Water's Folly: 081. How?
Title: Methodical Persuasion
Claim: Water's Folly: general
Prompt: 081. How?
Word Count: 1173
Summary: [2 of 3] But how to do it? Women aren't allowed out on the surface, and there's no way that any of them would help her get anywhere near the training academy. ...It's time to turn a different way.
Author's Notes: Desuya = desert planet, still. X3 Boys on Desuya enter a specialised training school near their 18th birthday to prepare them for graduating to the world of men and beginning to go aboveground on scavenging hunts. This school is very intense training and lasts for a year, and is only for men.
Celphrine had never thought she’d one day be talking civilly with Devin Brihàyne. They were friends, sure, but in the loosest form of the term-she only liked him as long as she was drunk. Inside Lu’uz? She was fine-she loved the guy, really, he made for endless amusement, and a damn good dance partner when Asuka was elsewhere.
But as a person? She couldn’t stand the man. He was too obnoxious, too arrogant… not to mention he drove her up the wall with his incessant flirting-especially when he was flirting with Bre just as much as he did her (though the redhead never seemed to notice this).
Bastard.
“Never thought we’d be doing this sort of thing,” noted Dev, folding his arms and arching an eyebrow at her. “You wanted to see me?”
Cel mirrored his pose, pausing a moment to tuck black hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to let you know-I’m joining your squad.”
There was a moment of silence, and then Dev began to laugh. “Who put you up to this?” he wanted to know, dabbing at the corners of his eyes before his ka’a could smear. “Was it Rhy?”
Cel scowled. “Watch it, Dev, or you’ll find yourself suddenly having a very cold night,” she threatened. “I'm serious. I’m sneaking in.”
Dev sobered rather quickly. “Are you insane?” he wanted to know. “A death wish, huh? What is it, you’re ready to die on us all and wanna see the suns once before you go?”
She wasn’t going to rise to his bait. “The law is wrong,” she said flatly. “I’m going to learn it-I’m going to do this, and if you even try to tell me not to-”
“Who said anything about trying to tell you not to?” Dev broke in.
Cel could only blink at him. “So… you’re not going to try and convince me to stay below?”
“Nope.”
…it was a trick. There was something more to it. “…why?” Cel asked.
“I value my balls,” responded Dev with a grin. And then he added, “Besides. I figure if I try, you’ll go somewhere else and keep trying until you resort to stealing one of Bre’s uniforms, and then we’ll all be in it-‘specially him, if they find out whose you stole. ‘Least this way I can sabotage you in your attempts…”
“You do that,” scowled Cel, “and you’ll still be in it.”
Another grin, a bit uneasy this time. “Yeah, but worse for me if Az finds out I helped you and didn’t try to keep you grounded.”
Cel frowned to herself-it really sucked, having Az for a brother. That temper of his, not to mention his fighting prowess (he’d won the town-wide tournament for the past three years…), meant that most of the men would be wary about crossing him in certain situations. Like this one. Which meant that she was pretty much screwed when it came to trying to get into the training academy.
Siiiiiiiiiigh.
“Well, how about this for incentive, then?” she suggested, nabbing another idea mid-flight. “You don’t help me and I’ll tell Az you put me up to going above.”
“That’s just low,” whined Dev, folding his arms… before grinning at her. “I like it.”
…what? He was amused by that threat? She would never understand this guy!
“So, what all do you need?”
…she wasn’t about to question it, though. She’d keep those thoughts to herself, thanks much, and she’d just milk this for what it was worth now. “Your mom works for records, right? I want one of the entrance forms.”
“And how are you expecting to sneak in a form for a person that doesn’t exist?” pointed out Dev. “Somehow, I think they’ll notice.”
“Not if the name’s close enough,” Cel reminded him. “Choose a girl most people don’t know, change the name up a bit, and look-I’ve got a guy.” She knew of a couple girls that were working for one of the guilds outside of the main part of town-no-one knew them. It’d work!
Dev raised an eyebrow, letting out a low whistle. “You’ve actually thought this through, haven’t you?”
“You seem to think I’m incapable of doing so,” deadpanned Cel. “Yes, I’ve thought this through. I’ve got it all handled.”
“Except for, y’know, actually getting your hands on the most important parts of this ruse.”
“I’m talking to you, aren’t I? I want three of the training uniforms, as well. That’s the standard issue, isn’t it?”
