaiser, but he’s smart enough to be wary of just about anybody’s motives, these days.] Did you tell me your name, by the way? 

[[ Raising her eyebrows, Rosalind doesn’t hide her curiosity. She may have started looking for Kaiser as a contact in the NWR, but now she was becoming more invested in the mystery than the man himself. As soon as the thought appeared, he seemed intent to dash it. Instead of hitting the mark he intended, Ajay had only made her more interested. ]] I suppose that would make him Daddy, then. [[ The words were out before they’d finished processing in her brain. She wasn’t upset about it; more just amused that she’d quipped so quickly and easily. All of this was foreign and nostalgic. It was so unfamiliar, but she was glad that the feelings of that were lessening. ]]

I did, but I think you were too...distracted, to remember. It’s Rosalind. [[ She winked and held out her hand for him to shake. It was one of her favorite moves. Physical contact worked in her favor, as did her beauty. Then it was always a surprise that she shook hands like a businessman. She looked him in the eyes, grasped his hand firmly, and gave one structured shake before letting her hand fall back to her side. She was having so much fun. It was exciting to know that they were each aware of the other’s games, but not the motives. ]] Now why was I sent to you? Are you the wolf’s second or something

[[ There was an unseasonable chill in the air. Well, unseasonable based on her personal summer experiences. She honestly had no idea what was considered "normal" for this time in England. Briefly distracted, Rosalind wondered when widespread changes for countries would occur. It was likely that there were already plenty of places that had "rebranded". A breeze sent some errant hairs fluttering into her face. She brushed them behind her ear as she entered the building. The door shut behind her with slightly more force than it would have without the breeze to pull it.

Rosalind took a glance around. The room wasn't crowded, but it wasn't empty. She was pleased to find an open seat, even if it was near someone else. Social interaction didn't bother her, and she generally enjoyed it. She was only here to lounge and be in the presence of others, anyways. Jo had been distant ever since she'd arrived, and at this point it wasn't uncommon for her to feel isolated. Really, she needed more friends. She had made a few acquaintances, but for the most part she still felt like a visitor. She needed to grow some roots, but it was still difficult for her to resist the desire to wander. She'd only been seated a moment when she felt someone coming towards her. She looked up to see who it was, and gave them an expectant expression while she waited for them to speak. ]]

ajay-bennett​:

[He’s already watching her somewhat skeptically—and understanding pretty quickly that her cryptic stuff is going to stay cryptic, for the time being—when she leans closer to him in a theatrical sway and whisper-sings an ancient but all-too familiar lyric. He rolls his eyes so hard he nearly makes himself dizzy.]

Oh, wow, alright, alright—[she’s officially a little crazy, albeit, fun—and hot, definitely hot as all fuck—but it’s clear they could be going around in circles like this for a long time, if he keeps pushing for more details. He knows how to quit when he’s ahead. He’ll make a mental note to try to fish it out of her later—if it even matters. 

For now, what’s more interesting is finding out what she wants.]

So, you found me then. And now that I know the manner in which you want it—[he shoots her a look,] what is the ‘It’ that you want? [He pauses, frowns. Yeah, that sounds confusing as fuck but he was trying to keep rolling on the boy band thing. It apparently took some sacrifices.] With Kaiser, that is? Or with me? [He considers making a sexy joke, because he’s an unbearable flirt, but he holds his tongue. She looks like the type who might hit him for being too single-minded. And she looks like she could pack a surprisingly good punch.] 

Don’t fall over, now. That was an impressive eye roll. I’m honored. [[ Her laugh almost surprised her. It was still odd, even for as long as she’d been here, to feel positive emotions. The playful push and tug of their conversation was easy to lean into. The thoughts of confusion and possible flirtation were obvious as they flittered behind his eyes. Rosalind was amused, and decided to cut him some slack by ending the Backstreet Boys theme. 

She considered for a brief moment before responding. Raising an eyebrow at his fumbled through a poor attempt at another reference. ]] That was a valiant effort, my good sir. I think we’ve taken the references far enough for now. [[ She chuckled softly. ]] Mostly what I want is to find out why people seem to think he’s the Boogie Man or something. Where is he, anyways? I was far less interested in this topic until it became such a mystery. Maybe I really should have brought a magnifying glass...or at least a notebook and a pen with which to tie up my hair.

