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[darkov]

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latest status update 3/6/2018

Comments

[h2no]

That's alright. It's hard to understand and explain other people's behaviors.

--Ah, I found some new books for you. I'll bring them over tomorrow if that's alright?

[darkov]

Yes, that's-- [ah.] I mean...I, I still have books...from Dee-thirty-three I have to read...I forgot.

[h2no]

[record scratch]

--Dee? He gave you books?

[darkov]

Ye-yes. [beat.] O-on the, uh, this. The device, I mean. Sorry. It's on the screen...

[h2no]

N... no, that's fine. Why did... he give you books? What ones?

[darkov]

U-um...they're... [UHHHHHHHHHH....... it's been a while, hang on.] They're like, uh, fair-fairy stories? I think? He said something like that... Made-up stories.

[h2no]

...Huh.

[he's not surprised at the selection, but rather that dee would even share them. it's... nice?]

Well, let me know how you felt about 'em when you get around to readin' them, yeah?

[darkov]

I'll try... I mean. They looked really...big. Long, I mean. Lots of letters.

[h2no]

[oh. he thought dee would've given martin smaller ones.]

That's fair. Do you want help with them?

[darkov]

Ye-yes, please. [no hesitations there.] If that's alright, I mean.

[h2no]

'Course it is. I haven't actually read any fairytales from this world, so it'll all be new to me too.

[darkov]

...Really? [but don't you know like everything about reading.]

[h2no]

[martin.....]

Uh-huh. The culture here is different from my own home, so the fairytales would be too.

[darkov]

Oh...

[file that under: things Martin doesn't really think about, because he doesn't think hard enough about where other people come from.

beat.]

...Is that bad? I mean. To not...have the ones you know?

[h2no]

It was... hard to adjust, at first.

[he raises a shoulder in a shrug.]

I got over it, though. This place is similar enough.

[darkov]

[another soft oh.]

Does...that make it alright, then?

[h2no]

Not really? I just ignored it. I had bigger problems when I was Ported in... oh, almost two years ago, now!

[anyway,]

Do Darkovs have stories like those?

[darkov]

[years is a lot, right? a certain span of seasons. Martin knows he's got at least 12 of his own, but he's got no idea how to count it out. but...a lot, right?

right...]

Um, I...I, I don't really know. I mean--I don't know what these stories are, and...I didn't read much back in Ol-olvoski. [beat.] I wasn't supposed to. N-not many Darkovs are supposed to, I mean. It's not our jobs.

[h2no]

Aha-- you can always make your own up, now you don't have those rules. Did you hear about the Darkov that overcame all the obstacles in his way, despite being in a foreign land, to forge a life for himself?

[sneaky, archie.]

[darkov]

[?? ?? ? ? ?? ? ? ?? ???]

...No? I mean--there's no...stories like that.

[h2no]

Well, no, because I'm making it up right now. Anyway, the main character is called Martin Darkov, and as fairytales are, it's a story about how no matter what people can achieve what they put their mind to.

Especially if it involves knitting and fish-care.

[darkov]

[but. he's not?? a story?

??

...

this feels funny in his chest.

after a beat:] How...how does a story like that end?

[h2no]

Hmm... I think he finds a place enjoying soccer, especially with his friend Rex. He also ends up bringing a load of other people together for big meals, because they like spending time around him and each other and they never would've met if it hadn't been for him.

[darkov]

...

[...]

Um, that... [...] Seems nice, I guess.