Tyler Tian Huang | 黄泰勒田 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
asmywitness) wrote2020-03-03 05:40 pm
asmywitness) wrote2020-03-03 05:40 pm
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[[Tyler screens his calls - anyone who tries to actually call him, he'll text back in reply.]]
You never know when someone's going to try and offer you help when you don't want it; at least if Tyler's there Solus is less likely to be bothered by a well-meaning stranger.
Though Solus's callout makes Tyler huff quietly in self-deprecating amusement, he still stands up at the same time. He still doesn't want to touch the man, so he's glad when he can stand unassisted. If it comes to it, probably he'll just get Isis or Teller to carry the man back to the barracks or something.
You're welcome.
Though Solus's callout makes Tyler huff quietly in self-deprecating amusement, he still stands up at the same time. He still doesn't want to touch the man, so he's glad when he can stand unassisted. If it comes to it, probably he'll just get Isis or Teller to carry the man back to the barracks or something.
You're welcome.
"Of course he wouldn't," Steven says automatically as they continue downward. "You were a stranger. Even if he had some idea of you being my best friend, it's not always so easy with strangers to take off the small-m mask. And, well, you sort of... I mean, you don't always exude the air of being the most welcoming person ever? As far as his title... hell, I don't know. Could have been both. According to his friend that I talked to, he's a real rat bastard."
There's an odd note in his voice. Steven's not entirely used to people who aren't him using fond insults as a form of affection, the way Gil had. (It wasn't exactly a socially acceptable thing, in his experience, at least not in most normal American circles. Gil was also Australian, so maybe...)
"Is that an Australian thing?" he asks suddenly. "Talking shit affectionately? Maybe it was just a thing with him."
There's an odd note in his voice. Steven's not entirely used to people who aren't him using fond insults as a form of affection, the way Gil had. (It wasn't exactly a socially acceptable thing, in his experience, at least not in most normal American circles. Gil was also Australian, so maybe...)
"Is that an Australian thing?" he asks suddenly. "Talking shit affectionately? Maybe it was just a thing with him."
He opened his conversation with me by telling me you warned him about not pissing me off, he says, with a raised eyebrow glance back at Steven. So, you know. Not exactly setting me up for success there.
Tyler doesn't catch that note in Steven's voice at all; tonal nuance still escapes him, as well as he's otherwise doing with working on listening. And he's not fully paying attention, with his eyes on EVA and one hand on the railing, or he'd put more thought into the 'rat bastard' comment.
Because really, older Steven is.
Oh, yeah, it's a whole thing with measurable scales. 'Rat bastard' is pretty high affection, if they mean it as a compliment.
Tyler doesn't catch that note in Steven's voice at all; tonal nuance still escapes him, as well as he's otherwise doing with working on listening. And he's not fully paying attention, with his eyes on EVA and one hand on the railing, or he'd put more thought into the 'rat bastard' comment.
Because really, older Steven is.
Oh, yeah, it's a whole thing with measurable scales. 'Rat bastard' is pretty high affection, if they mean it as a compliment.
"I think it was? I mean, he was definitely fond of my future self. They were fucking as a friends with benefits thing, kind of like how you and Lydia started off, and I get the impression they'd been through some shit together. I'd asked him about, you know, what I was like, because even though Jack had said I should avoid learning about that shit, I was curious. I mean, you saw that fucking Autumn's Mantle on him. I've seen heavier, but those were on monarchs and high-rankers... I didn't even have a light Winter's Mantle before I came here--and you'd have thought I'd have had something with how long I spent closeted."
He automatically lowers his voice for the next question, assuming that Isis will be able to relay it even so.
"So. Uh. Where on the scale does 'murderous fucking cunt' fall?"
He says the word like he's not entirely sure he's allowed to say it. And given how easily and fluently he swears around Tyler, that's definitely notable.
He automatically lowers his voice for the next question, assuming that Isis will be able to relay it even so.
