[ wash wasn't dead and also is basically why the two of them were dead! it's. a whole thing.
crais has clearly gotten used to things and made a life for himself here, and it doesn't take too much to guess that he might dislike what the city pushes as dominant and submissive, he isn't entirely against the idea in general. the collar isn't exactly subtle. wash has nothing against consenting power exchanges, enjoys it a lot, actually, but the way this city has done it, the way it divides people almost arbitrarily, the way it turns into something that's about class all of sudden. it sure does leave a bad taste in his mouth. ]
You seem to have adjusted just fine, in your fourteen to fifteen months. [ and apparently, no way out -- or maybe nothing to go back to, since crais has talked straightforwardly about being dead. ] The dominant and submissive thing seems hard to ignore around here if you don't like how they do it, though.
[ He has no idea about the details of Felix's death. Ephemera? He has... had that dream and Ephemera identified Washington as the guy in yellow and gray armor.
Not sure of the timelines, though and doesn't mean Washington didn't die later. Not important right now.
He snorts a little.]
The biggest difference between this place and where I came from is I have more freedom here - and it's actually really easy to ignore the city's take on dominance and submission, once you're established and if you write your contract well. [ Write your contract well. ] The far bigger problem is that half the people here don't know what the frell they're doing or don't have any business being designated as they were and dominants having 'relations' with other dominants is... dealt with harshly.
[ wash wrote his contract while he wasn't himself, he doesn't really want to talk about it. but even that different version of himself -- was not too dissimilar to his real self, cautious, overprepared. the contract was thorough, mostly permissive. he nods, what crais' saying makes sense. if you're personally established enough and the terms of your own contract are agreeable, then everything probably won't affect you too badly.
wash does just kind of hate the idea of it in general though. ]
The city really wanting people to fuck but also being incredibly prescriptive about relationships isn't exactly great, especially when the logic behind the designations doesn't really seem to exist. [ from what he understands it almost feels like they flip a coin. wash obviously doesn't think. ] And if people don't know what they're doing . . . I can see how that'd go wrong.
[ while not given to talk about himself, wash is at least clearly happy to talk about why he thinks the city sucks. he is apparently comfortable with his own designation, as much as he can be given his distaste for the system itself. ]
[ Crais is just as comfortable talking about the city and abstract theories as he is dumping personal information or digging for it. In fact, given that he's now getting some feedback instead of simply a... reflection back of what he said, he is more comfortable.
This might actually be the first actual conversation they've had. ]
Dominants have a harder time when the designation doesn't fit the person. [ Still eating the orange, only more methodically now instead of as a thing to do with his hands. ] Most of the issues submissives have with it are with ego and that goes away fair quickly. The City doesn't give a frell what we do or with who, barring active rebellion or failing quota - in which case our Dominant is going down with us. The problems for the Dominants who really don't want to be - or don't want to be all the time - build because there are very few outlets for them. [ That 'no other dominants sex' thing - what he said is definitely related. ]
[ Crais is aware Washington is pretty comfortable - or seems to be. He's certainly comfortable, himself, but he's got a lot of reason for that. ]
[ it is an actual conversation. he will talk to you about things, just not personal things. even more general information about his world he might be willing to converse about. wash is a very guarded man and that hasn't exactly changed, but crais' forthrightness has skipped him past a few things. the kitten also helped.
wash is chafing against the system in general because who wouldn't, especially as a new arrival. there are obvious benefits to being a dominant, access to resources, certain freedoms -- but not others. the restrictiveness on a dominant had also been apparent from the start. in some ways wash might've preferred living in the down, but he's too resourceful to not make use of what he has, is aware that with most of his friends stuck down there, having someone on the other side of things is probably more valuable. other reasons too, more related to his understanding of himself as a person -- ultimately, if he had a choice, he would have chosen to be designated dominant. ]
Fitting, I guess. More power, more freedom, but more responsibilities. [ a sigh. he reaches for sylvester again for more pets and scritches. ] I've not exactly ended up with the best of contracts, either.
There's only so much you can do to protect yourself with a contract. [ He isn't going to directly talk about Felix, because Crais will talk about himself forever, but he won't expose people he cares about. ] The way the city is set up won't allow you to use the contract to divorce yourself from responsibility for the actions of your submissive. Meaning all that has to exist to turn the entire city into a weapon against you is for them to be willing to take damage themselves.
[ Meaning, yeah, you are in a world of hurt there, buddy, if you aren't damn careful. He's met Felix. ]
Fortunately unless you made the contract permanent it will expire and allow a... smarter choice.