“…yeah.” He shook his head, running a hand through his hair.
Cel couldn’t help but feel slightly pleased with herself, despite the small stab of guilt nagging at her. This was definitely being terrible; blackmailing was not something she’d usually resort to… but this time?
Whatever worked, right?
“Thanks, Dev. And don’t tell anyone about it-‘cause honestly? We’ll both be in it if they find out, even if you are planning on stopping me.”
Dev just smirked back at her. “And is that supposed to stop me?”
“So, where’re you gonna leave the uniforms?” Cel shot, matching his smirk.
“How about above? I’ll send ‘em up with Az.”
“I thought you valued your balls?”
“Exactly why I’ll send them up with him.”
“Oh, you and I both know you’re gonna help. You’ve already agreed, haven’t you?”
“Maybe,” allowed Dev. “Come back here tomorrow, then.”
Score. “Will do,” Cel nodded. “I’ll be back mid-afternoon.”
She turned to go then, but before she could take a step, Dev had moved into her path, taking a step forward and forcing her back-her shoulder touched the wall. “Don’t get any ideas, though,” he told her, a wily smirk crossing his face. “You still owe me, you know-and I’ll expect to collect on that at some point.”
Cel wasn’t bothered. She smirked back, head lilting to one side and down, just enough so she could look up at him through her eyelashes. “You’ll get what’s coming.” Be it a knife to the gut or not.
“Oh, I know that,” agreed Dev amiably. “I’m just wondering how you’re gonna pay.”
“That~, I think, is best saved for later,” Cel decided, ducking his arm easily and starting back towards the town. But a couple of steps later-just before she entered one of the smaller passages that would lead back to the town-she stopped, turning to look at him and hook her thumbs into her pockets. “Don’t worry,” she told him, finally serious. “I don’t forget what I owe people.”
If he actually helped her? Then yeah. Yeah, she’d pay him back. And if not?
Well, he already knew what the consequences of that would be.
- - -
She wasn’t sure to expect. What did the men learn in that period of training? No-one had ever told her anything about it-she had no idea what was going to happen.
But when the proctor barked out “Ajorète, Kio!”, she was ready, darting forward and responding with a brusque “Yes, sir!”
She was going to do this. There was no doubt in her mind.
[part three being written.]
Claim: Water's Folly: general
Prompt: 081. How?
Word Count: 1173
Summary: [2 of 3] But how to do it? Women aren't allowed out on the surface, and there's no way that any of them would help her get anywhere near the training academy. ...It's time to turn a different way.
Author's Notes: Desuya = desert planet, still. X3 Boys on Desuya enter a specialised training school near their 18th birthday to prepare them for graduating to the world of men and beginning to go aboveground on scavenging hunts. This school is very intense training and lasts for a year, and is only for men.
Celphrine had never thought she’d one day be talking civilly with Devin Brihàyne. They were friends, sure, but in the loosest form of the term-she only liked him as long as she was drunk. Inside Lu’uz? She was fine-she loved the guy, really, he made for endless amusement, and a damn good dance partner when Asuka was elsewhere.
But as a person? She couldn’t stand the man. He was too obnoxious, too arrogant… not to mention he drove her up the wall with his incessant flirting-especially when he was flirting with Bre just as much as he did her (though the redhead never seemed to notice this).
Bastard.
“Never thought we’d be doing this sort of thing,” noted Dev, folding his arms and arching an eyebrow at her. “You wanted to see me?”
Cel mirrored his pose, pausing a moment to tuck black hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to let you know-I’m joining your squad.”
There was a moment of silence, and then Dev began to laugh. “Who put you up to this?” he wanted to know, dabbing at the corners of his eyes before his ka’a could smear. “Was it Rhy?”
Cel scowled. “Watch it, Dev, or you’ll find yourself suddenly having a very cold night,” she threatened. “I'm serious. I’m sneaking in.”
Dev sobered rather quickly. “Are you insane?” he wanted to know. “A death wish, huh? What is it, you’re ready to die on us all and wanna see the suns once before you go?”
She wasn’t going to rise to his bait. “The law is wrong,” she said flatly. “I’m going to learn it-I’m going to do this, and if you even try to tell me not to-”
“Who said anything about trying to tell you not to?” Dev broke in.
Cel could only blink at him. “So… you’re not going to try and convince me to stay below?”
“Nope.”
…it was a trick. There was something more to it. “…why?” Cel asked.
