sirenspull_logs | Note to Self:

Entry tags:

Note to Self:

Who:

blondandperfect,

makeflowersgrow,

mouthbreathing,

petalpluck
When: Nov 1st, Morning, noon and evening.
Where: Ehvenn Household
Summary: Checklist: Give Eponine a hard time, Make Warsman a man, and get Garry to cook dinner. Let's see what happens.
Warnings: Will update as necessary.

"Mnnghh.." Hattie awoke, bleary eyed, at 7:05 am. She didn't even party that hard the evening before. Perhaps her body was just tired because it was almost time to head down to the gym and the weather was getting colder.

Needless to say, she wasn't very fond of the cold. After washing up, she headed downstairs to look at her notes she placed upon the fridge with a magnet. It looks like it's going to be another busy day..

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The flush is pretty endearing- it softens her authority a little. Warsman gives a quiet, affectionate little laugh, shaking his head a little. "I'll take your word for it. It's an option, anyway." He can certainly imagine that she had no problem 'making herself heard', with the pair of lungs she has on her. He's just glad that they've never been put to use in his direction.

But anyway.

He considers her orders, head still caught in a half-cock. He's thinking now. "I could say it again- but I'm a very different person in the ring to who I am outside of it. I'm not sure I'd want to be 'The Warsman' or 'The Fighting Computer' every day. I'm not sure anyone else would want it either."

"An option, sure.." Hattie doesn't seem convinced, but doesn't completely dismiss it. Warsman wouldn't have been the first to change Hattie's levels of tolerance for things she'd normally scoff at.

But back to him, is when she wags a finger, "That is true, however it is clear that 'The Warsman' is source that would do you good to tap from. For example, 'The Warsman' seems all right with revealing his fact, and yet you are not. And why is that? You don't have anything to be shy about, and yet you seem convinced that you do. I have an idea."

Hattie steps off to the side, and pushes a wheeled item, covered in red and orange cloth over toward her 'student'. He may or may not have an idea what it is until it's too late, in which she pulls the cloth away to reveal the tall mirror beneath it.

"This, right here, will be your punching bag. Only you, you know, punch it.." Hattie finishes her sentence with a breath of mysticism, "With words."

The truth is, Warsman's had his guard lowered by their exchange. He doesn't think to question what the tall object she's wheeling over is, and it's only when the cloth drops and he finds himself staring at his own warped anatomy that he realises just what she's put in front of him.

It takes a moment- and in that moment he doesn't even hear Hattie's voice at all- but then he catches the single dull eye of own reflection and he's recoiling instinctively on the couch, hands clapping to his face and knees jerking up as if in some parody of an escape, caught in a panic he only wishes were blind.

"N-no, wait, cover it back up!" he manages raggedly, but the fear is already seizing control of his voice and it comes out jerkily, frantically. What if she caught sight of him before he could cover himself? What if she saw what he's been trying so painstakingly hard to cover the whole time he's been here? It's not that he thinks Hattie is necessarily shallow, but- but he's monstrous. Uncanny. He wouldn't wish the sight of his face on anyone, much less someone he'd like to be able to look him in the eyes again afterwards. "Don't look at me! Please-!"

".. Warsman? Warsman, helloooo?"

Naturally Hattie's perplexed by the reaction the follows, making her step back a little in surprise. That was pretty much the completely opposite reaction she was expecting from him and... Well, if that's his reaction to looking at his reflection, Warsman was in a lot worse shape than she had expected.

Wow. She couldn't even comprehend that.

"Warsman! It's all right, settle down! I'm covering it up, I'm covering the mirror, see?" she quickly scrambles to place the cloths back over the offending reflection, not seeming to have noticed it herself with her focus upon the brawler. "There!"

So the next thing.. Should she apologize? She'd better, just in case, ".. Erm, sorry. Does that always happen?"

He's turned so wholly inward for a moment that at first seems that Hattie's voice is coming from somewhere far away rather than simply from across the room. Every muscle in his body is tensed as if pinned by the indecision, undecided as to whether he should fight or flee- and even when Warsman hears the tell-tale swish of cloth being replaced he only barely begins to relax, feet slowly meeting the floor again and uncurling his torso.