And as for you, [[ Rosalind took a slow look at him. She allowed her eyelids to drop some as she looked down, and then brought her eyes back up to meet his. It was one of her favorite moves. Jo had always laughed and rolled her eyes when Rosalind used it to her advantage. ]] I’ll let you know.

bodelevybram​:

[He casts a look her way in response to her sarcasm. Something that may have come across as annoyed, but there’s a hint of amusement behind his eyes.] Definitely not as impressive as you almost learning French, [he replies, his sarcasm not quite as obvious that it’s meant to be playful and not degrading. But he hopes she catches that. That slight spark of humor still lingers in his eyes, so hopefully she can get a read on some part of it. 

He nods. Doesn’t comment on her tangent. Because he has nothing to add. Not really. The Reformists don’t like people sharing their Infections. Seeing how she spoke about it now, she was probably saying it all too proudly and that’s what pissed that Elite off. Bode has never proudly announced that he’s Infected. The only pride he has around his Infections is that he’s good at controlling them. Most of the time. Not that he would ever admit to struggling with anything at any point in his life.] 

Ah, yes. My head is mostly Swedish and English, and then–as you said–colloquialisms that don’t translate well. [he says. Because of course that made sense. You don’t learn several languages and know that some things just don’t translate.

Bode almost grins again at her little smile. He does let out a short, dry chuckle,] I’m sure you do, [he replies. She has too much to say to not have any interesting thoughts.] Do you often share them so freely with people you’ve just met, or am I just lucky enough to hear all you have to say? [there’s some more sarcasm in his voice, but it’s a little less obvious since his tone is usually so dry.]

[[ When he glanced at her, she grinned. There was a light of humor behind his eyes, and she was thrilled to see it there. The chuckle he granted her was like a trophy for a job well done. Rosalind had always been good at making friends and bringing people out of their shells. Sometimes she stumbled along the way, but she was generally able to get back on her feet again. ]] 

Well, I’d say you’re lucky to meet me, but luck has very little to do with it since I’m just a naturally friendly person. [[ An impish shrug and a devilish grin followed her words. She was getting closer to her comfort level, and no longer rambling. ]] If you think that’s all I have to say, you’re in for some major disappointment. I do enjoy conversation, though, and that’s difficult to have when people only want to commit to small talk. I don’t see the purpose. If you want to speak to someone, speak about something. We can both see that the weather is cloudy and there aren’t any baseball games or whatever anymore. I’d much rather jump in than toe around the edge.

[[ It was a saying that one of her sisters had used a lot. Thinking of Gemma brought a touch of sadness to her eyes before she fully hid it. The pain of losing her family had grown to a dull ache long ago. The grief had nearly overwhelmed her, and if not for Jo then she didn’t know what she’d have done. Pushing her thoughts away, she returned to the present and smiled at Bode again. ]] Unless, of course, you’d like to tell me about your favorite baseball team from back in the day?

draco--pavlovic​:

Who says I have not been locked up? {Whoever this girl is, she’s not making a great first impression on Draco. Chiding him like a parent might a small child is one sure way to get him to hate someone, the tone of her voice dripping with such condescension it’s making him angry again.} You do not know me. And I do not care what people think about me or if they know I hate Reformists. That just means I am not coward hiding behind others.

{Gradually, however, his temper settles a little. She has a point about the whole violence not being the solution thing - but it’s not like Draco doesn’t fucking know that already. What is it with everyone trying to tell him he has a chip on his shoulder?} Thank you for your wisdom. I do not know what I would do without it. {His tone is dry, smile slipping right back off his face. Usually he’s great at meeting new people and even better at hiding his dislike of others, but she’s caught him at his worst when all he wants to do is drink then sleep for sixteen hours.}

In my experience hitting works very well. Sometimes aggressive is better. Shows you mean business and are not fucking around. But maybe next time Reformists walk past I will be nice and wish them good afternoon. Then you can be proud of me and give me some candy for job well done, yes?

