02 / Video.

[heavyhanded]

[ The interior of a Mac apartment! And Jaime is slumped in a chair, holding what looks like a... solid gold wine bottle, and not looking pleased. ]

I've heard talk of "superpowers" among the imPorts. Perhaps I've found mine. If this is meant to be a blessing, then the gods here play japes just as cruel as the ones I've known in Westeros. [ A wry smile, and he tilts the bottle upside down. Nothing pours out. ] Why, I'd barely even started this bottle.

The banks here will take my coinage gladly enough, do you think they'll take my drink, as well?

[ He peers into the bottle, sighs, and tosses it away with a heavy clunk. ]

It was poor wine, anyway.

Comments

[gofortheoptics]

I don't think there's much of a way to tell, honestly.

[She shrugs.]

It doesn't matter much, anyway. We'll just go with 'future' for now.

[heavyhanded]

[ Well, if she's not going to care, he definitely isn't. And what timing for not caring! Their yellow carriage has delivered them unto a pawn shop. The driver's paid (the last of his paper money, but if this works out like it should, then what does he care?), and Jaime steps onto the sidewalk to eye it skeptically. ]

Delivered safely to my destination, no less intact than I was when I began the journey. Well done.

[gofortheoptics]

[She snorts.]

Just be glad you didn't end up on a space ship.

[Here's hoping the pawn shop is at least reputable enough to take the gold items for a good profit on Jaime's part. She heads toward the front door.]

[heavyhanded]

I count my blessings, even now. [ Even if he has no idea what a space ship is, whateverwhatever.

He heads in after her, glances around briefly, and heads to the counter. And to save us things that no one wants to play out, after some skepticism and many close examinations, Jaime finds himself much richer than he'd been when he'd walked in. The paper money had come in stacks, wrapped in still more paper, and he tosses one of those wordlessly at Tali on the way back to the door. ]

[gofortheoptics]

[She can safely say that wasn't what she was expecting, but she tucks it into her jacket.]

See? There are definitely worse powers to have.

[Or at least ... less profitable ones.]

[heavyhanded]

[ Glancing over, sounding so very doubtful: ]

Like what?

[ his wine is still gone ]

[gofortheoptics]

Being a giant magnet? I don't know.

[She shrugs.]

Being human wasn't exactly a cake walk at first.

[Walking was hard and her hands and feet were weird and she had to change her clothes regularly -- it was just all around bizarre. And then there'd been her first sunburn ... Keelah, that had been unpleasant.]

[heavyhanded]

[ wtf is a "cake walk", Tali. wtf. BUT WHATEVER he can context-ify this shit. ]

I find it easy enough. You're certain you aren't just slow?

[gofortheoptics]

[ ... :| ]

Yes, I'm sure I'm not just slow!

[He's got her flustered now, not that it's all that difficult to do.]

I'm not slow in the least. I graduated at the top of my classes.

[heavyhanded]

[ This right here? Is the most disbelieving look he owns. ]

Well, I suppose as it's rude to name a lady a liar...

[gofortheoptics]

It's rude to name anyone a liar, unless you've got a good reason.

[She shoots him a sharper look.]

And I don't think you're in any position to judge how good I am at my job.

[heavyhanded]

And why is that? I seem to be doing my job rather well so far. At least, I've seen no slain kings about, so I can only conclude I'm doing something right.

[gofortheoptics]

Some of us are entrusted with something a little more complicated than making sure archaic rulers don't rise from the dead.

[Seriously, Jaime.]

[heavyhanded]

[ pfft. ] I keep them alive. It's considerably more difficult, if three dead kings is aught to go by. But what is your task, if you're so lusty with the need to tell me about it?

[gofortheoptics]

Here, or at home?

[Because indeed, those two things are not quite the same.]

[heavyhanded]

[ PATRONIZING SMILE ]

Whichever you think is more impressive.

[gofortheoptics]

I work for a world-class researcher in this world.

In my own, I'm an Admiral.

[He's got to know what that is, right? Ranks reach across the ages...?]

[heavyhanded]

[ Neither of these things make sense to him, so he just stares, brow cocked, and waits for an explanation. ]

[gofortheoptics]

[Oh, for the love of --]

In this place, I help create new things and solve complicated problems with technology.

[Okay, that's kind of what she did at home...]

At home, I get a fancier title and more respect for doing the same thing.

[heavyhanded]

[ psh, whatever. He looks ahead again, not seeming terribly impressed. ]

I suppose it would have been too much to ask to hear a familiar answer, like washer woman, or whore, or the like.

[gofortheoptics]

Is that all women are good for where you're from?

[Not that she hasn't seen gender inequality before, but the quarians can hardly be picky with their leaders as long as they're qualified and motivated...]

[heavyhanded]

I hear they're also good for bearing children.

[ and with what might be a tiny curve of an actual smile: ] But at least one of them is damned good with a sword.

[gofortheoptics]

Did her parents just have the good sense not to warn her away from something she actually showed promise at?

[But she sees that smile and she's curious about it.]

And you were friends with her?

[heavyhanded]

[ ...Good question, he'd never asked. He'd just assumed Brienne had been dropped out of the womb holding a sword. So he'll just skip that question. ]

I doubt she would say so, if you put the question to her.

[gofortheoptics]

I didn't ask whether she considered you a friend, I asked whether you were friends with her or not.

[In other words, how does he feel about her.]