“I value my balls,” responded Dev with a grin. And then he added, “Besides. I figure if I try, you’ll go somewhere else and keep trying until you resort to stealing one of Bre’s uniforms, and then we’ll all be in it-‘specially him, if they find out whose you stole. ‘Least this way I can sabotage you in your attempts…”
“You do that,” scowled Cel, “and you’ll still be in it.”
Another grin, a bit uneasy this time. “Yeah, but worse for me if Az finds out I helped you and didn’t try to keep you grounded.”
Cel frowned to herself-it really sucked, having Az for a brother. That temper of his, not to mention his fighting prowess (he’d won the town-wide tournament for the past three years…), meant that most of the men would be wary about crossing him in certain situations. Like this one. Which meant that she was pretty much screwed when it came to trying to get into the training academy.
Siiiiiiiiiigh.
“Well, how about this for incentive, then?” she suggested, nabbing another idea mid-flight. “You don’t help me and I’ll tell Az you put me up to going above.”
“That’s just low,” whined Dev, folding his arms… before grinning at her. “I like it.”
…what? He was amused by that threat? She would never understand this guy!
“So, what all do you need?”
…she wasn’t about to question it, though. She’d keep those thoughts to herself, thanks much, and she’d just milk this for what it was worth now. “Your mom works for records, right? I want one of the entrance forms.”
“And how are you expecting to sneak in a form for a person that doesn’t exist?” pointed out Dev. “Somehow, I think they’ll notice.”
“Not if the name’s close enough,” Cel reminded him. “Choose a girl most people don’t know, change the name up a bit, and look-I’ve got a guy.” She knew of a couple girls that were working for one of the guilds outside of the main part of town-no-one knew them. It’d work!
Dev raised an eyebrow, letting out a low whistle. “You’ve actually thought this through, haven’t you?”
“You seem to think I’m incapable of doing so,” deadpanned Cel. “Yes, I’ve thought this through. I’ve got it all handled.”
“Except for, y’know, actually getting your hands on the most important parts of this ruse.”
“I’m talking to you, aren’t I? I want three of the training uniforms, as well. That’s the standard issue, isn’t it?”
“…yeah.” He shook his head, running a hand through his hair.
Cel couldn’t help but feel slightly pleased with herself, despite the small stab of guilt nagging at her. This was definitely being terrible; blackmailing was not something she’d usually resort to… but this time?
Whatever worked, right?
“Thanks, Dev. And don’t tell anyone about it-‘cause honestly? We’ll both be in it if they find out, even if you are planning on stopping me.”
Dev just smirked back at her. “And is that supposed to stop me?”
“So, where’re you gonna leave the uniforms?” Cel shot, matching his smirk.
“How about above? I’ll send ‘em up with Az.”
“I thought you valued your balls?”
“Exactly why I’ll send them up with him.”
“Oh, you and I both know you’re gonna help. You’ve already agreed, haven’t you?”
“Maybe,” allowed Dev. “Come back here tomorrow, then.”
Score. “Will do,” Cel nodded. “I’ll be back mid-afternoon.”
She turned to go then, but before she could take a step, Dev had moved into her path, taking a step forward and forcing her back-her shoulder touched the wall. “Don’t get any ideas, though,” he told her, a wily smirk crossing his face. “You still owe me, you know-and I’ll expect to collect on that at some point.”
Cel wasn’t bothered. She smirked back, head lilting to one side and down, just enough so she could look up at him through her eyelashes. “You’ll get what’s coming.” Be it a knife to the gut or not.
“Oh, I know that,” agreed Dev amiably. “I’m just wondering how you’re gonna pay.”
“That~, I think, is best saved for later,” Cel decided, ducking his arm easily and starting back towards the town. But a couple of steps later-just before she entered one of the smaller passages that would lead back to the town-she stopped, turning to look at him and hook her thumbs into her pockets. “Don’t worry,” she told him, finally serious. “I don’t forget what I owe people.”
If he actually helped her? Then yeah. Yeah, she’d pay him back. And if not?
Well, he already knew what the consequences of that would be.
- - -
She wasn’t sure to expect. What did the men learn in that period of training? No-one had ever told her anything about it-she had no idea what was going to happen.
But when the proctor barked out “Ajorète, Kio!”, she was ready, darting forward and responding with a brusque “Yes, sir!”
She was going to do this. There was no doubt in her mind.
[part three being written.]