Well, then I suppose my point is made. [[ Rosalind winked at him, keenly aware of how short of a fuse he was exhibiting. As he continued, though, she tried to figure out where the truth and the lie met. His attempted smile fell, and she had already known that it was faked. He had seemed to begin calming for a moment, but she had also done a delightful job of ruining that. Tipping her head to the side a bit, she considered him. ]] I guess you’d do whatever you’ve done before this moment.

[[ Pride was seeping through his teeth every time he opened his mouth. So much anger. The sheer rage behind his every motion would put anyone with sense on edge. ]] Everything has its place, of course. If you want to intimidate, violence can absolutely be a good choice. Infiltration, though, would require making nice with anyone and everyone. Flies and honey and all that. [[ She shrugged. ]] It’s your business, though. I was just trying to make conversation. Clearly I’m not doing a very good job. Forgive me.

[[ She took a deep breath, partly for show and an amusing moment, and stuck her hand out. ]] I’m Rosalind Stein. Nice to meet you, I think?

ajay-bennett​:

[He lets out a snort at her pizza comment—she wins some brownie points for going along with the joke, and a couple more when she rebuttals about the Backstreet Boy. Not because she’s right, because she’s not—Brian was the most loved, but he wasn’t the coolest, duh—but because she’s playing along, rolling with the punches. His kind of girl. 

But though he hadn’t been expecting anything in particular, because he hadn’t known what to think of her cryptic ‘a.f.’ hook, he doesn’t expect Kaiser’s name to come up.

He thinks… she’s probably exaggerating about the Voldemort thing—sure everyone knows his name, but are they really that scared of the guy? News to Ajay, if they are. Or maybe he’s just… got a skewed perspective because he’s on good terms with Kaiser. He’s… reluctant to call them ‘buddies’ for… extremely obvious reasons—one being that Kaiser looks like he’d sooner eat your ‘buddy’ for lunch than he would be one—but he has to admit they’re… weirdly friendly. Kaiser’s definitely a wild card, rough around the edges (to say the least) and Ajay would be the first to admit that he’d been terrified of the huge hairy fucker at first—but he’s more bark than bite….

…probably. 

He doesn’t believe her Nancy Drew schpeal for a second. Like, Gold Star for playing the casual and curious card, but it doesn’t work on Ajay because he’s been around enough shady individuals in his lifetime to recognize the signs. Plus, he’s sort of a shady individual, in a way. A much less intimidating or impressive way than, say, Kaiser himself, but still….]

Ah… to me, hey? [Yeah, he knows the guy, by how the fuck would she end up lead to Ajay, of all people? Surely Kaiser has bigger fish to… no, that’s not the expression he’s looking for. Whatever. He’s sure Kaiser knows more important people. Than again, maybe none of those people are here.] How exactly did that happen? What did people say?

[[ The look he gave her was unmistakable. He knew she was being...less than completely honest, and he probably knew that she knew it. Oh yes, this one was going to be a riot. They were already playing, and she could smell a fellow delinquent from a mile off. A wide grin split her face. It would have looked more like baring her teeth, if it weren’t for the playful excitement in her eyes. Then again, maybe that made it more feline. ]]

draco--pavlovic​:

There was no good show. {Draco’s still pissed, arms folded while he watches the Reformist guards hurry towards the commotion in an attempt to break up the scuffle. Reflection Hour had left him in a shitty mood, and on top of that he’s hungry and craving a proper drink. Not something watered down - a proper drink. The kind his parents would come home to celebrate with after scoring another big job, the kind he hasn’t had in years because the fucking world just had to goddamn end. Granted D-Day had spared him a serious prison sentence, but it’d also robbed him of two of life’s greatest pleasures: drugs and booze.} 

There would have been if Reformist pigs had come close enough for me to hit them.

{He barely spares the newcomer a glance at first, still caught up in a low blood-sugar infused strop. Reflection Hour. What a joke. The only thing he’d reflected on had been how badly he’d wanted to storm out of the room and never return. And it doesn’t help that he knows he should be controlling his temper when it’s so damn difficult. But it has to be, if he ever hopes of gathering together enough people to join the Rebel cause. No one’s going to follow a maniac with a hairpin trigger temper. What he needs is rationality and strategy, as hard as that is.