I'm aware. [ carolina might not see it his way and thinks felix is the yapping little dog to ephemera's more credible threat, but to wash felix is without question the bigger danger. and now he's got him on a leash. kind of. he's very, very cognizant of the situation it puts him in. ] It's not permanent, and I'll handle it.
[ wash will not talk about himself and will prefer not to talk about others if possible, and he reaaaally doesn't want to talk about how the contract with him and felix had happened. felix won't remember it at all when he returns, and when even when he does start to remember it'll be vague and unclear, almost dreamlike, judging by how everyone else has been. wash, on the other hand, has the wonderful privilege of remembering everything absolutely perfectly. he'd taken so long to reach out to anyone after felix's death because he'd just been struggling to process, and he's -- still not entirely there. probably won't be for a while. but he still does have a very, very well-practiced poker face. ]
[ the poker face is great. It also makes Crais frustrated as fuck. Unlike previous points, where he was remarkably apathetic about it. This time it's a little bit personal. ]
I wasn't speaking specifically to your situation, in spite of the word you. I was still discussing the problem with the designations within the city and for dominants as a whole. If I was trying to discuss your contract in particular, you wouldn't have been who I was concerned for.
[ a pause, and he seems to deflate just a little. he's been incredibly on guard this whole time, but he's just been very, very, very on edge about felix and the contract -- that they'd really only spoken about it over text had been an advantage. ]
Fair. It's just kind of what's on my mind.
[ he's gonna try and give sylvester some nice scritches because while the kitty is here he might as well distract himself a little, too. ]
When I get the chance to actually negotiate a contract, I'll keep all that in mind.
You really barely know me. But I take that that doesn't matter that much for you -- or for Sylvester.
[ the cat doesn't seem to care either as long as there's nice pets involves. he continues gently scritching sylvester behind one ear, gentle and fond. ]
Do most people need to know someone well to like them?
[ Maybe they do. What the frell does he know. Humans continually confuse him. Liking people is a novelty for him though, and he's been wallowing in it for a year with no intention of stopping. ]
So would I. You could take me out without breaking a sweat.
[ which is not entirely accurate, but look, wash is an incredibly paranoid man. more cautious than most around anyone he doesn't know, and still careful around those he does. he makes a low sound, slightly amused. ]
Not much of a fighter?
[ people who don't look like fighters could still totally kick his ass, okay. ]
Nothing that some resourcefulness couldn't overcome.
[ yes he's basically a space marine supersoldier but he was the buttmonkey of the space marine supersoldiers. not as strong, not as fast. he kept up through other means, adaptability, resourcefulness, wits, sheer force of will, but importantly learned to make good use of being underestimated. and in that same vein, is careful about underestimating anyone. ]
A scenario wherein my response is to punch you, is inherently separate from a scenario where I need to do 'something'.
[ Look. He. He is aware it doesn't superficially make much sense but that's neither here nor there, just at this moment. Because he's an asshole -- sort of. ]
I know my way around the armor. I also have more resources for equipment than most of the submissives here. If I needed to do 'something' both of those would be useful.
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crais has clearly gotten used to things and made a life for himself here, and it doesn't take too much to guess that he might dislike what the city pushes as dominant and submissive, he isn't entirely against the idea in general. the collar isn't exactly subtle. wash has nothing against consenting power exchanges, enjoys it a lot, actually, but the way this city has done it, the way it divides people almost arbitrarily, the way it turns into something that's about class all of sudden. it sure does leave a bad taste in his mouth. ]
You seem to have adjusted just fine, in your fourteen to fifteen months. [ and apparently, no way out -- or maybe nothing to go back to, since crais has talked straightforwardly about being dead. ] The dominant and submissive thing seems hard to ignore around here if you don't like how they do it, though.
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Not sure of the timelines, though and doesn't mean Washington didn't die later. Not important right now.
He snorts a little.]
The biggest difference between this place and where I came from is I have more freedom here - and it's actually really easy to ignore the city's take on dominance and submission, once you're established and if you write your contract well. [ Write your contract well. ] The far bigger problem is that half the people here don't know what the frell they're doing or don't have any business being designated as they were and dominants having 'relations' with other dominants is... dealt with harshly.
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wash does just kind of hate the idea of it in general though. ]
The city really wanting people to fuck but also being incredibly prescriptive about relationships isn't exactly great, especially when the logic behind the designations doesn't really seem to exist. [ from what he understands it almost feels like they flip a coin. wash obviously doesn't think. ] And if people don't know what they're doing . . . I can see how that'd go wrong.