"So. Uh. Where on the scale does 'murderous fucking cunt' fall?"
He says the word like he's not entirely sure he's allowed to say it. And given how easily and fluently he swears around Tyler, that's definitely notable.
Mostly he just lets Steven's words wash over him. When his volume lowers there's a pique of curiosity from Isis at the change, which gets his attention again - just in time to hear Steven say that.
And he can't stop an ugly snort at how precious Steven sounds saying it. He pauses to look back at Steven again with a broad grin.
Oh yeah. They're friends. I'd hazard best friends.
And he can't stop an ugly snort at how precious Steven sounds saying it. He pauses to look back at Steven again with a broad grin.
Oh yeah. They're friends. I'd hazard best friends.
Steven grins back, looking slightly embarrassed. "Yeah. That's the vibe I got off them too. Um. If you ever want to, you know, do the Australian friend thing at me. You're definitely allowed to. It's-- weirdly nice. And, uh, if I'm allowed to do it back--?"
Tyler immediately cringes, but it's clearly in humour. I really hope you don't think blowjobs are a national symbol of friendship from Aussies.
Isis only projects the word - not that Tyler knows the correct pronunciation. He turns away again, watching the ground as he hops off the final step.
I get where you're coming from, but I'm not going to call you a cunt just because it makes you feel more like your ideal self. Because that's definitely how you framed that, it wasn't subtle. He looks back and signs at Steven again. I also don't like them as much. I have enough trouble with tone as is without you cursing at me.
Isis only projects the word - not that Tyler knows the correct pronunciation. He turns away again, watching the ground as he hops off the final step.
I get where you're coming from, but I'm not going to call you a cunt just because it makes you feel more like your ideal self. Because that's definitely how you framed that, it wasn't subtle. He looks back and signs at Steven again. I also don't like them as much. I have enough trouble with tone as is without you cursing at me.
"I wasn't just asking because of that," Steven says, his face heating up. "I mean, okay, it does, but also-- maybe I'd like to be able to get away with doing the same thing? I mean, it's really not an American thing, as you might have guessed, but it's sort of a me thing. I just know better than to say them out loud most of the time, because people would think I meant them in a non-affectionate way. But there's a reason I call my boyfriend an 'egotist' all the time in private."
But then he sighs. "But. Yeah, no, I get why it wouldn't work for you. It's got a lot to do with tone of voice, doesn't it, and I know that doesn't carry over to text and probably not sign either."
But then he sighs. "But. Yeah, no, I get why it wouldn't work for you. It's got a lot to do with tone of voice, doesn't it, and I know that doesn't carry over to text and probably not sign either."
It's also something of a... He hesitates for a moment, before he spells out, cultural clash? It's not a thing you really ask for, it's just a thing that happens when an Australian adopts you. Like name signs.
He makes a face, but only a minor one. You know I'm not a standard Aussie by any means, and I'm going to be even less of one if I'm the only one around, because we know we're weird and I have to explain enough about my life as is. It's not a go at you.
He makes a face, but only a minor one. You know I'm not a standard Aussie by any means, and I'm going to be even less of one if I'm the only one around, because we know we're weird and I have to explain enough about my life as is. It's not a go at you.
"Right," Steven says, still a touch awkward. "No, no, I get it. I didn't mean to make it a big thing or anything. I just. I don't know. I thought it was nice when he did it, that's all. Even if it was about my future self and not this me. It was— just nice to know that some people do that. I guess. Fuck, I'm saying this all wrong."
After a moment he adds, "And it doesn't mean I liked my future self's best friend more than I like you. Because I don't. He was a cool guy, but you're my person and he wasn't yet." He frowns. "That sounded weirdly possessive, didn't it."
After a moment he adds, "And it doesn't mean I liked my future self's best friend more than I like you. Because I don't. He was a cool guy, but you're my person and he wasn't yet." He frowns. "That sounded weirdly possessive, didn't it."