His hands are the last things he lowers, first peering between his fingers to make sure that the mirror has been covered. With each unsteady breath his shoulders rise and fall, trying to establish a rhythm he could call soothing.

"... n-no... it's just today... I don't know what's going on, but mirrors..." he says eventually, even if his voice tails off. Warsman curls his hands into fists in his lap, staring fixedly down at them so he doesn't have to face the shame of meeting Hattie's eyes. She was to the side of the mirror so she might not have noticed, but- but he has to ask. He has to know. "... did you see anything?"

It's rather disturbing for Hattie, she really did not expect his reaction. If it were someone she wasn't on good terms with, she would probably be on the floor laughing from such an absurdly dramatic display. She raises a brow in response to his question, but she actually doesn't say anything for about thirty seconds.

Eventually she replies, "Well I saw you freaking out, if that's what you mean. So it was something you saw in the mirror you don't normally see?" That sounds familiar for some reason. She crosses her arms, trying to look tough because curiosity is getting the better of her.

"Well, Warsman, I think it's about time you opened up to me since it seems like you're still hiding something. Tell me what you saw."

The silence could mean anything. Warsman doesn't lift his head, too anxious to try and check her expression. He's been badly thrown enough that he's not sure if he trusts himself to read anything but disgust into it, even if that's the most likely response.

... or not. She didn't see anything.

There's another pause- and then he gives a deep, heartfelt sigh. He doesn't look up yet but he does unclench his hands, clasping loosely at his knees instead for the comfort of having something to hold. "Thank god." It's all he can muster for the moment. She has questions, of course- who wouldn't after that?- but he needs to collect himself.

Finally he dares himself to look back at Hattie. She seems confused more than anything, and things could be a lot worse.

"It's... it's just today. Whenever I look a reflective surface, I see my skeleton. No skin, no armor." It's not the whole story by a long shot, but it's a place to start- particularly when the 'whole story' is such a sensitive matter. "I don't understand why, but..."

Confused is about right, and she's determined to get some answers. Hattie really still doesn't quite 'get' what Warsman really is, so when he explains what he sees, she automatically assumes he sees a human skeleton. This all goes back to him mentioning he was a robot and her being unable to grasp the concept and assuming it was an idiom.

"Oh, well.. That is rather disturbing.. But come on, Warsman, is it really that bad? We all have a skeleton underneath, it's shocking, sure but.. I mean, well.." How can she say this without coming off as insensitive. "Don't you think your reaction was a bit... Much, for having seen it more than once?"

Oh well. Points for effort?

Again, Warsman gives no immediate answer. She'd be right, in a way- he's already seen himself more than once today- if she had the motives the right way around.

Approaching the matter slowly... that seems like the best tactic, if for his own sake rather than Hattie's. "It's not that simple. Because I'm part robot, my body, it's- it's different." 'Different' is certainly one way to put it, but he doesn't want to get hysterical or melodramatic. His voice is low and grave, surprisingly steady in spite of his hesitation, and finally he rounds on his admission. "I didn't need to hide it from myself. I needed to hide it from you."

".. I see."

Protip: She doesn't see.

She just can't fathom what robot parts inside a body would look like, especially with Warsman acting so human. She would guess he has robotic arms maybe. But then why would he hide his face? Bah, too difficult!

"Well I'll have you know I do not scare easily!" Protip: That's a lie. "The only things I need to be protected from are monsters, wolves, thieves, and dragons, really. Regardless, perhaps it's best you sit down for a moment, after all. Would you like some wine? It's good for calming nerves."

Warsman can only believe that in part. Men and monsters may not frighten her, but- but what about something in between? Isn't that what makes it so horrific? Being caught between the two? Grown men froze at the sight of his face, champions, people known for slaying monsters large enough to level cities; how can he trust Hattie's word in the face of experience?

He doesn't say any of this, though. Instead, he gives a disconsolate sigh and puts a hand to his forehead. "Please." Then he looks up, a little braver. "Actually... if you have anything stronger, I'd appreciate it. Vodka, maybe?" Not that he usually starts so early in the day, if at all, but his nerves are more than a little rattled at this point.