[ while not given to talk about himself, wash is at least clearly happy to talk about why he thinks the city sucks. he is apparently comfortable with his own designation, as much as he can be given his distaste for the system itself. ]
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This might actually be the first actual conversation they've had. ]
Dominants have a harder time when the designation doesn't fit the person. [ Still eating the orange, only more methodically now instead of as a thing to do with his hands. ] Most of the issues submissives have with it are with ego and that goes away fair quickly. The City doesn't give a frell what we do or with who, barring active rebellion or failing quota - in which case our Dominant is going down with us. The problems for the Dominants who really don't want to be - or don't want to be all the time - build because there are very few outlets for them. [ That 'no other dominants sex' thing - what he said is definitely related. ]
[ Crais is aware Washington is pretty comfortable - or seems to be. He's certainly comfortable, himself, but he's got a lot of reason for that. ]
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wash is chafing against the system in general because who wouldn't, especially as a new arrival. there are obvious benefits to being a dominant, access to resources, certain freedoms -- but not others. the restrictiveness on a dominant had also been apparent from the start. in some ways wash might've preferred living in the down, but he's too resourceful to not make use of what he has, is aware that with most of his friends stuck down there, having someone on the other side of things is probably more valuable. other reasons too, more related to his understanding of himself as a person -- ultimately, if he had a choice, he would have chosen to be designated dominant. ]
Fitting, I guess. More power, more freedom, but more responsibilities. [ a sigh. he reaches for sylvester again for more pets and scritches. ] I've not exactly ended up with the best of contracts, either.
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[ Meaning, yeah, you are in a world of hurt there, buddy, if you aren't damn careful. He's met Felix. ]
Fortunately unless you made the contract permanent it will expire and allow a... smarter choice.
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[ wash will not talk about himself and will prefer not to talk about others if possible, and he reaaaally doesn't want to talk about how the contract with him and felix had happened. felix won't remember it at all when he returns, and when even when he does start to remember it'll be vague and unclear, almost dreamlike, judging by how everyone else has been. wash, on the other hand, has the wonderful privilege of remembering everything absolutely perfectly. he'd taken so long to reach out to anyone after felix's death because he'd just been struggling to process, and he's -- still not entirely there. probably won't be for a while. but he still does have a very, very well-practiced poker face. ]
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I wasn't speaking specifically to your situation, in spite of the word you. I was still discussing the problem with the designations within the city and for dominants as a whole. If I was trying to discuss your contract in particular, you wouldn't have been who I was concerned for.
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Fair. It's just kind of what's on my mind.
[ he's gonna try and give sylvester some nice scritches because while the kitty is here he might as well distract himself a little, too. ]
When I get the chance to actually negotiate a contract, I'll keep all that in mind.
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I think he likes you. So do I, ironically. I'm not promising I won't punch you in the face at some point, but I like you.
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[ the cat doesn't seem to care either as long as there's nice pets involves. he continues gently scritching sylvester behind one ear, gentle and fond. ]
I would rather avoid the face punching, though.
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[ Maybe they do. What the frell does he know. Humans continually confuse him. Liking people is a novelty for him though, and he's been wallowing in it for a year with no intention of stopping. ]
So would I. You could take me out without breaking a sweat.
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[ which is not entirely accurate, but look, wash is an incredibly paranoid man. more cautious than most around anyone he doesn't know, and still careful around those he does. he makes a low sound, slightly amused. ]
Not much of a fighter?
[ people who don't look like fighters could still totally kick his ass, okay. ]
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...Look, it's complicated.
Meanwhile the relative simplicity of that answer and concept behind it confuses him enough for it to reflect clearly on his face.
That face sticks through the rest because: ]
I am a perfectly competent fighter, even by military standards. You have six inches, deep paranoia and presumably armor on me. I'm not stupid.
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[ yes he's basically a space marine supersoldier but he was the buttmonkey of the space marine supersoldiers. not as strong, not as fast. he kept up through other means, adaptability, resourcefulness, wits, sheer force of will, but importantly learned to make good use of being underestimated. and in that same vein, is careful about underestimating anyone. ]
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[ He can plot and plan. He can punch someone in the face. they don't actually go together with him. ]
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[ threat assessments are friendly for wash. kind of. ]
Besides, you know your way around the armor pretty well, don't you?
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[ Look. He. He is aware it doesn't superficially make much sense but that's neither here nor there, just at this moment. Because he's an asshole -- sort of. ]
I know my way around the armor. I also have more resources for equipment than most of the submissives here. If I needed to do 'something' both of those would be useful.