Tyler huffs and grins lightly. It did. But it was a better flavour of it than usual.
Teller moves past him, Mesmer sitting on his shoulders now, and opens the door. So which way is your office? Tyler adds, walking into the main building.
Teller moves past him, Mesmer sitting on his shoulders now, and opens the door. So which way is your office? Tyler adds, walking into the main building.
"Down the hall a bit, there's a big glass window for the whole newsroom and mine's one of the ones on the other side of the big main room," Steven says. "And, uh, technically it's not my office, it's one that I share. Most of us do unless we've got a lot of seniority, which I don't yet. But it's only with one person? There's a a cubical wall down the middle. I've got the side by the window. It stopped fucking with my officemate's equipment after the first day, so it knows the difference between us."
There's a large arc of electricity overhead as EVA goes from a light bulb to the mainlines again, and Tyler trots after the sparking wires towards Steven's desk with Teller and Mesmer in tow.
He seriously hopes EVA doesn't make anything explode, he thinks probably a little bit too late as the lightning arcs across the floor and up to Steven's computer.
He seriously hopes EVA doesn't make anything explode, he thinks probably a little bit too late as the lightning arcs across the floor and up to Steven's computer.
[Usually Lydia sleeps like an absolute rock other than clinging to Tyler or being pressed up against him in some fashion. But, uh, it's not the best of signs when she's not being completely still in the damn middle of the night. A lot of wriggling, maybe a kick or two, but given she has mostly no strength to speak of it's nothing major.
Until after a whole bunch of that mess she actually jolts out of her sleep to sit up and is quite glad that he can't hear that startled yelp.
Right. Rightrightright, she's here. This is fine.
It's absolutely fine to just pull her knees to her chest and wrap her arms around them for some semblance of calm. Fuck.]
Until after a whole bunch of that mess she actually jolts out of her sleep to sit up and is quite glad that he can't hear that startled yelp.
Right. Rightrightright, she's here. This is fine.
It's absolutely fine to just pull her knees to her chest and wrap her arms around them for some semblance of calm. Fuck.]
[Unfortunately for her, Tyler is an extremely light sleeper. So he doesn't hear her yelp, but he sure as hell notices when the warmth against him suddenly jerks upright, and he's already pushed himself up onto his elbow on pure instinct before he even fully registers why.
And... he wasn't expecting it to be from Lydia.
Isis is still asleep in that jester's hat he found, which tinkles faintly as she shifts and peeps quietly, but apart from a quick glance Tyler ignores it in favour of pushing himself into a proper sitting position, and his hand hovers awkwardly for a moment before he rests it gently on Lydia's back.
And... he wasn't expecting it to be from Lydia.
Isis is still asleep in that jester's hat he found, which tinkles faintly as she shifts and peeps quietly, but apart from a quick glance Tyler ignores it in favour of pushing himself into a proper sitting position, and his hand hovers awkwardly for a moment before he rests it gently on Lydia's back.
[Extremely unfortunate for her. She doesn't notice his movement at the very least, focusing more on trying to calm herself down and find some sort of center. This is absolutely fine, she's safe here. There's no reason to be acting like this.
She's closing her eyes tightly, taking a deep and shaky breath before that hand is on her back and she near jumps out of her skin at the contact. The first instinct to move away but not finding the actual effort to do so. But the jump is obvious enough and her pulling away even more so.
With another shaky breath she's shifting again to bury her face in her knees. Perhaps not the best of moments.]
She's closing her eyes tightly, taking a deep and shaky breath before that hand is on her back and she near jumps out of her skin at the contact. The first instinct to move away but not finding the actual effort to do so. But the jump is obvious enough and her pulling away even more so.
With another shaky breath she's shifting again to bury her face in her knees. Perhaps not the best of moments.]
[As soon as Lydia jumps he yanks his hand away in a sharp flinch of his own, and immediately curses himself. Idiot, if she's freaking out of course she won't want touch.