Draco seethes in silence a while longer, only properly noticing the woman’s presence after he’s tempered his anger. The rage always makes his world go a little blurry and out of focus, and anything that isn’t the reason for- or target of his displeasure simply ceases to exist. ‘The Pavlovic focus’, his father used to brag. ‘It’s how we get shit done.’

Only the problem is it isn’t helping Draco get shit done. It’s distracting him from his true mission. Finally he turns, the smile on his face somewhat forced.} What can I say? I am not huge fan of dictatorship. It makes me want to hit something. But that is life, yes? You do not get what you want until you make it happen.

[[ She suddenly felt as if she’d interrupted a dog barking at a squirrel. The man was clearly incapable of controlling his temper. He looked like he could hold his own in life, she recognized it in his eyes. It took one to know one. In a physical fight, though...she sized him up briefly while he was diving deeper into his anger. Yeah, she could probably take him. It looked like it would be a decent fight, though. Deciding to bring him back to the present, she spoke. ]]

Reformist pigs, huh? [[ It worked. He turned to her with a forced smile. Well, at least he was trying, she supposed. Rosalind was almost amused by him, but was careful not to let that show. This man was a rebel if she’d ever met one, and he was NOT good at hiding it. ]] Pigs, dictatorship, it’s really a wonder you haven’t been locked up for being a Rebel. Also, hitting things is not generally the best way to make things happen. Well, not generally the things you want. It’s too aggressive.

mitch--douglas​:

[[ The flinch wasn’t lost on him, but neither did Mitch take offense nor, unfortunately, did it really surprise him. The post-apocalyptic world was predictably harsh, and it sounded as though Rosalind had even a rougher time of it than most in the past however many months. He doesn’t bother to comment on it, simply offering a nod of acknowledgement to her wince that implies he understood. ]]

Of course, [[ He replies easily instead, giving one hand a brief wave before it settles back at the edge of the desk. ]] I’ve spent a lot of time trying to make Colony 22 as hospitable as possible over the years. Despite all current appearances– [[ And by that, Mitch largely means the NWRF and any related divides. ]] –we’ve always been a tight-knit community. Maybe we thought we were far enough away that we could get away from the old hierarchies, [[ He considers with a certain dryness. Mitch remembers nearly turning down the Head of Calyset nomination he’d received for exactly that reason, wanting to foster more of an open, equal community. He’d only really been talked into it by virtue of seeing it more as a mentor role than anything else – and in that aspect, he’d like to think little has changed in light of his demotion when so many of those in his house will still come to him with concerns before they’ll look to Nouka for advice. ]]

But I’m not ready to give up on people yet. [[ Because he’s Mitch, and they can pry that altruistic faith and optimism from his cold, dead hands. He crosses his arms over his chest and shrugs, smiling faintly. ]] You and your wife are at least partially to thank for that. The way Jo talked about the two of you deciding to get married even after everything has, ostensibly, gone to hell in a handbasket? It was nice to hear. It… meant something, [[ He adds, unable to put his finger on anything more concrete than that. ]]

Current appearances? [[ From what she could tell, this place was pretty great. There was a decent spattering of NWRF, but she expected that from colonies in general. It wouldn’t do to take over the world and not have an army to control it. His faith and determination was admirable, if not perhaps a bit fanciful. Not giving up on people was a noble goal, but not one that Rosalind herself could take on for herself. She had given up on people long ago. Individuals could be great, but people as a whole sucked. 

Rosalind is snapped back to reality before her mind can wander too far down the road of past wrongs. The first thing that registered was the word “wife”. She hadn’t heard it in reference to her relationship with Jo in years. Half the time she hadn’t even dared to think the word. To hear it from someone else’s lips was a strange feeling. They hadn’t even been wives for long before...everything. They did get married on a boat AFTER the end of the world, after all.

Tears prickled at the backs of her eyes again. He was just so damn genuine. Who the hell was this guy? People like this were rare enough before they rode a handbasket to hell. Finding one IN hell just felt...wrong. This one must be protected, if only for his own sake. ]] Thank you. It was definitely something else. [[ Rosalind laughed. It felt good. ]] You should have seen her. She looked absolutely ridiculous and more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen in the world. I’m certain that I looked far crazier than she did, though. [[ She laughed again, reveling in the feeling of it.