Frankly, Hattie just doesn't know any better. So perhaps Warsman is right in being doubtful in whatever it is she's saying.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do, I'll be right back." she says, quickly leaving the office, then returning about five minutes later with a bottle that isn't even opened. "It's for mixing drinks, but.. Well, it turns out I'm not very good at it," she confesses with a weak laugh.

"Well, I suppose today may not be a good day for training after all. Actually, I saw something in the mirror when I was putting on my make-up this morning." Hattie notes, "I didn't really know what it was, though, so I ignored it."

His shoulders sink with a relief a little as Hattie reappears with the bottle, but Warsman is sure to square them again almost immediately afterwards in case she thinks badly of him for it. As it happens he'd gladly take the bottle as it is and drink it straight from the neck, but he's spent enough time with Robin to wait for a glass- or permission to do just that, at the very least.

He manages a half-hearted laugh of his own and a little small talk, too. "Thank you- and that's fine. I wouldn't expect you to mix me anything. Still, maybe if you get a little practise you can try a screwdriver some time."

Hearing that she'd seen something in her mirror, too, though... it came as a small relief. He'd seen a couple of people mention it on the network, but to actually meet someone in person with a similar experience was another thing entirely. "Then it isn't just me? Thank goodness." He tilts his head at her, earnest. "I'm glad whatever it was didn't frighten you, too."

Hattie doesn't seem to think anything negative; a man's got to have his booze! In fact, it's a bit of relief for the blonde! And while she may often be a stickler for manners, in this case she would like to see him drink from the bottle.

"Oh I'm not going to use it, just help yourself," she says. As for the suggestion, she shakes her head, "Oh no, no I don't do that anymore, I'll just hire someone else to do it."

She moves to sit by his side, and he quite easily dwarfs her even in a sitting position! "I suppose it didn't, but maybe if I didn't have so many things on my mind it'd be another story. It was certainly an annoyance that's for sure, a lady has to look good after all! And I wouldn't trust Eponine to do it." the last part said with a very light snort of annoyance. "So yes, less mixing drinks and more shopping. What do you tend to do on your free time anyway, Warsman? Are you the type that wanders around searching for a good fight outside of the ring?"

Edited 2012-11-27 23:15 (UTC)

Permission granted. Warsman nods gratefully and twists the top open with a soft crack; the heady alcoholic smell is soothing- there's nothing else to it, too, which says a lot for Hattie's taste, even if she never tried it herself. Effortlessly, as if lifting a can rather than a full bottle, he lifts it and places the glass mouth to where his own mouth lies beneath his mask to take a much-needed gulp. If she's looking closely enough Hattie might spot the red split where the black metal opens through the bottle.

Lowering the bottle, he can't help but wince a little at her mention of Eponine. It seems wiser to circle the matter, though.

"Not outside of training or helping people. I try to avoid violence if I can. Aside from that, though..." He taps a finger thoughtfully on the bottle neck. "I read a lot. I play the balalaika. I don't really have a lot of free time, but I'm trying to catch up on films." It all sounds so small and petty- but then, small is what he likes. Small is peaceful. A pause. "About Eponine... she really did try when she met me at the door."

Oh she's paying very close attention, nosey thing she is, but she was expecting the mask to be lifted so she could get a hint at what he was hiding from her. So that split just ends up being a disappointment. You're a cheater, Warsman. A damned cheater!

Aside from that, she seems understanding of his words, "I see, I don't really know what a balalaika is, nor am I much of a film buff. But from what you're telling me, I'm not getting the feeling you were ever a very social person.. Is this true?"

She raises a hand to her chin. "I think I'm starting to understand.. I suspect you are insecure because your being a half-robot makes you feel like an outsider. Is that it?"

Oh, yes, as for Eponine.. She raises a hand to her forehead, "Fine. I'll leave it at that with her. I just wish things would be a little easier."

Edited 2012-11-28 23:55 (UTC)

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Note to Self:

Thank you for being so understanding! ♥

That's why I make the big bucks! .. Or something.

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