Voice Test

[lifeban]

[look i am absolute dogshit at coming up with prompts for these and when i do we end up doing something totally different, SO

take your pick

and/or just ask for ridiculous texting

or propose something]

Comments

[lifeban]

[this time it's the older man who speaks up.]

"He's right, March. It's up to Dan Heng to share, if he wants to."

[she deflates.]

It's not like last time.

[eggstinction]

[swishes his tail in front of himself, placing a low knee-high barrier between himself and the girl. a subtle "now back off."

...and if the sweep of his tail includes dan heng in its protective arch, well. he has a long tail okay.]

[lifeban]

[this is a lot for a guy.

speaking of not knowing dragon manners, Dan Heng does know better, technically, than to do what he next does. which is flop the tip of his own tail over Moon's to lower the barrier slightly and lean out to pat March's head. without leaving that defensive space.]

Sorry for the surprise.

[eggstinction]

…

[moon twists the tip of his tail around dan heng’s, joining them together for a second, then drops his tail to curl it behind their legs]

[lifeban]

[flushing at that twist of tails, but letting him disengage.]

Let's eat.

[stepping away from the whole mess of people to drag over two armchairs. not gonna make Moon join the booth crush, nor leave him alone on the other side of the table.]

[eggstinction]

Thank you.

[takes his seat, tail tip-tapping happily underneath the chair, and gives him a small warm smile. no manners this time, just genuine appreciation.]

[lifeban]

[cute...

everyone settles down pretty well after that. March still gives Moon the occasional stink-eye, but a nudge from the Trailblazer quells that a bit. the table lapses into various domestic chitchat, and everyone but Dan Heng and Himeko avoid the coffee as subtly as they can.]

[eggstinction]

[considers how the Trailblazer threw their coffee into the plant… sticks to heavily salted water.

moon happily makes small talk if he’s engaged but he’s not volunteering that he’s a real actual dragon or anything about how he got on board. figure it out or suffer the awkwardness of asking, y’all.]

Might I ask, if you know, what is the nearest— what do you call them? Black hole?

[lifeban]

[Dan Heng drinks his coffee without flinching, but that doesn't mean it's trustworthy. No one is bluntly asking about Moon... mostly because they're used to how little Dan Heng likes sharing things about himself, and Moon seems very wrapped up in that. The black hole question gets the older man-- Welt, he introduced himself as-- to pause.]

"We can check easily enough... why?"

[eggstinction]

Mm, well, they're useful landmarks, aren't they?

[i'm lost and i want to know whose neighborhood i'm in]

[lifeban]

I'll show you in the databank.

[aka his bedroom.]

[eggstinction]

Oh, yes! You had that big map on the wall. Thank you.

[lifeban]

It's no problem. The databank is one of my duties.

[eggstinction]

You are a researcher, then?

[lifeban]

Not primarily. My job title is technically bodyguard.

[eggstinction]

Oh, really? For whom?

[looks at the table, one of these guys??]

[lifeban]

[gestures at the train around them.

the redhead cuts in, tone amused.]

"For the Nameless in general. Any who ride the Express. He wouldn't accept our offer to join our journey without a job to do."

[eggstinction]

That is quite a charge to take on.

[probably! moon doesn’t know, but he trills a laugh. it’s charming to insist on earning his keep! and it’s amusing to wonder if that puts him under Dan Heng’s charge as a threat or as a client]

[lifeban]

You're telling me. This lot loves trouble.

[that's accepted with overall amusement around the table]

[eggstinction]

And it is a position with job security! How nice.

[lifeban]

[blinks like he has never once considered job security a good thing]

[eggstinction]

Such a face! Is it not? Would you rather they sit quiet and let you retire?

[lifeban]

They would never.

[dryly, which sets off laughs around the table.]

...Come. I'll show you the data bank.

[eggstinction]

By all means.

[a polite bow to the Conductor and another to the table at large before he stands up to follow Dan Heng]

Thank you for sharing your breakfast with me.

[lifeban]

[moon and dan heng get some waves as they retreat. BACK THROUGH A DOOR how does moon shift vibes, dan heng is watching this time.]