It was if a weight was slowly lifting off of her chest. She could feel air starting to slip into her lungs again. She had been holding all of these stories, and emotions, and words in for so long. It felt good to say a few things that were important to her, rather than just the usual drivel. ]] We were in the middle of the damn ocean, after the world ended, getting married on a boat. It wasn’t like we had any fancy clothes or a wedding dress on the ship. It was perfect.

draco--pavlovic​:

@rosalind-stein​​

{Draco is pissed. It’s not exactly a rarity to find him in a less than amicable mood, prowling the corridors and grounds of Col22 like a trapped animal - but today is different. Today he’s really pissed. Both at himself, at the entire world, but especially at whoever decided that ‘Reflection Hour’ was a necessary requirement for any level 3s. Adrien had warned him of it, and while Draco had laughed it off at the time (too drunk to really give a shit), he’d been feeling a little trepidation at the concept of being summoned for his first session.

Needless to say, he’d hated every damn second of it. The only thing he’d been even remotely able to ‘reflect’ upon was just how badly he wanted to wipe the grin off the guard keeping watch over their group. All in all it’d been a complete waste of his time (as predicted), and he’d stormed out of the room the moment they’d been given the green light to clear out.

But Draco being Draco, even after the session’s ended and he’s on the other side of the Colony, hasn’t been able to shake his frustrations. So with his blood still boiling he spends the next half an hour sulking and skulking around the grounds, offering anyone who comes too close a scowl and his best ‘fuck off’ expression. Naturally that includes a couple of guys he recognises as being loyalist Reformist suck-ups. Had he even an ounce of self-preservation he would’ve kept his mouth shut — balancing on thin ice with most Reformists as he is — but there’s really nothing Draco enjoys more than telling people where to stick it.

It’s only by the grace of God (or pure dumb luck) that just after Draco’s started calling out an array of colourful insults a fight breaks out a little further down the grounds, leaving him victimless and feeling only marginally better.} Jebi like svoju!

[[ There was nothing to do. It was a rarity for her to be bored, but somehow the feat had been accomplished today. Rosalind looked around and realized that she was further away from the buildings than she had realized. It didn’t particularly matter one way or the other, she was just surprised to see that she had been lost in her mind for so long. 

She had finally learned to juggle her life at 22 for the most part, even if she hadn’t yet discovered the Rebel faction here. It meant they were good at hiding themselves, but it also made it a pain in the ass since no one had yet approached her. Before she left, she was under the impression that she would be contacted on arrival or shortly afterwards. That was months ago.

Distracted by some noises around a corner, she turned to find some sort of scuffle a short way away, and a man yelling at the fighters in a language she didn’t recognize. The scene took a moment to process in her brain, as it was not something you usually happened upon. Less than inclined to interrupt the fight, she stepped towards the man who was undoubtedly cursing at them. ]]

What’s all this about? I don’t know the language, but your meaning was fairly clear. Is something exciting going on? Did I miss a good show?

mitch--douglas​:

I’ll keep that rule in mind, [[ Mitch assures her with a soft smile, and he intends to. It’s both reasonable and fair, allowing others to ask questions but reserving her own right and protecting her boundaries not to answer. It’s hard for him to imagine what happened to Rosalind at her previous colony – partially because 22 seems milder in comparison, and partially because it’s just hard for Mitch to imagine people treating each other in such a way. He’d always been soft, certainly, softer than most, but the extremes to which some people seemed willing to take things like Infection testing would always be beyond him. Mitch didn’t often care about being morally superior, but in this aspect, he would take it.

