[the last voyages] ic inbox

[onlyhearmusic]

[a lyrical hum cuts in, almost as if someone didn't know what they were doing]

"Leave yer message."

[oh. no, he knew. he just didn't care. the beep comes after another brief humming stops.]

Comments

2/2

[onlyhearmusic]

[After another brief, thoughtful pause:]

A typewriter of my own ta keep in my room. Not something like this device, but a good ol' fashioned machine from me own time. Got a big, sturdy desk might as well put something useful on it. And everything ta go with it ta keep it runnin' smoothly fer a while. No tellin' how long I'll be stuck here.

Nice and easy, like I said, aye?

[It was innocent enough, he thought, to ask for. Silly, but a start to...something. Playing nice, perhaps. Pretending to be reasonable and agreeable. Getting things he wanted, even if it meant doing it by means he loathed. Baby steps to opening up.]

[zichen]

[Even "tools" can be guides if said "tool" retains his free will. Zichen isn't a puppet this time; he isn't confined by the will of a madman. Dennis can think what he likes for now. They haven't even begun the healing process for him yet.]

Yes, I do. [His low voice is calm and he waits patiently, a dark brow rising when he is presented with an interesting request. He approves of it immediately because it isn't dangerous. So Dennis likes to write?]

That's a fair request. I will do my best. [There is nothing silly about it. Zichen likes that the request allows him to see one of Dennis's hobbies.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[Collins has never written anything in his life, but he enjoys reading and he's bored out of his mind here. He'll give it a try. (Spoiler: his room is about to be full of trash as he frustratingly finds nothing acceptable and throws it all away.)]

Good fer you. Don't want anything ta do with you otherwise.

[Or in other words, he's "hanging up" the line now.]

[zichen]

[Not long later, a typewriter - with all of the parts Dennis will need to repair/keep it running - will appear either at his door or in his cabin. Surprise! Zichen thought about adding a note to it, but instead refrains. He just hopes the present is enjoyed.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[It will at least keep him busy for a while. After the Port.

Several hours later after they do know about the Port arrival, Collins messages Zichen again. His voice sounds caught somewhere between excited and impatient. He clearly hates asking but its necessary.]

We're not going to sit on this God forsaken ship tha whole time we're here, are we? [He huffs.] Get me off this ship, let me have some peace fer a while.

[zichen]

If you want to explore, just ask. [And since Dennis does, Zichen nods with a small smile.] I'm leaving to explore; there is no reason you should stay behind. Just remember not to hurt anyone or yourself. If you encounter trouble, call me.

[There won't be any punishments if Dennis is the one being attacked. Zichen is quite protective of his inmate.]

[onlyhearmusic]

Good lad. You'd regret leavin' me here. [Yes, that was a threat. No, he doesn't care if it offends. He already thinks Zichen is a sucker that can be manipulated without much care. His excitement for getting off this boat is much more obvious now.] I'll do me best ta stay out of trouble.

[It wasn't a lie since he would rather not be caught. Of course, he was used to being good at discretion out in the cities where people were a dime a dozen and no one would know him from another stranger. Ah, well. Only one way to find out how things worked off the ship and that was to get off the ship and then learn the good old fashioned way.]