PBA 012a

[1/20/2014 8:15:22 PM] Kestrel: She's going to LISTEN AT HIS DOOR.

[1/20/2014 8:15:36 PM] Kestrel: ... she's kind of stalkery, but honestly, she just doesn't know it's inappropriate, really.

[1/20/2014 8:16:09 PM] Nation: She hears noffing.

[1/20/2014 8:16:27 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel listens harder, for at least breathing!

[1/20/2014 8:18:03 PM] Kestrel: ((16.))

[1/20/2014 8:18:17 PM] Nation: ((You hear breathing! He is alive.))

[1/20/2014 8:19:08 PM | Edited 8:21:25 PM] Kestrel: ((Slow enough to be asleep or fast enough not to be?))

[1/20/2014 8:23:53 PM] Nation: ((He's most likely asleep.))

[1/20/2014 8:24:15 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel just... sits down in front of his door, then.

[1/20/2014 8:26:56 PM] Nation: Back to the door or is she facing the door?

[1/20/2014 8:27:09 PM] Kestrel: ((Her side is to it.))

[1/20/2014 8:28:13 PM] Nation: How long does she wait?

[1/20/2014 8:28:38 PM] Kestrel: ((She may fall asleep there!))

[1/20/2014 8:29:07 PM] Nation: Well, after about an hour, the door opens.

[1/20/2014 8:29:56 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel stands up.

[1/20/2014 8:30:41 PM] Nation: He opens the door! He's shirtless, and she can see that the scales run down over his shoulders and the outer parts of his arm. He blinks. "Hello?"

[1/20/2014 8:31:13 PM] Kestrel: ... I apologize if I have awakened you.

[1/20/2014 8:32:04 PM] Nation: He shakes his head, and holds up a glass. "I was thirsty.  Something wrong?"

[1/20/2014 8:32:59 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel frowns.

[1/20/2014 8:33:04 PM] Kestrel: Should something be wrong?

[1/20/2014 8:35:15 PM] Nation: He shakes his head, rubbing his eyes. "Of course not. ... how are you?"

[1/20/2014 8:36:09 PM] Kestrel: Adequate. The others are in the library.

[1/20/2014 8:36:59 PM] Nation: Jhett:  At this hour? Why? something going on?

[1/20/2014 8:37:36 PM] Kestrel: Wakefulness.

[1/20/2014 8:38:19 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Couldn't sleep? Why not?

[1/20/2014 8:38:39 PM] Kestrel: Uncertain. ... Wynn and I appear to suffer from nightmares.

[1/20/2014 8:39:10 PM] Nation: He frowns. "Sorry.  What about?  ...or do you not want to ttalk about it?"

[1/20/2014 8:39:45 PM] Kestrel: ... killing people.

[1/20/2014 8:42:57 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Does it have to do with... whatever happens when this ship travels?

[1/20/2014 8:43:38 PM] Kestrel: ... uncertain. I had some before.

[1/20/2014 8:44:52 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Oh. Are you okay?

[1/20/2014 8:45:07 PM] Kestrel: Yes.

[1/20/2014 8:46:45 PM] Nation: Jhett:  You just don't want to sleep.

[1/20/2014 8:47:14 PM] Kestrel: I find your company agreeable.

[1/20/2014 8:49:28 PM] Nation: He smiles a little, and nods toward the chair in his room. "If you want, have a seat, I'm going to get some water.  I'll be right back."

[1/20/2014 8:50:51 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel nods, and sits quietly, looking around the room.

[1/20/2014 8:52:55 PM] Nation: It's pretty generic. The ceilings are too low for her, probably. He comes back a few minutes later and sits on the bed.

[1/20/2014 8:54:54 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel stays quiet, hands clasped neatly in front of her.

[1/20/2014 8:55:41 PM] Nation: He sips from a glass of water. "What would you like to talk about?"

[1/20/2014 8:56:31 PM] Kestrel: Anything.

[1/20/2014 8:58:56 PM] Kestrel: I had expected more scales.

[1/20/2014 8:59:25 PM] Nation: Jhett smiles. "Sorry to disappoint."

[1/20/2014 9:00:19 PM] Kestrel: I am not disappointed. Merely incorrect.

[1/20/2014 9:03:34 PM] Nation: Jhett:  How long have you played the dulcimer?

[1/20/2014 9:03:51 PM] Kestrel: I began when I was four.

[1/20/2014 9:05:09 PM] Kestrel: Initially it was meant to improve coordination.

[1/20/2014 9:05:56 PM] Nation: Jhett:  But you found it enjoyable to play?

[1/20/2014 9:06:16 PM] Kestrel: Yes. ... evidently it was a significant annoyance to others.

[1/20/2014 9:08:18 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Every child learning to play annoys those around them. No matter the instrument. Esepcially the violin.

[1/20/2014 9:09:12 PM] Kestrel: It has a capacity for screechiness.

[1/20/2014 9:10:23 PM] Nation: Jhett:  'Ungodly catterwalling', the early reviews said.

[1/20/2014 9:10:49 PM] Kestrel: Reviews?

[1/20/2014 9:11:23 PM] Nation: Jhett:  The people around me that were forced to listen to my early efforts.