He reaches out to give her arm a brief, gentle, grounding touch before his hands find the edge of the desk again to settle. ]] You’re very, very welcome. And I mean that in every sense, you’re always welcome to come to me with concerns. And you’re welcome to ask me questions, even if I may also reserve the right not to answer, [[ Mitch adds with the slightest smile. ]]

It’s… always disappointing to hear that things like compassion and concern are such rarities in these times. I know people will do what they must to survive, but there are those who obviously need to learn that doesn’t have to be at the expense of others. [[ This isn’t a direct jab at the NWRF – he doesn’t think. But it doesn’t not apply. ]]

[[ Rosalind smiled at him. It wasn’t a grin, but it was genuine. She could tell that he was doing his best to tread carefully, and she truly appreciated it. This man was good, she could tell. His compassion and patience practically radiated from him. She was pretty sure that it would be suffocating if it were to manifest into something tangible. ]]

[[ She flinched as his fingers brushed her skin. It had nothing to do with him, it was just a reflex. It was unexpected, and she wasn’t accustomed to being touched. She willed her body to relax and gave him a soft wince; hoping he would see that she was apologetic for the reaction. If she was lucky, he might not even comment on it. Thinking it best to direct his attention elsewhere, she continued on the previous comment. ]] I do appreciate it; more than you know. I also want to thank you for something else. I’m glad that this is where Jo wound up. There are some truly good people in 22, and I will forever be grateful to those who have taken care of her.

 [[ She would never be able to express the level of relief she had felt when she’d learned about Jo’s time here. A few tears had escaped her eyes, which Jo wiped away with her thumb. It was practically magic. Everything about Jo was magic. ]] I am equally disappointed in people. The world had a chance to start over, to do better, but it seems the old hierarchies didn’t want a new world. I wish we could just focus on making our world a better place, and helping the Earth heal, rather than... 

ajay-bennett​:.

[ ‘Satisfy some curiosity?’ His expression is indicative of his own curiosity and surprise when he turns around.] Well doesn’t that sound like the opening lines of a mediocre porno, [he drawls, giving the newcomer a once-over. She’s… absurdly hot. Of course, it would be rude and creepy to say so, especially the comment he’s just made, but in his defence, she’d gone and phrased it like that. He’s just the innocent bystander who’d heard it.] 

I don’t know if I know anyone named Ajay—other than the coolest Backstreet Boy, obviously—but I do happen to be Ajay. But, uh—I dunno who told you that and what they meant, but I only hope I can live up to those…. weird… expectations? 

[He folds his arms over his front, turning to face her properly. He has no idea what this is about, but he’s eager to find out. Whatever it is, he has a suspicion it’s sure to be amusing.]

.

[[ Rosalind was certain that the curiosity on his face mirrored her own. She had discovered many ways to get what she wanted over the years. With something seemingly simple, but with risk attached, it generally worked out well if you got them interested with you. An amused smile accompanied a raised eyebrow at his comment. ]] Sorry, I seem to have left your pizza at home.

[[ This was already fun. It seemed likely that this wordplay could continue indefinitely. Good. That was just the way she liked it. It wasn’t often she found someone who could keep up with her dry wit. Now her objective had evolved. Not only was she going to get the information she wanted; she was also going to test the waters more thoroughly with this man than she had initially planned.

There. She had him. His involvement in this interaction was solidified when he turned to fully face her. ]] Well, I suppose I’m in the right place. Though, we all know that Brian was the coolest Backstreet Boy. [[ Poke. Jab. Joke. Test. ]] I’m Rosalind. Y’know, I have always been told that curiosity killed the cat. Did you know that this specific phrase is actually one of the morals that was shortened to suit the intentions of controlling assholes? The full saying is “curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”

[[ It was one of her favorite random facts. She had always specialized in conquering nonsensical arguments with facts and passion. The looks people gave her when they realized that they were saying what she wanted, and not what they intended, was always a glorious sight. Her absolute favorite, though, was “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” The relationships you make for yourself are more binding than the ones inherited at birth. ]] I haven’t been killed yet, but I do have a penchant for accidents.

bodelevybram​:

[Bode just gives her a short nod. Packed off to 16. Interesting way to phrase it. There’s definitely something that she’s not saying on her feelings toward being moved around to a colony. It’s strange that for someone who’s said so much, she’s really shared so little about her own thoughts and feelings. Not that he really cares about what she thinks or how her experiences with getting sent all over the globe were. But she’s definitely chosen some interesting ways to describe things so far. Very neutral. But he wonders if she really feels that way.

