theclipper_tlv | (no subject)

[After the Nurse explains the situation, Norton mulls it over for a little while. He'd wanted be a warden, but this wasn't exactly what he had in mind. Still, he can make this work for him, might even come out ahead. It's certainly a far better outcome than he'd been expecting when they'd first been told the Authority was closing in on them. This is the best chance he's had in the last two years to be saved from ever being sent back to his fate in the time loop of forever dying. Because if there's one thing he can do very well, it's act happy no matter what. Once, to save his life, he made himself grin his way through weeks of alien suburbia hell giving cheerful open house tours of modern kitchens and also leading whole families to mass graves. Compared to that, this is child's play. Possibly literally if the décor is anything to go by. A few months of this and he can save himself.

And so he smiles brightly as he appears on the network in the morning for the first time.]

Good morning, my ducklings, it's another bright and shiny day here on our good clipper ship. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Norton. I'm a new Assistant. Isn't that dolly! And I'm so very looking forward to meeting each and every one of you. But for now, let's start the day off with the right spirit.

[And with that he starts singing Accentuate the Positive.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That makes her eyes go wide. ]

He did?

[ Oh, she's doing some figuring now, and it's not that she looks troubled. It's that she's considering what all the information means when its put together. She's a sharp kid, and she's lived with this stuff on the periphery of her life for eleven or so years. ]

Did you accept?

[Norton looks away, down at his hands, his expression pensive.]

I--

No. No, I'm not sure it's a good idea. [He tries to put on a smile.] I don't think Kamurochō is ready for me yet.

[ She watches him for a long time before she speaks. ]

If you don't want it, you don't want it. But if you want him to fight you to come, he won't. He wants you to be happy, even if he misses you. That's how he is.

It's what he did for me.

I know.

Silly man probably thinks my refusal means I think I'd be better off without him, even though nothing could be further from the truth. It's just complicated.

It is. I know how that can be.

So does he.

[ Wry.]

He always thinks that. That he's bad for people.

Silly man. [Norton repeats, fondness in his voice.]

Fortunately, he'll have lots of people around him to tell him otherwise.

Good.

[ She doesn't say anything about being one of them. She... hopes so. She wants to be. Maybe she hadn't said it in long enough. ]

A-anyway, I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I wanted-

I don't even remember why I came over here now.

To enjoy my charming company, I imagine.

Anyhoo, any daughter of Kaz is a something-or-another of mine, so if you need anything just ask. And watch out for some of the newcomers. A few of them are a bit feral.

[ She just smiles. ]

You're family. However that works for you.

And don't worry. I can take care of myself.