He immediately pushes himself away fully, and in fact clambers off the bed completely to go to their wardrobe. He's very insistent about hanging things up so he knows exactly where one of her fluffy robes is, so he can bring it back and drape it gently in front of her, so she knows it's there and has something to comfort her that's not him.
He's not leaving he just doesn't know what to do.]
He immediately pushes himself away fully, and in fact clambers off the bed completely to go to their wardrobe. He's very insistent about hanging things up so he knows exactly where one of her fluffy robes is, so he can bring it back and drape it gently in front of her, so she knows it's there and has something to comfort her that's not him.
He's not leaving he just doesn't know what to do.]
[If she noticed him moving, she's not indicating it. And, really, she's too focused in her own mind to notice much of anything. Her senses aren't anywhere near as strong as they would be anywhere but here, reduced to levels that still irritate her when it comes up.
Shifting a brief moment she catches the sight of the fluffy robe set in front of her and quickly takes it and wriggles around to curl up in it. Deep breaths, right. Right.
Okay.
There's nothing that should be setting this off here, it was... just a dream she'd rather not relive again, one of the rare times she does have anything resembling a dream.
Finally she looks up again, to look for him. And the briefest of signs.]
Sorry.
Shifting a brief moment she catches the sight of the fluffy robe set in front of her and quickly takes it and wriggles around to curl up in it. Deep breaths, right. Right.
Okay.
There's nothing that should be setting this off here, it was... just a dream she'd rather not relive again, one of the rare times she does have anything resembling a dream.
Finally she looks up again, to look for him. And the briefest of signs.]
Sorry.
It's an odd feeling, this entire situation is odd to start, but to find comfort in the presence of someone he does not regard as a friend, let alone ally. Though, he supposes it has been some time since he's had more than mere enemies, so this is just as well. It does take him a moment to start walking, first turning to head off, but stopping a moment to squeeze his eyes shut. His hand rising to rub at his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
Perhaps he stood too quickly. Perhaps standing at all after such an emotional ride, while being decently inebriated, was a mistake. Regardless, after a moment or two, he lowers his hand, shakes his head, and presses on. There isn't much to say as they walk, not that it'd be easy to regardless seeing as signing while walking certainly seems like a waste of time.
Idly, he wonders Tyler's thoughts regarding him over such a display. After what he told him, but his mind is easily enough sidetracked from such pondering. Particularly when he has to focus on things like walking and balance. Both of which he's doing fairly well with, despite his state of being. Regardless, it's rather easy to let one's mind wander.
He just looks utterly distracted as they walk and tired. The usual heavy slouch to his walk seems worse somehow. It probably is.
Perhaps he stood too quickly. Perhaps standing at all after such an emotional ride, while being decently inebriated, was a mistake. Regardless, after a moment or two, he lowers his hand, shakes his head, and presses on. There isn't much to say as they walk, not that it'd be easy to regardless seeing as signing while walking certainly seems like a waste of time.
Idly, he wonders Tyler's thoughts regarding him over such a display. After what he told him, but his mind is easily enough sidetracked from such pondering. Particularly when he has to focus on things like walking and balance. Both of which he's doing fairly well with, despite his state of being. Regardless, it's rather easy to let one's mind wander.
He just looks utterly distracted as they walk and tired. The usual heavy slouch to his walk seems worse somehow. It probably is.
[He hasn't moved from standing beside her, but when she acknowledges him he signs back first--]
It's alright.
[--before he sits in front of her on the bed. Close enough that she can reach out if she does want the touch, but far enough that he's not immediately doing so.]
Nightmare?
It's alright.
[--before he sits in front of her on the bed. Close enough that she can reach out if she does want the touch, but far enough that he's not immediately doing so.]
Nightmare?
[It's appreciated, the little thoughts there. She's not too keen on contact right now, given everything, but she doesn't seem to have a problem with him sitting in front of her at least.]
To... say the very least. [She pauses for a moment in her words, chewing on her lower lip as she debates what else to say.]