[1/20/2014 9:11:54 PM] Kestrel: It is gratifying that you continued your attempts.

[1/20/2014 9:12:44 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Well, the people that could stop me were disorganized and unable to form ranks.

[1/20/2014 9:14:11 PM] Kestrel: ... to counter the instrument or your other activities?

[1/20/2014 9:15:07 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Early on, just the instrument. I'm joking. I got decent enough fast enough. Did you?

[1/20/2014 9:15:23 PM] Kestrel: No. I had to learn to tune it first.

[1/20/2014 9:16:47 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Is tuning a dulcimer hard?

[1/20/2014 9:17:35 PM] Kestrel: Tuning it correctly is difficult.

[1/20/2014 9:19:30 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Is it like tuning a piano?

[1/20/2014 9:20:20 PM] Kestrel: Yes. It needs to be *precise.*

[1/20/2014 9:21:33 PM] Nation: Jhett:  How long did it take you to learn to do that?

[1/20/2014 9:21:42 PM] Kestrel: ... six months.

[1/20/2014 9:22:01 PM] Kestrel: ((Really, she's just too much of a perfectionist. It shouldn't take nearly that long.))

[1/20/2014 9:22:26 PM] Nation: Jhett:  You're very good.

[1/20/2014 9:23:42 PM] Kestrel: Adequate.

[1/20/2014 9:24:39 PM] Nation: Jhett:  No, you're very good. We're always our own worst critics.

[1/20/2014 9:29:55 PM] Kestrel: I would not criticise you harshly.

[1/20/2014 9:31:01 PM] Nation: Jhett:  You're not me. And I trust your musical judgement. Don't you trust mine?

[1/20/2014 9:31:24 PM] Kestrel: ... yes.

[1/20/2014 9:31:42 PM] Nation: Jhett:  There you go. We're both good.

[1/20/2014 9:32:15 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel smiles a tiny, tentative smile, uncertainly.

[1/20/2014 9:32:26 PM] Nation: He smiles back! Broader.

[1/20/2014 9:34:37 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel stops, uncertain as to whether he's making fun of her.

[1/20/2014 9:36:00 PM] Nation: Jhett:  You have a nice smile, you should smile more.

[1/20/2014 9:36:22 PM] Kestrel: ... why?

[1/20/2014 9:37:16 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Because it looks good on you. The face you're showing me right now, anyway.

[1/20/2014 9:37:38 PM] Kestrel: ... I chose this face. It is mine.

[1/20/2014 9:38:22 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Then it looks good on your face. I haven't met a lot of shapeshifters.

[1/20/2014 9:39:02 PM] Kestrel: I have not been in a location conducive to multiple forms prior to this.

[1/20/2014 9:39:50 PM] Nation: Jhett:  No?

[1/20/2014 9:40:58 PM] Kestrel: No. This is how I look. Always. My natural form is... unattractive; it is never used.

[1/20/2014 9:43:17 PM] Nation: Jhett:  ...that does raise the question. What is more important, the face we choose or the one we're born with?

[1/20/2014 9:44:41 PM] Kestrel: Yours is both.

[1/20/2014 9:45:13 PM] Nation: Jhett:  Well, we all choose our faces one way or another.

[1/20/2014 9:45:45 PM] Kestrel: I like yours.

[1/20/2014 9:45:58 PM] Nation: Jhett blushes!

[1/20/2014 9:46:43 PM] Kestrel: ... I apologize. I can be somewhat... awkward.

[1/20/2014 9:48:34 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel stands up.

[1/20/2014 9:48:37 PM] Kestrel: I can leave.

[1/20/2014 9:50:15 PM] Nation: Jhett shakes his head. "No, no, please stay."

[1/20/2014 9:50:27 PM] Kestrel: ... very well.

[1/20/2014 9:50:46 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel sits again, still looking like she's poised to go.

[1/20/2014 9:55:04 PM] Nation: Jhett:  I like you. Blushing is involuntary when being told by a pretty girl that she likes your face. It's nice.

[1/20/2014 9:55:43 PM] Kestrel: Oh.

[1/20/2014 9:55:53 PM] Kestrel: ... good.

[1/20/2014 9:57:36 PM] Nation: He pulls out his violin and starts fiddling with it.

[1/20/2014 9:57:37 PM] Kestrel: ((Even sleep in the chair.))

[1/20/2014 9:58:09 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel watches. "Will you play?"

[1/20/2014 9:58:51 PM] Nation: Jhett:  do you want me to? I will if you'd like.

[1/20/2014 9:59:10 PM] Kestrel: I would find that extremely agreeable.

[1/20/2014 9:59:55 PM] Nation: He plays for a bit! Some quiet pleasant tune.

[1/20/2014 10:01:02 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel smiles again, slowly. It creeps up.

[1/20/2014 10:02:41 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel even starts tapping quietly on the chair in rhythm; on different parts of the chair so that there's different tones. It's a little odd, but it meshes well.

[1/20/2014 10:03:10 PM] Nation: Jhett smiles back! He keeps it low and quiet and pleasant, really.

[1/20/2014 10:03:23 PM] Kestrel: Kestrel may eventually fall asleep there; she was fairly tired.