The Age Up/Down Meme

[kingshaming]

Look, most of our characters have lots of backstory to take advantage of, or headcanons for their future. This is the place to use it!

Prompts

1) People are suddenly shifting ages on the good ship Teremity! It's probably space waves and will fix itself in a day or two, so enjoy reliving your mispent youth.

2) You were always this age! Nothing bad is happening and you all already know each other and it's all cute af. A fluff option.

3) You are this age... and going through your round (or a remixed version) of your Airlocked season. Not for the REALLY young age downs!

Comments

[serrata]

What makes you think I'm hiding?

[ The fact that you're, you know, hiding, Yuuri. ]

It's like I told you. Now we know people really can be pushed to kill in here, it seems safer to stay out of harm's way. It's common sense. Nothing to do with 'hiding'.

[daughterofthemark]

I do not refer to keeping yourself physically out of sight. You have clearly been avoiding sharing things about yourself. If not for the devices on our arms, I'm not certain you'd have confessed to us even your name.

[serrata]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[ She's still smiling and her voice is so polite so how does that come out sounding almost like a threat? ]

Did you actually come here to share your breakfast or was interrogating me part of the plan the whole time?

[daughterofthemark]

What a ridiculous accusation.

[Look at that non-denial.

Arianna's still feeling okay, though maybe that's just because the door is still open.]

Perhaps you'd be interested in answering a simple question. What does your title mean?

[serrata]

You really need me to answer that for you?

[ She raises an eyebrow and that smile is suddenly a little less nice than it was a moment ago. ]

It means I'm good at knowing what it takes to stay alive. Especially in emergencies.

[daughterofthemark]

And that is what I am talking about. You've given me a perfectly correct definition I could have obtained from a dictionary, thereby avoiding telling me what your title means.

[Oh hey, apparently it's possible to smile sarcastically.]

[tasteslikesurvival]

If you want to hate me, then hate me! Call me a coward! But I did what I thought was right!

[serrata]

I don't know what it means.

[ Yes she does. She'd known what it meant the instant she'd woken up and checked her profile, and that list of dislikes: Confinement. Danger. Outsiders. But she's not about to tell Arianna that. ]

If it matters to you so much then why not go and ask one of our Overseers? I'm not the one who picked out the title, after all. Asking me is pointless.

[serrata]

Coward.

[ She hisses it between her teeth like she's spitting vemon and takes a step back, away from Kurumi. ]

You still can't take responsibility for what you did. I don't know why I expected better of you.

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna considers this for a moment, then smiles. This one is more genuine--she's actually amused with what she's ready to say.]

Dame Yuuri, I believe you would have liked me better ten years ago.

I was embarrassingly gullible back then.

[tasteslikesurvival]

What do you want me to say? I'm not proud of what I did.

[She's just... tired. There was no bite in Kurumi's words.]

[serrata]

[ Yuuri laughs -- honest to god laughter, almost disarmingly warm and pleased. ]

No wonder they called you the Champion Negotiator! I don't think I've ever heard anyone call me a liar so politely.

[ She sets her smile back on, tilts her head. ]

Fine, then. If you're so desperate to know, I suppose all I can do is tell you. You're not going to leave me alone until you feel like you've gotten something out of me, are you?

[daughterofthemark]

[Hell yeah you haven't. Arianna has spent years developing the ability to diplomatically tell people they're full of shit.

And actually she'd be satisfied with just getting a real laugh out of her, but she's not just gonna quit now.]

You do learn quickly, don't you? I suppose a Champion Survivalist would have to.

[serrata]

I want--

[ I want you to come back. I want to do the last ten years over. I want my best friend back.

Yuuri doesn't say any of that. Of course she doesn't. No matter how much she might want to.

Instead she lets out a thin hiss of annoyance and takes a step back. ]

I want you to stay away from me. While we're in here, at least.

[tasteslikesurvival]

[That? That is hard for her to take but Kurumi steps back. She should have realized this was the end of their friendship. That had died ten years ago.]

Alright. You won't see me again.

[serrata]

Good. I'd better not.

[ Her voice is terribly, icy cold but maybe for someone with clearer eyes her facade wouldn't be quite as strong. She's shaking and she can't quite bring herself to look at Kurumi. ]

We'll have to work with the others so we can get out from here. But apart from that... don't go thinking any of it makes us friends.

[serrata]

You'd suppose right. It's all about being adaptable -- about learning what works, what doesn't and being willing to do whatever you have to to keep yourself alive. No matter what it takes.

[ She fixes Arianna with a hard stare. ]

Whatever it takes.

You understand, don't you?

[daughterofthemark]

...yes. I am familiar with such things.

[A small sigh.]

And what has it taken?

[serrata]

I think you might already have an idea. Or are you really that determined to hear me actually say it?

[daughterofthemark]

...I'm certain you're familiar with the feeling of hoping to be mistaken.

[tasteslikesurvival]

[Not that it matters, she turns her back on Yuuri. Her shoulders slump even if her voice remains rather even.]

Don't worry; I won't. I burned that bridge a long time ago.

[serrata]

It's been a while, if I'm honest. And we're all about being honest today, aren't we?

[ Her smile is sharp and cold like a hanging icicle. ]

That trial wasn't the first time I've had someone killed.