It's something that happened a long time ago, I didn't think it'd pop up again.
To... say the very least. [She pauses for a moment in her words, chewing on her lower lip as she debates what else to say.]
It's something that happened a long time ago, I didn't think it'd pop up again.
Is... do you want to talk about it?
[That's the thing they're trying to do, right? Actually talk about their shit?]
It's fine if you don't, I just. Figured I should ask.
[That's the thing they're trying to do, right? Actually talk about their shit?]
It's fine if you don't, I just. Figured I should ask.
IN PERSON - a couple weeks after the Fourth Wall, let's say
uber_marionettist
2020-07-20 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Dirk's got his own lab now, so he sees Tyler somewhat less than he used to.
That's fine; one of the reasons he likes Tyler is that he doesn't feel the need to stop and chat every time they're in the same room. It's also fine because it makes the whole time period between his beheading and actually seeing the guy less tense, because it's not some kind of immediate showdown Dirk has to anticipate.
Not that he's expecting one, but if he were.
What actually happens is he has to leave his lab to pick up some experimental piece of circuitry in a lab that happens to contain Tyler Huang, which means he walks along the peripheral wall opposite him until he finds what he's looking for, spending a few seconds unhooking the ribbon cable from where it's plugged in before saying anything. He doesn't bother to turn around when he talks.
"Nice work with that beheading. I mean, it could have been better. Three whacks is kind of a lot to make me suffer through. That's two more than the norm for me. The hands-free element was pretty cool, though."
That's fine; one of the reasons he likes Tyler is that he doesn't feel the need to stop and chat every time they're in the same room. It's also fine because it makes the whole time period between his beheading and actually seeing the guy less tense, because it's not some kind of immediate showdown Dirk has to anticipate.
Not that he's expecting one, but if he were.
What actually happens is he has to leave his lab to pick up some experimental piece of circuitry in a lab that happens to contain Tyler Huang, which means he walks along the peripheral wall opposite him until he finds what he's looking for, spending a few seconds unhooking the ribbon cable from where it's plugged in before saying anything. He doesn't bother to turn around when he talks.
"Nice work with that beheading. I mean, it could have been better. Three whacks is kind of a lot to make me suffer through. That's two more than the norm for me. The hands-free element was pretty cool, though."
Edited 2020-07-20 07:13 (UTC)
Tyler does glance up when he sees Dirk come in, but apart from putting a hand over Isis briefly to calm her back down after she puffs up like a particularly righteous piece of dyed popcorn, he's fine to let the other man do whatever he wants. He's got no stakes in Dirk's opinion, and if he was worried about the opinion that might have formed after his whole trick - which he's not - then he can say in full confidence that Dirk brought it on himself in its entirety.
What he's not expecting is for Dirk to actually speak to him, and his hands audibly pause over the keyboard he's at for a moment, as he glances back at Dirk.
Hope you don't mind the words being ejected into your head like a delayed sub track, Dirk, because Isis doesn't want to but she's doing it anyway. She's a good girl.
I'm not going to deny the rules of three their due. I already did Fate dirty by calling on it to hide my entire existence through a shitty riddle.
What he's not expecting is for Dirk to actually speak to him, and his hands audibly pause over the keyboard he's at for a moment, as he glances back at Dirk.
Hope you don't mind the words being ejected into your head like a delayed sub track, Dirk, because Isis doesn't want to but she's doing it anyway. She's a good girl.
I'm not going to deny the rules of three their due. I already did Fate dirty by calling on it to hide my entire existence through a shitty riddle.
[Actually talking about their shit like normal people, yeah. Though she hadn't really thought this shit was remotely relevant since her past is dumb and doesn't mean much in this particular time period.]
You really want to know? In hindsight it's... kind of dumb. Especially with how I've been acting here anyway.
You really want to know? In hindsight it's... kind of dumb. Especially with how I've been acting here anyway.
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