Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[therealbrianna]

[ Yay approval~ ]

I'm thinking it can be something like a last resort or something. But yeah, I don't really like being in close combat anyway.

[ Plus capitalizing on guns means spending more time with you, Daddystair. <3 ]

[mordechai]

[Lifting an eyebrow at, then shrugging.]

I would've thought that someone who calls herself Hikaru's daughter would be into that sort of thing.

[Tala had taken to it like a fish to water.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Hey! >:( she feels challenged. But nope, thinking better of that... ]

Even if I'm Hikaru's daughter, I still value my life. Besides, strategically, it's good to have someone who's ranged in the blade. Kinda protect their backs, that kind of thing.

[ That's how Brig put it, right? ]

[mordechai]

Fair enough.

[Okay, good. She didn't call him out on how he deliberately referred to her as just Hikaru's daughter. He does like to think of them as separate entities these days, and it's done him a surprising amount of good.

Mostly.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Ehehehe.

Softly and mischievously: ]

Now I can be like Daddystair.

[mordechai]

[...Well, okay, she went there after all.

Have a Look.]

You're not my daughter. You know that, right?

[therealbrianna]

[ What's that, Brianna? You value your life? Why aren't you running away yet? ]

Yeah, I know. I just call you that sometimes. Can't blame me though, Tala calls you that all the time. It kinda just rubs off on me.

[ Trying to worm her way out of this. ]

[mordechai]

Right.

[Color this one Unconvinced.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Hmph.

Softly, under her breath: ]

I can see why he likes you.

[ Actually, she can. Alistair is... A good person? Maybe not to Brianna yet but he definitely is good to Hikaru. Even... Good for Hikaru? ]

[mordechai]

[Catching that. Not saying anything for a while.

Now he's moving to comandeer his own slot beside yours at the range. He doesn't look pissed? He actually looks... well, he looks about as pensive as someone like him can.

It may also be because he's fixing his gun first. Yeah, that's definitely it.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Oho?

Watching him closely. Cause, y'know. To get some pointers and tips.

Yep. ]

[mordechai]

[Well, his form is pretty damned perfect. Might also be because he gets even better at what he does when he's studiously trying to NOT think about something. But you don't have to know that.

Dishing out an entire round at the target before he's stepping back and setting the gun away.]

Stepping out for another cigarette.

[Normally, that is followed by him either telling Brianna that she can join him, or that she needs to stay in and keep practicing. This time, though, that's all he says as he moves off.]

[therealbrianna]

[ ...oopsies. :(

She runs off after him partly because she felt guilty, but partly because she wants to check on Alistair. ]

[mordechai]

[You'll find him back at the spot that the two of you were earlier, lighting up a cigarette.

...And apparently rather focused on that, then later on the people moving around in the distance, the streets.

No words, all over again.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Welp.

Walking up to him and poking him on the shoulder with eyes that say "You okay? ]

[mordechai]

What?

[He knows that look, but he's purposefully ignoring it. It's not like she asked out loud, right?]

[therealbrianna]

[ She directs her gaze to the floor. ]

I'm sorry....

[mordechai]

[Considering her a moment, then shrugging, taking another drag.]

Don't be.

[Quiet, but truthful. He's not just saying it to get her off of his back.]

[therealbrianna]

Okay, if you say so!

[ Looking at him now. ]

Why so tense though?

[mordechai]

You just reminded me of something, that's all.

[Vague on purpose, because he does try to keep his mind away from. Well. That.

He's resolved to carry on like this. He'll stick to it, because it's good for them both.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Not about to let that go, especially since Alistair just referred directly to Brianna. ]

Like what?

[mordechai]

A simple truth.

[You'd know, by now, that he isn't normally this indirect, that he only ever gets like that when he either can't put it into words or it has to do with himself.]

I'll be fine.

[therealbrianna]

Oh? Like what truth?

[ This one doesn't understand vague, yo. ]

[ "I'll be fine? REALLY?" ] You also remind me of something. Or well, someone.

[mordechai]

[He knows who you're talking about.]

He picked that up from me, I think.

[Yeah, let's focus on that, not the whole truth thing just yet.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Not that she doesn't already know that. While it interests her, she's a bit selfish okay. She wants to know what she reminds Alistair of.

Girl has GOT to know. ]

Yeah, I figured. So what truth do I remind you of?