He does let out a short chuckle though.] I was going to say, if you really enjoyed such a trip, I’d think this conversation would have to be over, [He says it a little more lightly than he normally would. Just so she knows he’s joking around with her now.] I found my boat ride hellish, and I definitely witnessed enough sea-sickness to fill an entire life time. [He’s honestly still just impressed she managed to make it all the way across the ocean. 

And then she’s asking him about all the languages he speaks and just more questions than he had the energy to really answer. But at least they were talking about a subject he prided himself on: his own intellect. Might as well brag a little if she’s going to talk so much, he decides.] Thank you, it is quite an accomplishment. I speak around eight? [He thinks over the ones he knew. Technically more if he counted all the different types of sign language he’d learned. But he won’t go into that.] Four fluently. I would say I’ve gotten to be pretty fluent in a couple others, but I’ve never taken any sort of test to prove that. [He does commend her for even trying to learn French as a necessity. Some people would have just committed to not speaking to anyone. Or they’d search out only people they could communicate with. Well, he commends her, but doesn’t actually say anything like that. He doesn’t want the comment to sound patronizing, but he also doesn’t need her getting a big head because she learned one new language. 

Another short nod.] No, I understood what you meant by “damage.” [He says. then there’s a wry laugh, more to himself than to her. Because if the Reformists here heard you could force someone to have to spell out their Infections every time you introduced yourself, they’d definitely make that a law. He’s surprised it’s not printed out across their foreheads sometimes.] Sounds like you’re at an AA meeting when you introduce yourself in that way. 

[He almost wants to tell her that she is being nosy and then say nothing else. But then again, she did use the term expertise. And also maybe if he answers her questions, she won’t keep asking them.] I suppose I never really thought of it. I learned Swedish and English at the same time growing up, so I suppose it can fluctuate between those two when I’m thinking. And when I hear others’ thoughts, I think I must hear it in the language they think it in, since around here a lot of those thoughts come through as English–unless of course they’re sending the thoughts over in a different language. [Because he normally got replies in Swedish from Espen. It’s a strange thing to think about. It’s something he’s never really considered. How different languages translate into his head.] This isn’t something I’ve spent much time thinking about, but I have to imagine that they’ll only get it in the language I send it, and vice versa. I don’t believe if I were to hear the thoughts of someone thinking in, say, Japanese that I would understand what they were saying, much like if they were speaking. [This is all very interesting to consider, and he thinks that maybe he’ll look into it more. He was, after all, an Infection trainer. It wouldn’t hurt to know more about the way languages interacted with telepathy.] You have some very interesting thoughts on the Infections, [he says. Not really a compliment, but not something negative. Just sort of… a statement to see what she might say.]

[[ It took until right that moment for Rosalind to realize exactly how prying she was being. Her awkwardness had made her ramble, and her curiosity had gotten the better of her. The man was obviously taciturn, and yet she didn’t seem to be able to just shut up. Trying to salvage the situation, she made an effort to say less while making the same points. She could totally do this. ]]

Ah, well, if you’re fluent in ONLY four of the eight languages you know, I suppose that’s a bit less impressive. [[ The sarcasm dripped from her tongue like molasses. It was practically impossible for anyone to think she was serious. It was slightly intentional, but mostly just the way she was. The intention was to amp it up slightly so that he would know that she wasn’t actually insulting his intelligence or dedication. ]]

I said the same thing, trust me. Actually, I got into trouble once for no reason other than that the present Elite had already heard me mention it at least three other times. I’m honestly still surprised that it took that long for them to say anything about it. [[ It was clear that she was making the tone as lighthearted as possible. It could be useful to have a telepathic Elite as a friend. She was very careful not to think about it, though. There was no way of knowing his range, or whether or not he respected boundaries. Knowing who the telepaths were was practically a necessity. Regardless, she’d learned to mask the majority of her thoughts long ago. It was part of her ‘training’ within the NWRF. ]]

That’s pretty interesting. I figured as much with that. I’m sorry, I had trouble phrasing my thought. I more meant what you think in your own mind. Like, in my head I only have English, unless I need to use the French. Though, sometimes there are specific colloquialisms that are strictly French and don’t translate well enough. Does that make sense?

[[ His last comment pulled up one side of her mouth in an amused smile. ]] I have very interesting thoughts on a lot of things.