tampered | (open)

(open)

When: 19th
Rating: TBC
Characters: You!
Summary: A shindig at the beach for the best navigator in Starfleet.
Log:

[ OOC: Feel free to assume your character has received an invite to the party via their inbox or word of mouth for Chekov's birthday! Everyone is welcome ~~except you, Khan~~ and presents are mandatory for the Enterprise's young navigator. Please tag under either section to keep the party somewhat ordered, and have fun! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yin's expression is unsettlingly blank. That isn't too surprising, given their location. Pavel files this away as a curiosity and forcibly maintains a small, agreeable smile.]

I know Pai, as well as her brother. A friend of theirs is mine, as well.

[Ah ha. Ha. He means it; he also knows that there's a chance that any mutual friend of theirs is a remorseless killer. It takes all sorts.]

[Friends? Yin remains silent, her expression never wavers as she considers this. She is part of Hei's team. They're partners, and Pai is his sister, but friends?]

[He wonder if this might be a sign that she's not interested in being friends. Just in case:]

Or not. Being friends is not necessary, if you would prefer not to be.

I have no preference against it.

[She's just not used to friends, and - at least she shouldn't have - has no preference for them.]

Pai and her brother seem to have no preference most of the time, either. Are you from the same world? Maybe everyone there has no preference for or against friends.

[He doesn't expect real answers out of Yin, especially if she is from the same world. Still, it's banter, and as long as he's amusing himself without making her want to kill him, it's a good conversation.]

Yes. [While she's less communicative than Hei, she's at least more honest, in her own way, and is incapable of avoiding a conversation. Chekov will get, at least, some answers.]

Some have preferences.

Ah. From what I have heard, it sounds like a difficult world.

[If anything, Yin's limited answers are only making him more curious. At least she doesn't act like she'll kill him if he pushes too far (unlike some assassins he could name).]

But you do not. Would you tell me if you disliked my company?

[There's no remark to their world being difficult. It is what it is, to her. However, she has an answer for his question.]

I'm incapable of disliking your company. But if asked, yes.

I am not so charming that it's impossible to dislike me.

[The initial teasing turns back into seriousness. He doesn't fully understand the perimeters in which Yin functions yet.]

Why are you incapable of disliking things?

I'm not supposed to feel like or dislike.

[She can't reassure Chekov that, in fact, he's so nice it would be hard to dislike him. And as for her feelings, Yin doesn't know him yet, anyway.]

Yes, okay, but are you capable of feeling these things? There is a difference between not being able and not being allowed.

I wasn't.

That's changed.

How?

I don't know. [She says solemnly, eyes studying the ground; they've been mostly lidded and lowered the entire conversation, they might seem lower.]

[This is strange and, for a brief instant, Chekov doesn't know what to say. He gets over it quickly.]

Should you find yourself capable of feeling dislike for me, I hope that you will please express it so that I may act accordingly.

[Something she can do.]

I will. [But for now, she remains unaffected.]

Thank you.

[It's a very cordial exchange. Chekov falls silent, returning to his thoughts. Yin's presence doesn't bother him; she's welcome to stay until something more exciting presents itself.]

[Nothing does, and she remains there, silently. She's not even drinking or eating. Just sitting there, watching him.]

[Several long, silent minutes pass. Chekov, usually incapable of sitting still for any great length of time without fidgeting, remains still, contemplating the bonfire. Eventually, though, he glances at her again, surprised to find her looking at him.

Curiously, almost sadly:] What are you?

[It's such a straight forward question. One she's not used to having to answer, or explain. She answers it with the same empty tone as everything else thus far.]

A Doll.

[He's not sure what he was expecting. Contractor, maybe (although she seems almost sad and, from what Chekov can guess, that isn't something common among Contractors), or some other kind of damaged child-soldier from a world without stars. Doll doesn't tell him much of anything.]

What does this mean?

Dolls only follow orders, and do not feel. They are passive and do as commanded.

[However, this is Doll is careful to leave out her ability to use an observer spirit.]

But you are different.

[He has no interest in her abilities, really. What he's concerned about is the notion that a being with freewill is being controlled in some way, her own desires and motivations suppressed.]

[She nods.]

Things have changed. [Even if she will never be the human girl she once was.]

[He's silent for a long moment.]

Can you experience happiness?

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